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Moving to a new computer

Move a working Pop Dispatch server to a new computer with a fresh backup file, keeping calls, photos and the license.

For
OwnerAdministrator
Hosting
Office serverYour own hosting
Devices
Server
Business
All businesses

Checked against Pop Dispatch 0.1.0

Situation #

Pop Dispatch runs well on one computer and you are replacing it with another. You plan the move, so you can choose a quiet hour and lose nothing.

What keeps working #

  • The old computer keeps serving until you shut it down, so you can check the new one first.
  • Drivers keep working offline and send queued items when a server answers again.

Steps #

  1. On the old computer, make a backup file now: POST /backup/archives. The answer shows checked: true and the file name.
  2. Copy that file from the backup folder to a USB drive. Run dispatch-server verify-backup <file> and type your recovery key. The command reports the rows and photos inside. This proves the file and the key together.
  3. Install Pop Dispatch on the new computer. Do not create a business account there.
  4. Choose a quiet time. Stop the old server so nothing changes after the backup. Make one more file after stopping if people worked in between.
  5. On the new computer, restore the file with the setup wizard (it calls POST /setup/restore) or run dispatch-server restore <file> --data-dir <data folder>. Type the recovery key.
  6. Run the reset-password command it prints for each owner, then for everyone else.
  7. Start the server on the new computer. Set up the authenticator apps again and make new webhook secrets and integration keys.
  8. Move the old address to the new computer, or tell staff and phones the new address.
  9. Choose the backup folder on the new computer with PATCH /backup/settings.

How to confirm it worked #

  • GET /health answers ok: true on the new computer.
  • The board, the yard and open invoices show what the old computer showed.
  • A photo from last week opens.
  • GET /backup/status shows a recent last_good after you make a file there.

Afterwards #

  1. Keep the old computer switched off but untouched for a week. Its data folder is your second copy.
  2. Erase the old disk after that week and after one good nightly file on the new computer.
  3. Keep your recovery key unchanged.