Console command to copy databases

I needed to create database copies (not replicas) of a large number of mail files to an archive server.  Typically you would do this from the Notes Client using File>Application>New Copy.  Enter the server name and then select the folder and perhaps change the file name.  Once you click OK, you're client will be busy as you broker that copy (replication from the client works this way also) to the new location.  If you have a 25mb file to copy it's not a big deal.  If you have a large number of files to copy that range in size from 500mb to 2gb or 3gb, you're going to be busy.

So I searched the web to see if I could find another way to do this.  I figured that they must be a way to create an ADMINP request to copy databases.  I was more than willing to write an application to do that (reusable utilities!).  What I did find surprised me and was so much easier.  There is an undocumented and unsupported feature that has been around for some time (R6) that was exactly what I was looking for. 

First, you need to set an INI variable.  From your console, enter SET CONFIG CLUSTER_ADMIN_ON=1.  This will be turned on immediately (i.e. no server restart needed).  You also don't have to be part of a cluster for this to work.  Once this setting is on, you have a new command to use:  CL COPY.

The parameters for CL COPY is sourceDB targetDB. 

You have some flexibility with the command as well.  It can be used to create copies, replicas and template copies of your databases.  Below are the different ways to use this command:

To create a non-replica copy of a DB on another server (i.e. new UNID) you would use:
CL copy serverA!!srcDB.nsf serverB!!tgtDB.nsf

To create a replica copy of a DB on another server (i.e. same UNID) you would use:
CL copy serverA!!srcDB.nsf serverB!!tgtDB.nsf REPLICA

To create a design copy of a DB on another server (i.e. new UNID, design and no data) you would use:
CL copy serverA!!srcDB.nsf serverB!!tgtDB.nsf TEMPLATE

To create a non-replica copy of a DB on the same server (i.e. new UNID) you would use:
CL copy srcDB.nsf tgtDB.nsf

You can specify source and target folders as well as the destination name of your database.

Enter the command at your server console.  You can enter multiple commands (i.e. multiple file copies) and they will queue up.  The process is very fast compared to using the Notes Client process.  I copied 17.6gb of data in a little over 1.5 hours.  Not bad.  Plus - I didn't have to babysit the process.  The server took care of it for me.  A nice addition to my admin/developer bag of tricks.

Forcing an ID to the ID Vault in Lotus Notes

During a server consolidation project, I decided to create a new ID Vault to get away from single vaults on all my servers.  I also set these up to be replicated between 3 different servers.  Most users were vaulted with no issue as they used the email system.  However, I did have some users that didn't vault initially who also happened to forget their password.  Here is how you can handle those issues.

First, find the user you want to reset the password on and extract them from the old ID Vault database.  You'll need to know the user name and the old ID Vault.  Extract the ID and then enter a new password when you are prompted.

Next, switch to the new ID using File/Security/Switch ID.  Enter the new password that you set.  After you have done this, check the ID file to see if it has been vaulted yet.  The easiest way to do this would be to look at the ID by going to File/Security/User Security.

You should be prompted for your password (it is the password you set earlier).  Now look for a button that says "ID Vault Sync".  If it is grayed out, then your ID has not been synced yet.  If it is not grayed out, then you are done.

One thing that I found was that sometimes the ID sync is a bit stubborn.  I finally reconfigured a test client with the extracted ID.  Once I switched to the ID it was synced.  Try changing the password or going in and out of the client a few times.  It will eventually sync to your new ID vault.