From iRedMail

Contents 1 before installation 1.1 before installation of your OS 1.2 after installation of your prefered OS 1.3 before installing irm 1.4 before creating user-accounts 2 backups 2.1 config-files 2.2 mail-data 2.3 mysql-data 2.4 ldap-data 2.5 recovery ... oops

before installation

there are no defaults that fit your needs - irm is simple to implement
but you have to decide what you need BEFORE you start an productive environment!
using irm and iRedOS is simple and easy - but there are some points you want to read before you present a "finished server" to a customer...

before installation of your OS

• align your disk-partitions before creating filesystems
• format your /var/vmail partition using ext4

after installation of your prefered OS

• Keep your computer-time in sync

before installing irm

before creating user-accounts

• enable zlib plugin for dovecot's transfer
• enable zlib plugin for dovecot's 2.x storage

backups

config-files

whenever you can :)
keep a copy of /etc
slapcat your openldap

mail-data

we are talking about defaults:
maildir for mail-storage means: rsync might be enough

mysql-data

ldap-data

recovery ... oops

if you really need to read this ... yeah, shi### happens ;)

but you are not alone!
we will provide you some BAD practice and hints on what NOT to do!
if you need to read this - please follow this procedure:

Stop reading, take a cup of coffee and come back in 5 minutes