Exchange 5.5 to SBS 2003

[proudusa]

Hi all,

I am in the process of upgrading my exchange server 5.5 to exchange 2003 included in SBS 2003.

I have already installed SBS 2003 in an existing domain with no problem (made it a GC, transferred roles, etc). Now i want to install the sbs components and then migrate my mailboxes from exchange 5.5 to 2003 on the SBS machine.

I have read several articles regarding the migration but nothing specifically with sbs 2003. Do i handle it just like if exchange 2003 was on a standard W2K3 machine? As i understand it, i would run the deployment tools, create the connectors if coexistence is necessary and the move the mailboxes. I will end up having to create a new organization b/c of invalid characters in the ORG when 5.5 was first set up. Setting up a new organization i would then migrate via the wizard and use inter-org replication tool to bring over the public folders.

If anyone was done this migration i would appreciate any feedback. I am testing but would like to hear from someone that has performed it.

thanks

 

[ShackDaddy]

Everything I know about Exchange (both SBS and non-SBS) makes me think your plan should work, since there is almost no difference between the versions (just think Exchange Standard), but I haven't done what you are attempting before. If I were doing the same thing, I'd simply follow all the existing 5.5 to 2003 Standard documentation.

I'd set up a VMWare instance of SBS 2003 and do a trial run before committing to a production migration.

ShackDaddy
Shackelford Consulting

 

[58sniper]

There are some differences, but probably not anything you'd need to worry about.

You don't mention how many users you have, nor how much email you have. If it's not a lot, you might be better off doing an exmerge to export it from the 5.5 box, and then exmerge to import it into the new box.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[proudusa]

Thanks guys.

I have 35 or so users with equal amount of mailboxes.

 

[proudusa]

IS size right now is around 11GB

I know with exmerge you lose single instance store and believe the only other caveat is that the user does not have a mailbox in destination server.

 

[58sniper]

Well, they would have to have a mailbox on the destination server in order for you to import the data into.

True - you lose SIS. And Exmerge doesn't support .pst files larger than 2GB.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt