Migrating 3CX from old virtual hardware to new

[EmiceNIQ]

We've recently purchased replacement virtual hardware for our site and have migrated all of our Windows servers to our new ESXi hosts successfully using VMWare Converter. The only server left is our 3CX server.

Is there an established method to migrate 3CX from an old ESXi host to a new one fairly seamlessly?

Would I need to create a new 3CX server and then export and import the configuration from the old server to the new one? What would be the best way to achieve this with minimal downtime and no need for re-provisioning of phones?

Presumably the local IP address would need to stay the same, so would I create the server with a different IP address? Would the backup then restore the original IP of the old server?

 

[Saqqara]

What is your correct version of 3cx i.e. 15.5 , 18.0 - its it Debian or windows. When we have this info, we can point you in the correct upgrade steps.

 

[NicholasP_3CX]

The IP Address is not carried over from a backup. So the proper procedure would be:

(assuming it is Windows we are talking about)

Setup the new 3CX server with an IP address on the network (Windows 2016 or 2019 Server, or Windows 10)
Make sure the server is up to date with Windows updates.
Take a backup of 3CX on the existing server.
Download the 3CX backup on to the new servers desktop
Shut down the existing 3CX server.
Change the IP address of the new server to the IP Address of the old server
Install 3CX, and select to restore your backup during the installation phase.
Once the installation is complete, check your firewall

All SIP endpoints should now automatically reconnect and reprovision from the new server.

Job done!

 

[EmiceNIQ]

That's brilliant, thank you. Does the above still apply with the server being on Debian 10, Version 18 Update 3?

 

[Saqqara]

Backup 3CX , copy this file to a local pc.

Switch off your existing 3cx server

Install 3cx using the debian ISO image - https://www.3cx.com/docs/manual/installing-debian-linux-pbx/. Give the server the same IP address of old server.

During installation, select restore from backup and point the restore to the backup you copied.

 

[EmiceNIQ]

Do I perform a complete backup or do I need to change any options regarding FQDN etc?

 

[Saqqara]

Do I perform a complete backup or do I need to change any options regarding FQDN etc?

Include license key, fqdn. During the installation, it will use the same license key and fqdn.

Voicemail and recordings if required

 

[Si_PEarson_LPC]

I don't know ESXi at all, but surely one of the joys of virtualisation is that you don't need to recreate a new VM on a new host? When I did this on Hyper-V I just shut down the 3CX server and copied the VM folders over the network to the new host. After importing it using the management tools it just started up on the new hardware.

 

[NicholasP_3CX]

The backup is the best way to move forward, as you might want to change the Operating System of the 3CX system, like might be the case here from Windows to Debian, or even coming from older operating systems on older versions of 3CX (Server 2012r2 to 2019 for example)

 

[EmiceNIQ]

Thank you so much to everyone for all of your replies, this is such a helpful community.