Upgrading Using External Databases

When re-installing IMail Server over an earlier version, in which one or more hosts use an external user database, new columns must be added to the database tables. This is due to additional user-level data that must be stored for use with the Web Calendaring features. The new columns must be added to the user table for each IMail Server host that uses an external database.

If you are using Active Directory (AD) as your user database, it is strongly recommended that you use the Active Directory option on the configuration screen. This new option provides much better support for AD, provides for better security on your Web server, and offers greatly improved performance.

During the install, IMail Server determines whether your system currently uses an external database. If the answer is yes, then a dialog provides the following three options:

• Click Yes to have this install program automatically add the columns to all external database tables used to store IMail Server user settings.
• Click No to continue installation without updating the tables.
• Click Cancel if you want to manually add the necessary columns. The required columns can be found in the release notes. You will need to restart this install program when ready.

Warning: If you click No and install anyway, be advised that IMail Server may not function properly.

If a custom ODBC driver was used with a previous version of IMail Server, the driver must be modified to use the new columns. Source code for the basic ODBCUser.dll driver (tailored for SQL Server and Access) can be downloaded from the IMail Support Center at: ftp://ftp.ipswitch.com/Ipswitch/Product_Support/IMail/odbcuser.dll