zette

Hi All
I am expected to Install, configure and transfer mail boxes from and old exchange server running win2k onto a new server that will run Win 2003 Server and MS Exchange 2003. I need to know exactly the best way to transfer all users mailboxes and other files attached to the old exchange server with minimal interruption to users to the new one. Can someone assist me step by step....my deadline is close

Zette

zerofire

Before help can be given I require a little information. I would like to know the old MS exchange version and if the physical pc is the same or different.

zette

The old MS Exchange version is 5.5 and the OS is Win2k SP3. I am not sure of the capacity of the new server since it has not arrived as yet.

zerofire

You are a bit lucky because there would be a few issues if your setup was any different than what it already is. Here is what you need to know.

Active Directory and Exchange Server 5.5 Considerations

Before deploying Exchange Server 2003, you should familiarize yourself with certain Active Directory and Exchange Server 5.5 directory considerations.

Exchange Server 5.5 has its own directory service, which, by default, cannot communicate with Active Directory and Exchange Server 2003. Once you have completed your Active Directory setup, you can populate Active Directory with user information from your existing directory service. Exchange Server 2003 Active Directory Connector (ADC) is used to allow communication and synchronization between the Exchange Server 5.5 directory and Active Directory.
Active Directory Connector

Active Directory Connector (ADC) synchronizes current mailbox, custom recipient, public folder, and distribution list information from the Exchange Server 5.5 directory to Active Directory user accounts and groups, thereby eliminating the need for re-entering this data in Active Directory. You can download the latest version of ADC, along with the latest Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack, from the Downloads for Exchange Server 2003 page. You can also install the Exchange Server 2003 final version of the ADC from the Exchange Server CD.

Deploying Exchange Server 2003

The standard method for deploying Exchange Server 2003 involves joining a new Exchange Server 2003 server to your existing Exchange Server 5.5 organization and moving your Exchange Server data to Exchange Server 2003. You cannot perform an in-place upgrade from Exchange Server 5.5 to Exchange Server 2003. Instead, the recommended method is to install Exchange Server 2003 on a separate server in your Exchange Server 5.5 organization, and then migrate your users and public folders.

Luckily, the Exchange Server 2003 Deployment Tools can help you complete this process.

Exchange Server 2003 Deployment Tools

The Exchange Server Deployment Tools are tools and documentation that help with your deployment and validate that your organization is prepared for the Exchange Server 2003 installation. To ensure that all of the required tools and services are installed and running properly, you are required to run Exchange Server 2003 Setup through the Exchange Server Deployment Tools. Specifically, the Exchange Server Deployment Tools will help you run through Exchange Server 2003 ForestPrep, DomainPrep, and then Exchange Server Setup. You can download the latest version of the tools from the Downloads for Exchange Server 2003 page http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=25097.

The Exchange Server Deployment Tools also include the following tools that will help you migrate your Exchange Server 5.5 data to Exchange Server 2003:

* Active Directory Connector Tool
* PFMigrate Tool
* Move Mailbox

Active Directory Connector Tool

The ADC Tool leads you through the process of confirming that your Exchange Server 5.5 directory and mailboxes are ready for migration. ADC Tools are a collection of wizards and utilities that help you set up and configure your connection agreements. ADC Tools are configured to check your organization's configuration and connection agreements and provide a recommendation based on your configuration.

Important:
You should accept the recommendation in Active Directory Connector Tool.

After you have populated Active Directory with Windows NT 4.0 objects, connected the Exchange Server 5.5 directory to Active Directory, and installed your first Exchange Server 2003 server into the Exchange Server 5.5 organization, your next migration task is to use the Move Mailbox feature and the PFMigrate Tool to move your Exchange Server 5.5 mailbox and public folder contents into the Exchange Server 2003 organization. To use the Move Mailbox feature, run the Exchange Server Task Wizard, and then select the Move Mailbox option.

Switching from Mixed Mode to Native Mode

Now that you have deployed your Exchange Server 2003 servers and moved your Exchange Server 5.5 data to the new servers, you can switch your organization from mixed mode to native mode. (Running in mixed mode limits the functionality of Exchange Server 2003.) After you switch your Exchange Server 2003 organization from mixed mode to native mode, you cannot switch the organization back to mixed mode. Therefore, before you switch from mixed to native mode, make sure that your Exchange Server 2003 organization will not have to interoperate with Exchange Server 5.5 in the future.

I hope you can understand how its done now that you read through all that. Obviously some sections might be skip able but that is only based on if Exchange 5.5 is already running from active directory. Hope this helps a bit.

zette

Thanks very much for such detailed info....I will get workin on it as soon as my server comes...Thanks a mil!!!!!