Moving Exchange 5.5 from NT 4.0 to 2K 3

[kendaukcat]

First Off...let me premise this question by saying this forum has been incredibly uselful to me over the past few days. Technet pales in comparison!

Here is my dilemma...

I am moving exchange 5.5 from a NT 4.0 box to a 2K server with a different name. I have read the Ed Crowley Server Move Method (

http://www.swinc.com/resource/exch_faq_appxa.htm)

I start running into questions when I am instructed to create replicas of the public folders on the new server. Am I just supposed to create directories or copy the entire contents of the directories as well?

How do I move connectors from the old server to the new server?

How do I create a parallel conmnector to all connected sites on the new server?

How do I modify MX records?

I suppose what I am asking for is step by step instructions from #5 of the link above onward.

I apologize for my naivety. However, I am a relative Newbie who needs to have his hand held from time to time. These instructions were great, they just still need a little clarification for Exchange "mental midgets" such as myself.

Thank you in advance!

Ken

 

[Xybertron]

We have whitepapers on this on the website...

Basically move databases to Win2k server. Then rename 5.5 server and then rename win2k with the original name. Install Ex5.5 with same org and site and then stop all services and drop in databases and your done.

No need to change MX record if you have same ip. Dan
Microsoft Exchange Support @ Microsoft

 

[kendaukcat]

Thank you for the reply...there is one problem though. The new exchange server is planned to have a new name with a new IP address.

 

[PKinghan]

Hi Kendaukcat,

I am having the exact same problem as yourself. I also want to give it a new name and a new IP address. This should be relatively straightforward however I, like you, get confused when it comes to MX records etc. Have you found out anything yet?

Thanks

Paul Kinghan

 

[kendaukcat]

Paul,

I have heard nothing more concerning the MX records. Luckily, we have a pretty savy DNS administrator here who has offered to help me out in that regard. I will pass along the information as it becomes available.

 

[PKinghan]

Thanks Kendaukcat!

The only stuff I have to go on are the Ed Crowley method of a server move, the MS white paper "How to Change the MS Exchange Server 5.5 Service Account", and Q199954: "Forklifting All Users to a New Server". I'm sure the answer is in these papers somewhere.

Thanks for your reply and I look forward to heaing from you soon.

Best wishes

Paul

 

[ilpadrino]

Just last week I moved my exchange server 5.5 to a new server with new name and ip. But the server is NT4, not Win2k. However, I don't think it matters since your exchange server will be the same version.

Basically I used the exmerge tool to get all data off the old system. I also exported my public folders to pst's. Then I installed exchange on the new server and used the exmerge tool to import all user data into the new server. As far as MX is concerened, our ISP points to our router. Then the router redirects to the private LAN. So we did nothing with the MX, only changed our router to point to the new internal ip.

I also had some further complications, because I manage 4 seperate domains with 4 exchange servers and some trusts with DRAS were involved. But everything works great. Exmerge is a great tool. It took a total of 4 hours for exmerge to complete the transfer on the 1.5 Gig IS.

Hope this perspective helps your situation. Good luck.
Joe.

 

[PKinghan]

Thank you very much for your input, I think we're going to try your method. How do I go about getting the Exmerge Tool? In moving our mail and data from our old Exchange on Nt4 to our new Echange server running W2K, will we need more than one version of Exmerge Tool or will the one suffice? Where do I get the Exmerge Tool?

Thanks again for your help. It's very much appreciated!

Paul

 

[Zelandakh]

Paul,

You only need the one exmerge and you already have it - it is either on the Back Office CD or the NT tools and diags disk.

 

[ilpadrino]

Look at this q-article for a link to a downolad of exmerge:

Q272570

Are you running Active Directory? If not, you should be fine. If you are, there is another tool off the Microsoft site that will transition Exchange 5.5 to the Active Directory.

Joe

 

[PKinghan]

Thanks Joe,

Because we want to move Exchange from NT4 to W2K we will be using Active Directory on W2K. Where can I find this nw tool you are referring to? Thanks again for your help. I don't think exmerge is going to work.

Paul