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Exchange Server Hardware Upgrade
- Thread starter monksey
- Start date
HI.
There are many different methods.
Here is what I would have try:
* Schedule enough downtime - this kind of tasks can take a long time.
* Backup the current server using ALL 3 methods:
1) Normal exchange database backup.
2) Brick level exchange backup of all mailboxes.
3) Offline backup - stop Exchange services and copy all EXCHSRVR folders to another disk location or tape (note the amount of disk space and time needed).
* Prepare the new server - check hardware, verify you have all needed drivers, make a test install to test networking and backup, etc.
* Install drivers for SCSI adapter of the new server on the existing one. This will hopefuly allow loading a duplicate of the server later without the BSOD.
* Duplicate the existing server to the hard disks of the new one. This can be done in several different methods, like GHOST, backup&restore, etc..
It is recommended to create a new primary 8gb NTFS partition on the new disk, then copy the existing C partition to it.
Duplicate other partitions as needed.
If you have a RAID 5, then you can use backup and restore.
* Try to boot the duplicated copy on the new server then add and configure additional drivers (display, networking, backup, etc).
Again - this is not the only way, but I would have try this first.
In any case - make sure you have excellent backups, and enough time for the proccess.
Bye
Yizhar Hurwitz
There are many different methods.
Here is what I would have try:
* Schedule enough downtime - this kind of tasks can take a long time.
* Backup the current server using ALL 3 methods:
1) Normal exchange database backup.
2) Brick level exchange backup of all mailboxes.
3) Offline backup - stop Exchange services and copy all EXCHSRVR folders to another disk location or tape (note the amount of disk space and time needed).
* Prepare the new server - check hardware, verify you have all needed drivers, make a test install to test networking and backup, etc.
* Install drivers for SCSI adapter of the new server on the existing one. This will hopefuly allow loading a duplicate of the server later without the BSOD.
* Duplicate the existing server to the hard disks of the new one. This can be done in several different methods, like GHOST, backup&restore, etc..
It is recommended to create a new primary 8gb NTFS partition on the new disk, then copy the existing C partition to it.
Duplicate other partitions as needed.
If you have a RAID 5, then you can use backup and restore.
* Try to boot the duplicated copy on the new server then add and configure additional drivers (display, networking, backup, etc).
Again - this is not the only way, but I would have try this first.
In any case - make sure you have excellent backups, and enough time for the proccess.
Bye
Yizhar Hurwitz
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks a lot. I didn't know wether I could simply do a disk to disk copy. Won't NT get upset when it tries to boot on the new server. We are going from mirrored disks to RAID 5.
At least this way I will always have a working Exchange Server even if the new installation fails. I have heard about exmerge to migrate mailboxes after I have built a new exchange server, does this mean I would have to change the name of my server ?
If you have any more ideas I would appreciate them.
Thanks again
At least this way I will always have a working Exchange Server even if the new installation fails. I have heard about exmerge to migrate mailboxes after I have built a new exchange server, does this mean I would have to change the name of my server ?
If you have any more ideas I would appreciate them.
Thanks again
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