Overview

When there is a need to keep existing user email data, it's possible to change a user's account name in the Kerio Connect server. It might be necessary when a name changes after getting married or the user account has been compromised. The user will have to use the new account name when logging in from any client, and the default email address for the user will change to the new address (newname@company.com).

Prerequisites

Important! It is strongly recommended that you create a full backup of Kerio Connect data before you apply any changes. You can make a backup by using the Backup feature in the Kerio Connect server, or by copying mailserver.cfg , users.cfg, and the store directory. Please review the manuals for instructions on creating a full backup.

Note: This process requires that you stop the Kerio Connect service for a period of time.

Solution

1. Stop the Kerio Connect service.

2. Rename the user's account directory in the store folder to the new account name:
   1. Navigate to the directory where the user's mail is stored.
      • The store location can be found in the Admin Console in the Configuration > Advanced Options > Store Directory screen.
      • If Kerio Connect is installed on MacOS X or Linux, log in to the Kerio Connect machine as the user "root".
   2. From the store location, navigate into the domain directory, e.g., mail/company.com.
   3. Find the user's directory (e.g., jdoe) and rename it to the new account name (e.g., jsmith).
      
      

3. Start the Kerio Connect server.

4. Add the new user in the Administration Console.
   
   

5. Delete the old user in the Administration Console (choose the option to NOT delete the user's mail).
   
   

6. Click "Apply".

Testing

Email Accounts

If the user uses a Kerio Outlook Connector or a mobile device with an ActiveSync account, create a new profile for the user in MS Outlook.

In other email clients, change the login information in the Account Settings and restart the client.

Folder Sharing and File Subscriptions

Because of the complexity of changing the folder sharing and file subscription settings, you should instruct your users to re-share any folders they had shared with this user and re-subscribe to any folders of this user.

Forwarding Incoming Mail

If you require future incoming mail that is sent to the old account to go to the new account, create an alias that will deliver any mail addressed to the old email address (such as oldname@company.com) to the new address (such as newname@company.com).

Calendar Events

All calendar events created before renaming the user's mailbox will not be available for editing or deletion.

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