# Copying Asterisk Files

**URL:** <https://community.asterisk.org/t/copying-asterisk-files/21814>\
**Category:** Asterisk Support\
**Created:** [July 3, 2008, 1:40pm UTC](https://community.asterisk.org/t/copying-asterisk-files/21814 "2008-07-03T13:40:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pikk292](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@pikk292](https://community.asterisk.org/u/pikk292)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 1:40pm UTC](https://community.asterisk.org/t/copying-asterisk-files/21814/1 "2008-07-03T13:40:03Z")

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I am a fairly novice user of Asterisk. My problem is, I want to copy some files from my current Asterisk installation so I can use them on a new upgraded box. I had no issues with moving/copying over most of the directories I needed but while using WinSCP or even trying to ftp the /var/lib/asterisk directories I get permission errors. This after stopping Asterisk by the way. I even tried changing the rights on the folders but to no avail. Can someone help? I need to get this done soon.

Thanks in advance.

S’ 😕

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**Author:** ![ianplain](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/asterisk/user_avatar/community.asterisk.org/ianplain/32/1776_2.png) [@ianplain](https://community.asterisk.org/u/ianplain)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://community.asterisk.org/t/copying-asterisk-files/21814/2 "2008-07-03T20:07:36Z")

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With what files ?

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**Author:** ![pikk292](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@pikk292](https://community.asterisk.org/u/pikk292)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://community.asterisk.org/t/copying-asterisk-files/21814/3 "2008-07-04T14:54:02Z")

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I am migrating my current system to a new box and recent version of Asterisk but that’s irrelevant. My problem is I need to copy all of the files from the /var/lib/asterisk and /var/spool/asteriskdirectories…namely, all of my prompt files and mailbox files. I can’t just re-record all my custom prompts.

TIA

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**Author:** ![davevg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6a8cbe/32.png) [@davevg](https://community.asterisk.org/u/davevg)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://community.asterisk.org/t/copying-asterisk-files/21814/4 "2008-07-04T18:25:00Z")

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Try tar/gzip’ing them up and copying over the single file and then untar/gzip them. Something like this:

```auto

```

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**Author:** ![pikk292](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@pikk292](https://community.asterisk.org/u/pikk292)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://community.asterisk.org/t/copying-asterisk-files/21814/5 "2008-07-04T18:46:01Z")

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Thanks! I’ll give it a try.

S