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    Alfresco server migration

    migrating alfresco

    Alfresco server migration

    Over the past week I have been migrating alfresco from my server to a virtual server on the cloud. I shall run you through the steps I took to successfully set it up.

    Preparing the new server for Alfresco migration

    The first thing I did before touching my old server was to set up my VServer and make it ready for alfresco. This involved downloading alfresco community 4.0d and postgreSQL Admin 3. For Alfresco, once it has been installed on the server, turn off tomcat and don’t go into the setup process. All the config files will be migrated over so you shouldn’t have to config alfresco at all on your new server. Leave Postgres running though. This will be needed for restoring the alfresco database through pg_admin. You will also not be able to set up pg_admin if the postgres port is closed so leave it on and open.

     

    Backing up the Alfresco Database

    Once the new server was all prepared for alfresco I went back to my old alfresco server and went about backing up my database. This contains all the files, users, settings e.t.c. for alfresco. Before you do this make sure you have turned off tomcat, using the alfresco manager tool, otherwise people we still be able to upload files to alfresco and we don’t want that. To back up my alfresco database I used the pg_admin tool on the server, right clicked on the alfresco database and clicked backup. What options you choose are up to you but make sure you back it up into alfresco\alf_data\backups folder as the the alf_data folder is what you’ll be migrating over.

     

    Backing up the TomCat extension’s folder

    Once your database is backed up move on to backing up the tomcat extenions folder. This is located at alfresco\tomcat\shared\classes\alfresco. This folder contains all the scripts and config files for tomcat. Back up the extension fodler to alfresco\alf_data\backups folder for migration.

     

    Compress the alf-data folder and migrate

    Once everything has been backed up to the alf_data folder you are ready for migration. Before I migrated the folder I compressed it. This makes it a smaller size and makes it easier to transfer to the new server. To compress the folder just right click alf_data, go to send to and click compress. This makes the folder ready for transferring. Whatever method you choose to transfer the data is up to you. Just transfer it to your Alfresco folder.

     

    Setting up Alf_data

    Having transferred your compressed alf_data folder to the the alfresco folder in your new server, unzip the folder and move the alf_data folder into the alfresco folder. Make sure you rename the alf_data folder to something else otherwise they will conflict and alfresco won’t work. Also it gives a restore point should everything go wrong but it is up to you whether or not you delete them or just rename them.

     

    Moving the backed up TomCat extensions folder

    This step is pretty similar to the last. Just move the the extensions folder to Alfresco\tomcat\shared\classes\alfresco and rename or delete the extentions folder already there. Make sure the extensions folder is actually called extension otherwise alfresco won’t work. Also, do a quick check search to make sure there isn’t any reference to the old server in the files as alfresco won’t work on the new one. If there is just change it to the new server.

     

    Resorting Alfresco database

    This step can be rather tricky and complicated. Theoretically you should be able to restore the database using pg_admin. Just right click on the alfresco databse already in pg_admin, choose the backup from the alf_data backups folder and click restore. When I did this it didn’t work so I reverted to using command line. To do this open up command prompt and follow these steps:

    1) Using the CD command to make the backup folder you current directory. cd c:\alfresco\alf_data\backup

    2) Run the psql program to establish a connection with the database (-d), the super user (-U) and the directory path to the file to be restored (-f). psql -d postgres -U postgres -f c:\alfresco\alf_data\backup\(name of backed up database) You’ll then be asked for the password for the database. Once entered the database will be restored. After this is completed then you alfresco should be fully migrated with all the files and settings from the old server.

     

    Check Alfresco is working

    Once the database has been restored then alfresco should be fully migrated. Start up tomcat in the alfresco manager tool and try and login into alfresco over your internet browser. If you manage to login then check your files are there and that you are able to access them. If you can then congratulations! you have migrated alfresco successfully. If you can’t login or your files aren’t there check the alfresco log or your postgreSQL database to see any errors or missing data.

     

    Have any more questions regarding the topic at hand or anything else? Don’t hesitate to contact us via our email or call us on 0330 1224 420 

     

    Questions: [email protected] 

      

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    Additional information:

    Alfresco Docs – Migrating

     

    Continue reading: 

    Alfresco 4.0d: How to fix the search function

    How to Fix the Alfresco Buffer Bug

    Are you using a malicious browser extension without realising?

     

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