Can I access Kontact data from two different Kubuntu distros?

[PhilT]

Like lots of Kubuntu users I like to run several distributions. I have a double hard-drive system with automatic backups and a shared data drive (for redundancy). Using this shared data drive I can access a document from, say, Kubuntu 11.10, or an experimental Mint 12 distro I was tryiing out, or share data with other virtual distriibutions on VirtualBox.

But one thing I have never tried to "share" is Kontact data (Korganiser and Kmail) always preserving that on the main distribution's " /home " directory. I tried out an early build of 12.04 and would like to re-visit 12.04 now it's getting close to release. But it would be great IF one could share Kontact data somehow so that one could access data from 11.10 or 12.04 while the fun testing goes on!

Maybe mixing data like that is a "bad idea" though? Any advice would be welcome.

[SecretCode]

I hope someone who's tried it will respond ...

I have not got into Kontact - my mail and PIM data is in Mozilla Thunderbird. But I have been able to share a working profile between a windows and a *buntu installation. That worked because Mozilla explicitly supports multiple profiles and the ability to move your profile data around, and import it from a backup.

So I would look for similar capabilities in the Kontact suite: does it have a way to change the location where its data is stored? Are there recognised procedures for importing data from a previous system when you install? (There must be, but what would make it easier is if the import is a file system copy activity rather than something run under the control of Kontact without you knowing what it's doing.)

I think it's a fine idea ... as long as the versions of the apps are not too different. That could cause the newer version to save formats the older one doesn't recognise.



You could always try it and let us know how much data you lose, I mean how successful you are!

[woodsmoke]

I save everything to a usb stick.

I quite realize that I could save it to the cloud but the only attempt that I have made to do that so far is with Google.

Probably, Ubuntu One would fill the bill. There are several distros in which Nautilus has a "share this folder" that is directed at a Ubu One account. One would probably have to do it with a .csv type file, and it would probably not be a "sync", per se.

woodsmoke

[SteveRiley]

So this has given me an idea to experiment with. I'm wondering whether its possible to store all Akonadi-related files (database, configs, etc.) on some cloud storage, and then configure the Akonadi server, KMail, and KOrganizer to use those files rather than local copies? Hmm...!

[woodsmoke]

Hi

I think part of the answer is in how much "work" one wants to do and when and where.

One will note that in Kontact/Configure/Misc that message folders that are stored "on the disk" are stored in directories in the "maildir" format.

If one inspects the properties of the Folders/inbox one will note that in maintanence there is:

Contents: Mail
Folder type: Maildir
location: /home/woodsmoke/.kde/share/apps/kmail/mail/inbox

So, a simple answer is that the inbox can be copied to a usb stick or an external hard drive or to the cloud, like UbuntuOne or Dropbox.

However, although "the mail" is copied, that does not necessarily copy other things that one may want copied and it does not copy the "settings".

However the simple fix to not having "settings" copied is to not change anything from the default settings, except of course, to add passwords.

One can also copy calendar information etc.

However, this is not "syncing" it is copying and opening.

So, as to "syncing" there are simple and complicated solutions.

The simple solution is to use Akonadi/Google.

However, there are variable problems that come and go with that.

Two other solutions are to setup:

a) a "roaming account" for Kontact, which would use "the cloud" assumedly something like Ubuntuone.
b) the other answer is to setup an "LDAP" server or a "SAMBA" situation.

However, again, there are problems. The main problem being, aside from setting the system up, that of possible, or probably data loss. The data loss is apparently dependent on bandwidth and size of the file.

So to address the two solutions:

The earliest post that I could find about using Kontact in a "roaming profile" situation was that of UN-enabling, in other words, one has set up a "roaming profile" is back in October and November of 2011.

The salient comment is that Kontact works along with many other front ends, but,they really knock Outlook.

Here is the comment:

pretty basic/obvious answers

NIS is ancient technology and offers very little security so LDAP is the
way to go.

NFS if we are talking about Linux/POSIX users with 'roaming' profiles
though in actuality, their profiles don't roam, NFS handles the $HOME
directory mounts.

You can easily configure $HOME automounts in LDAP

Yes, the signal to noise ratio is high on this list.

Craig

Here is a VERY OLD thread (2008) that comments that using "Scalix"(the Xandros software) and SAMBA work and interface with Windows Vista and Kontact machines.

However, the particular discussion is about using "PST" files which, back then had problems:

http://samba.2283325.n4.nabble.com/O...td2447847.html


Soooooooooooooooooo we can now come back to present day.

Here is an "idea" at Ubu sandbox wherein a person wants to use OpenID to get at different profiles in different places and the reply is that it is a solution in want of a problem.

However, the PREGNANT reply is that: LDAP "works very well".

http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/28542/

So, the cut to the chase, in terms of information on web is:

letup an LDAP server and it brings a "roaming profile" with it.

SteveRiley mentioned this in another thread and says that he has it set up.

Here is a very good discussion of all the "parts" that are needed to do it, and that a Linux distro called "Clear OS" has it pre-configured.

It is a SLOW LOAD... I think because of all the links at the right side, but it is really worth a look.

http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7662/

But, what I do is use a USB stick.

woodsmoke

[woodsmoke]

EDIT to final sentence.

I forgot to write: USB stick and Google.

I have a hard drive with Kubuntu, another with SuperOS, another with Mint another with Precise on them.

I have all of the Kontacts on them synced with Google calendar/mail/contacts etc.

I plug and unplug the drives on one machine.

I also work with mail and calendar at the college using Outlook.

I also have an Android phone with Google stuff on it.

So, I am doing what you say, using different hard drives instead of different machines, and also using different machines, only I am doing it through Google and making a permanant archive on the USB stick.

woodsmoke

[PhilT]

Thanks for the responses, folks! It seems that the "simple" idea of accessing Kontact from separate ditros is pretty complicated to execute. :eek:

I think for the moment I'll just use Kontact in my main 11.10 system and update to 12.04 when it's stable, and just use the 12.04 test system to watch the development progress. In the past I have had various problems (and some data loss) from copying Kontact data and moving it about and I don't want to risk any more data loss (although my daily automatic backup should take care of that?)

But since I have a second email account (in gmail) which automatically forwards all mail to my main email account (with orange.co.uk) it occurs to me I could follow woodsmoke's ideas and use the gmail account as a "sync-space". So, thanks for the heads-up! I'll experiment with that.

[woodsmoke]

Hi and thanks.

I would really, really like for you to come back and give us a short run-down on your experiences.

woodsmoke