Solved Corrupted 3CX Install on Debian - Best way to restore without Management Console

[Alan9846]

Hi All,

I have a client whose 3CX install has become corrupted. I am not sure as to the cause yet, but for now I need to restore a backup without access to the Management Console (it will not respond) - the IVR Service is not starting, and refuses to start.

My thought is to:

1) Run an image of the server (no harm)

2) Use SCP over SSH to copy the entire 3CX install directory and sub-directories (again, no harm):

scp -r [email protected]:/var/lib/3cxpbx /Path/To/My/Backup/Drive/3cxpbx

3) Uninstall 3CX: apt-get remove 3cxpbx

4) Re-install 3CX: apt-get install 3cxpbx


Hopefully that will then give me a working install, such that I can get into the Management Console, and from there I can restore a known good backup.


Does that sound okay? Any traps that I might fall into?

Thanks,

Alan.

 

[cobaltit]

Sure you can do all that if you have the time. Otherwise just SSH in and take a new backup and put it somewhere outside of the 3CX folder:

https://www.3cx.com/docs/backup-restore-command-line/

Then follow the steps here under 'Removing 3CX for Debian':

https://www.3cx.com/docs/manual/installing-debian-linux-pbx/#h.afomiocyf6lr

If the remove doesn't work then you can do a purge.

 

[Alan9846]

Hi cobaltit,

For various reasons, including that I no longer trust the hardware, I decided to install 3CX from scratch on a new machine, but chose the option to restore from backup during the install.

The new machine is not identicial to the old one, but it all seems to have gone fine.

Question: If I take this new machine in to the client, remove the old one, and replace it with the new one, will all the phones etc just be happy and oblivious that there has been a change?

I assume so, else the whole backup / restore seems to be pointless, but I have never restored like this before - only to the same actual hardware.

Thanks,

Alan.

 

[AWS2P]

Is it

but chose the option to restore from backup during the install

this is only the only way to do if you need to restore during install.

Is your new pbx set to use same local IP as old one?

 

[JohnS_3CX]

Hi Alan,

If the PBX IP is the same then the answer is yes. This is provided that no credentials have been regenerated since the last backup, otherwise the phones will simply have to be reprovisioned.

The firewall settings should also remain so long as the PBX IP is the same. If you use DHCP reservation on the firewall, then replace the old MAC with the MAC of the new PBX machine and it should pick up the original IP the old machine held.

 

[Alan9846]

Hi Guys.

Is your new pbx set to use same local IP as old one?

Yes - exact same local IP (I figured this would be the only way).

If the PBX IP is the same then the answer is yes. This is provided that no credentials have been regenerated since the last backup, otherwise the phones will simply have to be reprovisioned.

Noted - there have been no new devices as far as I am aware, but if anything disappears, I will look at this.

The firewall settings should also remain so long as the PBX IP is the same. If you use DHCP reservation on the firewall, then replace the old MAC with the MAC of the new PBX machine and it should pick up the original IP the old machine held.

The 3CX machine has its IP hardwired into the /etc/network/interfaces, rather than via a MAC, so this should be fine.


Thanks,

Alan.

 

[JohnS_3CX]

Great, let us know how it goes

 

[Alan9846]

Hi Guys,

Everything seemed to go without a hitch.

I made the image (ddrescue), and copied the files as planned, but it was not needed (just insurance I guess).

The re-setup was very quick and easy.

Thanks for your help.

Alan.

 

[JohnS_3CX]

Glad to hear it was resolved!