Moving Exchange form one server to another

[tosca925]

As any one moved Exchange server form one server to another before?
We have Exchange 2003 on a old server that is going to be updated with anew server in the new year. Has anyone ever moved Exchange to other server. If so can you point me in the direction of advice or give me any tips?

Currently it only does internal email but this will change soon.

[Ric_]

It's a simple case of installing Exchange on the new box (into the same organisation) and then you can just drag the mailboxes into the mailbox store on the new server. A couple of wizards later and you can use Add/Remove Programs to uninstall the origional box.

It's pretty easy but you should obviously backup your data first.

[k-strider]

Yes... i did it from an Exchange 2000 box to a new Exchange 2003 box..

there are lots of things you need to check... do a search I am sure this has been covered already.
If the current Exchange Server is the first exchange server there are extra steps you need to take.
The best method would be to install your new Exchange server whilst the other is still running... move all the mail boxes from old to new... leave it like this for a while so all the outlook clients work out that the mailbox has moved...
Check these
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=314649
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822931
http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/...-Hardware.html

[SpuffMonkey]

I did this the other week - I'll post up my crib notes if you want.

[Kyle]

I'd like to see the crib notes spuff if you get chance....

[ajbritton]

Do Outlook clients automagically update themselves with the name of the new server?

[Roberto]

They do if you leave the old server up for a while to redirect them

[Ric_]

IIRC, my clients updated the first time Outlook was opened after moving the mailboxes. I can't remember if I had to get everyone to close their mail when I moved the mailboxes (it may have been done during the hols).

[ajbritton]

I don't suppose a DNS alias would work...

[SpuffMonkey]

Actually - after looking at the crib - most of the info was about how I was going to rebuild the old Exchange server. But here's the few lines left that are about Exchange. The KB822931 is the meat of it - have a good read of that before you start.

Blimey - how do you insert a file on this thing?? Never mind - I'll just paste the text as its short.

Notes for Exchange Server Move


Note the IP/WINS info on the old server

Exchange Server Manager – note the SMTP details

Check & note the Recipient Policies – these act as the defaults for new users, the SMTP one should be @<school>.<county>.sch.uk

Install Exchange on the new server

Move the mailboxes from old server to new server – easiest through ADUC – find the Exchange Mailbox objects and select and move – this will take some time – double check that they have transferred without error. Refind in ADUC – should see the location now set as new server

Don’t take the System and SMTP mailboxes

Old server is currently the “bridgehead server” – this is the equivalent of being the PDC. Need to move this role to new server – see KB 822931

[ChrisH]

I have started doing this today and it seems a common error when adding another server is to get problems when using send receive with outlook. The mail sends and receives but you get and error saying an object cant be found.
Anyway its to do with the offlline address book replication. In my case it hadnt replicated atl all to the new server and I had to add the entries manually. Anyway I shall save anyone 2 hours looking for the solution if they ahve this problem. Read this post http://forums.msexchange.org/m_140040800/mpage_4/tm.htm

There are many different solutions but they are mostly the same stuff.

Edit if you follow the above suggested KB article you shouldnt have any of this trouble but I still got it with both servers running because I though I would just move one mailbox over and test.