dovecot - Jun 2020 - Error deleting INBOX when doing an imap sync

Hi

I am trying to set up a new mail server with dovecot. I got it all 
installed and set up successfully but am running into problems trying to 
migrate from my current email server. I tried the following command:

doveadm -Dv -o imapc_host=[current-imap-host] -o 
imapc_user=[current-user] -o imapc_password=[password] -o 
imapc_features=rfc822.size -o mail_fsync=never backup -R -u [user] imapc:

It connects fine but eventually fails with the following errors:

 ??? dsync([user]): Error: Mailbox INBOX sync: mailbox_delete failed: 
INBOX can't be deleted.

 ??? dsync([user]): Debug: brain S: Remote mailbox tree: INBOX 
guid=[xxx] uid_validity=1591096439 uid_next=1 subs=no last_change=0 
last_subs=0

 ??? dsync([user] Debug: imapc([current-imap-host]:143): Disconnected


I am guessing the new INBOX is not compatible with the Inbox on my 
current mail server so it is trying to delete it. If so is there a way I 
can change my configuration to allow it to be deleted?

> On 3. Jun 2020, at 13.17, Des Magner <des at icandriveatractor.com>
wrote:
> 
> Hi
> 
> I am trying to set up a new mail server with dovecot. I got it all
installed and set up successfully but am running into problems trying to migrate
from my current email server. I tried the following command:
> 
> doveadm -Dv -o imapc_host=[current-imap-host] -o imapc_user=[current-user]
-o imapc_password=[password] -o imapc_features=rfc822.size -o mail_fsync=never
backup -R -u [user] imapc:
order matters. try:

-u <user> -R imapc:
> I am guessing the new INBOX is not compatible with the Inbox on my current
mail server so it is trying to delete it. If so is there a way I can change my
configuration to allow it to be deleted?
start from clean setup for the first backup run. Ie delete local mails. or move
them away.

Sami

On 03/06/2020 18.17, Des Magner wrote:
> ??? dsync([user]): Error: Mailbox INBOX sync: mailbox_delete failed: INBOX
can't be deleted.
Pretty sure I experienced this. I think what its telling you is the destination
mailbox already exists, and it doesn't want to delete it. This is probably
because you tried some syncs before, maybe unsuccessfully.

So, if you clear out the destination mail directory and re-try the backup, it
should work. Or maybe if you've already backed up a load of emails into the
destination, you might like to look at one-way sync instead? I haven't tried
this myself, and don't know if it works, so will defer to other far wiser
people on this list.

P.