Now that you're ready to move to GWAVA 4, one of the most common questions that comes up is "how do I migrate my GWAVA 3 configuration?".

That's a great question and we even have a wizard built in to GWAVA 4 for this.

After the discussion, you will see why we generally recommend the you start up a new configuration rather than importing an old one.

Let's think about this for a moment and see what exactly we DO have in the GWAVA 3 configuration that we would want to migrate.

1) spam configuration. You've spent a lot of time, perhaps, in optimizing your antispam engine. There are two points about this.

2) general configuration: oversize, attachment types, fingerprinting, etc

3) black lists

4) white lists

5) exceptions to filters.

Let's go over these points.

For #1 - spam configuration. In GWAVA 4, the antispam engine is totally new. PLUS it's auto-learning. Our field experience shows that the engine will train itself up automatically in a matter of days.

So, there is not much need to import an old configuration. Another key point supporting this is that spam configurations should constantly be tuned and updated to maintain accuracy. This implies GWAVA 4's auto learning system.

So, for point #1, I would suggest "no need to migrate" - simply set up autolearning and watermarks - then watch GWAVA 4 do the rest automatically.

If you've run GWAVA 3.7 and you've trained the advanced antispam dictionaries, you will probably want to manually move these dictionaries over to GWAVA 4 OR you can simply let GWAVA 4 do the autolearning.

Basically, "no need to migrate".

For #2 - general configuration - these settings are done in a matter of minutes. It's sometimes faster just to redo them.

Again - "no need to migrate".

For #3 - black lists - this varies wildly from installation to installation. Most black lists we've seen are short enough to redo manually. Look at your own and be sure that you're not just putting spammers on a black list based on "From" address. Because spammers SELDOM use the same address over and over, the merits of blocking spammers with a black list are questionable at best. Usually, you'll use a black list to block some very specific things and not usually for spamming.

So, "not much need to migrate".

For #4 - white lists/exceptions. This is the biggie. Some systems have THOUSANDS of entries, others don't. This is the real reason we put in a migration tool in the first place.

BEFORE you simply re-enter your white list, consider for a moment the entries you have here. For many people, these entries are from people or services you REGULARLY receive correspondence from and they're always good - which is what they're doing on a white list in the first place.

Well, if that's the case, then why not make watermarks out of them? Watermarks are for people who NEVER send you spam. So a watermark will positively identify your correspondents and spammers who use their address will not fool the watermark system.

This will have the effect of training up the antispam system automatically as you receive correspondence from them.

So seriously consider making watermarks out of them. You may have an address watermarked AND white listed and still use them as a non-spam training source.

If your white list is very large, then yes, use the wizard and begin transitioning addresses to watermarks beginning with the ones you correspond with MOST. The more good mail that gets put into the auto learning system, the better the results GWAVA 4 will give you.

So: "migrate if your white lists are very large" otherwise simply recreate it as watermarks.

For #5 - Exceptions to filters are usually a few at a time and to specific filters. GWAVA 4 allows you to get far more granular and these items are best recreated manually.

A good example might be if two people in I.T. need to have an exception to the attachment filter on EXE files or PDF but you still want to block against viruses.

GWAVA 3's filters did not have this level of detail and GWAVA 4's system of events and services will allow you to get this detailed while maintaining protection overall.

Conclusion

Generally, we recommend just creating a new scanner and entering white listed items as watermarks. With GWAVA 4's auto-learning system, its antispam engine will be delivering amazing results in a matter of days.

With a little effort done one time when you first install and configure GWAVA 4, you will enjoy the best results with a minimum of follow-up and tuning down the road.

Enjoy your new GWAVA 4 installation!

Willem