PBXExpress webpage missing

[GOKALLIT]

I went to move a client from On-Premise to cloud hosted and the wizard webpage seems to be gone and redirects you to the partner portal. I just used this the other day with a separate client. How are we supposed to do a backup restore to the cloud now?

 

[cobaltit]

Sounds like you would login with your partner credentials?

https://www.3cx.com/docs/hosted-pbx-deployment/

https://www.3cx.com/docs/hosted-pbx-google-cloud/

I never really used PBXExpress before so I can't tell you what changed but from the documentation it looks you would either deploy from the partner portal (as a partner for your customer) or login with the account created for the customer.

 

[GOKALLIT]

I don't want to "create a new license." Whenever you either move from an "On-Premise" to a cloud or when you have a cloud restore say after a crash, you use PBXEXPRESS to either "Restore a backup" or "Create a new". If you use AWS Lightsail, there is not a way to install 3CX because you cant boot from an ISO.
You cannot use a snapshot from a different cloud instance then pull a GOOGLE Storage location backup for a restore either. You will receive an error message that the 2 licenses do not match.

 

[cobaltit]

Looks like what you want is in the partner portal:

 

[GOKALLIT]

And what if you onboard a new client that has come to you with a crashed phone system and is not licensed in your portal? Cant create them a new license because the backup will not restore to a new license.

 

[cobaltit]

It's not really that hard. You have a couple options:

- Get them to link their license to you.
- Use a cloud provider who does let you upload an image or has a marketplace image.
- Have them release their key in the portal and then you can restore to a new key.

You need to learn to use the tools that are available to you. One of them would be the partner service center. You should see a contact in the partner portal. Those would be the people to talk to about these things.

 

[GOKALLIT]

I already used the AWS Migration from Hyper-V to AWS EC2. I built a 3cx and restored backup for a client then attempted to move to AWS. Debian is not supported as an AMI. 3CX is built on Debian. So this was a NO GO. I already use the tools but thanks for pointing that out.

This was your comment earlier just as a reminder. " I never really used PBXExpress before so I can't tell you "

 

[cobaltit]

Ok so you are all over the map. You said Lightsail earlier, now you are talking about EC2. Since you seem unable to figure out how to accomplish this, list the exact steps you are trying to accomplish and I'll draw the map for you. You are right, I am not that familiar with PBXExpress and I don't use it that often, but I've been able to figure out how to do whatever I need to do each time I did use it.

For AWS you would use this:

 

[GOKALLIT]

Oh wow you found that in the AMI marketplace, cool. Wonder why that didn't show in my search?

Anyway...

Ok what I was trying to convey was that I would normally use Amazon lightsail option as opposed to OVH, Google, or Amazon EC2 as the pbxexpress selection when doing a backup restore. Since this service was not working, I was trying different ways and attempted to build it in Hyper-V then move it to EC2. Lightsail is not a migration option from hyper-v. Hyper-V to EC2 failed because the version of Debian 9 was unsupported. I have already used the partner portal "Self Host" before so that is not new.

 

[cobaltit]

Gotcha. Yeah the definitely changed things, so I would email the partner contact folks to see how they recommend you accomplish what you used to do previously. In the meantime, I hope you aren't salvaging 3CX instances regularly .

But for the scenario you describe, you previously would just take a backup file and use PBXExpress to push directly to LightSail? I don't see an easy way to do that now if the key isn't tied to your portal. At this point I'd say you'd have to use a provider that either has a marketplace image or lets you upload your own ISO. You can at least get it up and running until you can get the license tied to you. And then hopefully 3CX will expose PBXExpress to us in the portal so you can use it the way you want (or explain another way to do it).

Good luck!

 

[GOKALLIT]

"I hope you aren't salvaging 3CX instances regularly ." What does this mean? I only apply for licenses as I make a sale.

 

[cobaltit]

And what if you onboard a new client that has come to you with a crashed phone system and is not licensed in your portal? Cant create them a new license because the backup will not restore to a new license.

Regular new sales shouldn't be an issue with the portal/PBXExpress changes but you mentioned this scenario.