Migrating Mixmaster to a New Server

Overview

Occasionaly there are circumstances which force you to migrate a server running mixmaster, However when you go to transfer the server, it is preferred it is done in a manner which prevents the loss of messages. The below HOWTO details how to transfer your remailer and minimizing message loss.

Old Server Configuration

Several days before your server migration, add the following line to your mix.cfg.

EXTFLAGS testing

The "testing" flag tells pingers to stop listing the remailer and for remailers to stop sending your remailer messages. Then change the RATE directive to 100, so the remailer sends everything in its pool for the remaining days.

New Server Configuration

Install mixmaster and check its client functionality with current stats. Once client functionality is confirmed, shut down the old server and copy the following files:

*.alw
*.blk
mix.cfg
secring.mix
*.txt (except old mlist and rlist stat files)

Start the remailer and check the error logs. Baring any errors, remove the EXTFLAGS from mix.cfg and return RATE to its previous value. This will have Echolot pingers list the remailer again.

A special thanks go to Zax who provided this HOWTO to me on the remops mailing list.