help with migrating exchange 5.5 to a new win2k/exchange2k server

[mortifire]

I need help with migrating exchange 5.5 to a new win2k/exchange2k server.

I have "inherited" an NT 4.0 server running as a BDC on my domain. This server also acts as my exchange server. I have a new server on which I am going to install windows 2000 server and exchange server 2000. This new server will not be a domain controller.

I am running a mixed mode environment at this time while I upgrade my current servers. The only ones left are my PDC, a BDC and the mail server (which is also a BDC).

What I would like to do is install the operating system and exchange on the new server and install our current setup so that both machines are running. This will give me an opportunity to test everything out on a couple of junk mailboxes and make sure everything is running correctly. The reason I want to do this is because the exchange 5.5 server has a bunch of unneeded junk on it and a half-baked setup. Heck, the PDC had netware services running on it that were never needed. I just want to make sure that it's a lean, mean machine and not full of the same old garbage as the old server.

Also, is it possible to run both exchange servers at the same time without causing problems? I do use a firewall that translates mail to an internal address of 10.0.0.41. Do I need to contact my ISP and have them translate to both servers?

Does anyone have any advice on how to transfer the mail data from the old server to the new one? Am I better off udgrading the PDC and other BDC first before attempting this?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[cgwillard]

I'm about to embark on the same project in a couple of months, so I'll be watching for the responses you get. Good question!

 

[ssphoenix]

Best way to get enough info to do your task (haven't seen many post on this subject) get on ebay and find exchange 2000 black book or similar once. For $19 it's worth having.


Hope this helps.

 

[vb8304]

Here are a couple of points that are important. If you are interested in integrating both servers and then eventually phase out the older 5.5 server become familiar with the ADC. This allows you to synch both Exchange 2000 and 5.5 so the objects and attributes are avaliable on 2k. Besides, i believe it is required in mixed mode environments. This will also allow you to install ex2k with 5.5 still being used then decommision the 5.5 server.

Of course, Active Directory must be installed first so you will need to upgrade the PDC to a domain controller.

I would research the various ways ADC can help. Depending also on the type of upgrade you are interested in deploying. I think the Resource Kit does an excellent job at defining how to do what it is you would like to accomplish. Any questions feel free to ask.

Vince.

 

[jasonhand]

Some other points to consider is that the Exchange 2000 has a migrate feature that will pull all of the mail and users from your 5.5 server. But, like someone else said, you need to upgrade your PDC to 2000 server or else it won't work anyway.

-Jason Hand