Restoring a legacy backup for one user?

[peter-wetink]

Hi all, I am a little new to this so please be gentle

I have recently had a user accidentally delete all of her mail apart from around 30 unread messages from her inbox.

I didn't set our WHM server up but have discovered that it is using the legacy backup system, I pulled all of the emails out of her monthly personal folder (/home/backup/cpbackup/monthly/account name/homedir/mail/domain/email account) and FTP'd them to my local machine.

I know that all of the mails are stored in the /cur folder but these files are named in a VERY different way to those that are in her live inbox; for instance:

Live server file name
102EGN~O

Backup file name
1314785483.H165746P19453.servername.co.uk,S=23635/2,Sb

Am I OK just to merge the folders (only adding new or files with different file names) or do I have do something to else to put the old emails into her inbox?

Thanks in advance

 

[cPanelMichael]

Hello

The format used in the file names from the backup archive look like the standard format used with maildir. Assuming you are not using a custom mail server, you can restore those files to the appropriate directory. You may also want to run the following command after moving the files:

/scripts/mailperm $username

Thank you.

 

[peter-wetink]

Thanks Michael,

For my total clarification when you say "restore" do you mean I can just FTP these files into her personal folder? I don't have to use any functionality of WHM to do so? I won't end up with duplicate mail or anything if I do so?

 

[cPanelMichael]

Yes, you can upload the individual emails to the appropriate directory. Any files that already exist should prompt you with an overwrite notice.

Thank you.

 

[peter-wetink]

Thanks Michael.

I have copied the backup onto the server but have discovered a bit of a problem, I know have too many levels on inbox!

Rather than just going:
- Inbox
- Sent
- Folders

I now have
- Inbox

- INBOX​

- INBOX​

- Deleted​

- Deleted​

- Junk​

- Trash​

- Sent

Without folders, is there anyway that I can get the folder structure back to how it used to be?

I ran the mailperm script as you said but it didn't flag anything up or make any sign this was an issue.