[#1]

Hello!

Our Mozy machine is going to be replaced this week and I'd like to make the Mozy transition from that machine to the new machine as quick and smooth as possible.  We have a large amount of files backed up with Mozy (over 70GB) and DSL at home.  I do have the ability to do a local backup of those files on an external HD if that would make things faster.  Both machines can be on the LAN at the same time though the old machine will ideally be shut down pretty quick.  

When we first started with Mozy it took almost two months to get all of our files uploaded.  Once it was all caught up it was great, but I'd rather not have to wait two months to get this new machine up to date.  

What would be the recommended way to get all of our files to the new machine and Mozy back into "keep up" mode?  It sounds like the "replacing machine" process would re-download everything?  That would take quite a while and seems silly since I've got all the files right on the LAN and current.

Thank you for any help/suggestions you can provide.

[#2]

If you have the means to transfer data over from the old computer locally, that will be the fastest method. Since the download will be at the mercy of your internet connection, restores are put to better use in the case of an emergency, like if the computer died and you had to wipe the drive. Since the old computer is there in your home and still functioning, a file transfer will be much more efficient.

[#3]

Hello!

Are there any more details you could offer Brian?  Or is there a document on doing this?

Is there anything special that I need to do?  If I just copy the files over to the new machine and then set up Mozy is it smart enough to see that the files are the same ones that are on the backup and verify them without copying?  Do I need to go through the replace computer wizard? 

Thankfully it sounds like keeping it local is going to work, and that's awesome.  Any other details you could provide would be great.

Thanks!

[#4]

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....is there a document on doing this?

Is there anything special that I need to do?  If I just copy the files over to the new machine and then set up Mozy is it smart enough to see that the files are the same ones that are on the backup and verify them without copying?  Do I need to go through the replace computer wizard? 

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After replacing your files I would recommend using the replace computer wizard option when installing the Mozy client on your new machine.  Below are some knowledge based articles that should help you and answer your questions.

http://support.mozy.com/support/mozyKnowledgeBase?DocId=105545 When I replace my machine, does Mozy have to perform a new initial backup?

http://support.mozy.com/support/mozyKnowledgeBase?DocId=77941 Replacing a Computer

Let us know if you have any additional questions after viewing these articles.

[#5]

Hello!

I can't get to the first link for some reason.  It just takes me to a message saying that the support site is under maintenance or something. 

Looking at the second link it looks like I can go through the replace computer wizard and then when I get down to step 6 or so I can point to the old computer?  Is that the case?   If so, should I let Mozy do the copying between computers?  Or can I just do the copying manually and point to the file locations on the new drive?

Thanks

[#6]

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I can't get to the first link for some reason.

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Sorry about not being able to display the link.  The content of the first link is below:

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Yes, when you replace your old machine with your new one, you will need to a new initial backup. However, the good news is that since your data is still backed up on our servers, Mozy will not need to re-upload all of your files again. During the backup, Mozy will check to see if the server already has the file backed up. If it is a new or a changed file, it will be uploaded, but if the server already has the file, it will simply be re-associated with the new backup. Because it does this one file at a time, the re-association process does take some time, but not as long as it would take to re-upload all of the files again.

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Looking at the second link it looks like I can go through the replace computer wizard and then when I get down to step 6 or so I can point to the old computer?  Is that the case?   If so, should I let Mozy do the copying between computers?  Or can I just do the copying manually and point to the file locations on the new drive?

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I do recommend a replace computer, but only after you have copied your files back.  Your files are saved for 30 days from your last backup.  If you start another backup after replacing your machine, your 30 days is then adjusted.  Using a local backup to restore you files is usually quicker, if you have one.  If not, you can use the Mozy web restore to retrieve your files. I have added a knowledge based link below for using Mozy to do a restore.

http://support.mozy.com/support/mozyKnowledgeBase?DocId=107281

[#7 · Accepted solution]

  Cool.

So it sounds like this is my process.

Copy files from old computer to new computer.

Install Mozy

Replace Computer wizard

Create backup job pointing to same files but in new locations on new computer (and others if I need)

Allow job to run

Mozy should then look at attributes of each file (hopefully name and size since some dates, paths, and possibly the archive bit are going to change) and compare them with what it has backed up.  If the attributes match then it notes it and moves on to the next one, no uploading or anything. 

Does that sound correct? 

Thanks for your patience with me!  I really appreciate your help!

[#8]

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Matchstick wrote:

So it sounds like this is my process.

Copy files from old computer to new computer.

Install Mozy

Replace Computer wizard

Create backup job pointing to same files but in new locations on new computer (and others if I need)

Allow job to run

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Sounds good to me.

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Matchstick wrote:

Mozy should then look at attributes of each file (hopefully name and size since some dates, paths, and possibly the archive bit are going to change) and compare them with what it has backed up.  If the attributes match then it notes it and moves on to the next one, no uploading or anything. 

Does that sound correct? 

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Just to give a little clarification, if the hash of the two files match a re-association will occur before moving on to this next file and no upload will occur.  This re-association is definitely a lot quicker than a re-upload of the whole file.

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Matchstick wrote:

Thanks for your patience with me!  I really appreciate your help!

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Not a problem.  I am glad I can help.

[#9]

Thanks, this is the information I was looking for!   We just ordered a new iMac to replace our old one that is on Mozy and I needed to figure out how to unlink the old one and link the new one.   I think I understand what to do from the knowledge base, but just wanted to clarify.

1.  Plug in new computer.

2.  Install applications and use Apple Migration Assistant to reinstall the users.

3. Install a new copy of Mozy and select replace computer when prompted.

My understanding is that Mozy then automagically figures out the difference between the new machine and the old machine and adjusts the backup accordingly.  Is that correct?  We have almost all of our Mozy-backed-up materials on an external drive, so it should be plain sailing.

What I am not clear about is how Mozy reacts to the Apple Migration assistant.  My plan is to clean install all the Applications from disks and then migrate over just the user accounts, but what would happen if I used migration assistant to bring over the entire computer and Mozy came with it?  Would Mozy just think the new computer was the old computer since their files are "identical."

Many thanks,

Paul

[#10]

Hey, wrightworth. Migration Assistant is a perfect way to transfer your data from your old Mac to your new one. The only problem with Mozy and Migration Assistant is if you transfer Applications as well as data, that can cause some problems with Mozy as it would actually see your new machine as the same one as your old machine and you can get conflicting backups and that can mess some things up on your account. Your plan to install Applications manually and just transfer user data is the solution we'd recommend. Then you can manually install Mozy, go through the replace machine process during setup on the machine, and select your files to back up and you'll be good to go.

As a side note, if you did happen to transfer Applications including Mozy and got into the machine conflict situation, you would simply uninstall Mozy and not keep configuration and log files, then install it again and follow the same process from there.