Migrating an exchange server from one domain to another. Possible?

[Oaktech]

Hi All,

 

we are looking to move from an RM 2003 domain to a vanilla 2008r2 domain in the summer. we have recently built a new exchange 2010 server on our existing domain following a failure on our original exchange 2003 box.

 

Is it possible to move an exchange 2010 box from one domain to another or is it a case of building a new one on the new domain and then re-attaching mail boxes to users?

 

Can anyone point me to a document about this?

[ful56_uk]

Looking to do the same, how did you get on?

[seawolf]

From Exchange 2007 onward MS did not provide an xdr-fixup tool as they did with Exchange 2003. I would recommend building a new Exchange server and importing the data from the old Exchange server.

 

If you are really keen to try to do a rename on your existing Exchange server though, you could take a look at this thread where Matt Crowley (MVP) gives it the green light, although an uninstall of Exchange is required (gasp) and the admin still had some issues with importing PSTs afterwards with many crashes in the process.

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/enterprise-software/132319-migrating-exchange-server-one-domain-another-possible.html

 

A final word of warning. If you do this, take at least two backups of your Exchange server (bare metal or Veeam and of the exchange database itself) before proceeding and follow the steps outlined very carefully. You may end up with a toasted Exchange server. I'd give it at least a 30% chance of likelihood in fact.

[ful56_uk]

If rather not do a rename, so is the best way a cross org migration?