Change Exchange server via group policy? 4

[mmendes]

My clients are all running Outlook 2003 on their desktops. They are currently configured as server1 as their exchange server. I need to change them all to point to the new exchange server2. Can this be done via Group Policy? Any other method?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Zelandakh]

Bring Server2 online. Move mailboxes.

Wait.

Once all clients have logged in and started Outlook, uninstall Server1.

The end.

 

[mmendes]

Zelandakh,

But won't their Outlook profile continue to look for server1 and give an error indicating server1 can't be located?

Thanks,

 

[Zelandakh]

Nope. Their Outlook profiles will update.

 

[58sniper]

Zelandakh is correct, although I would do more than just move the mailboxes

How to remove the first Exchange Server 2003 computer from the administrative group

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822931

follow that, but leave the original server online, as Zelandakh mentioned. Next time Outlook is opened, the old server will direct it to the new server, and Outlook will update the profile accordingly. Once all of the clients have accessed their mailboxes once, you're safe to remove Exchange from the old server.

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

 

[Zelandakh]

Erm, yeah - but I *did* specify uninstall the server.

Honestly, you answer a question and some guy with a big long signature comes along and gets the little purple star...

 

[mmendes]

Zelandakh,

I gave him the star due to the thoroughness of his answer, not the length of his sig.

Here is another chance for you, if you would please. What is happenning during the wait period? I ran a test by creating, then moving a test mailbox. Last night, immediately after the move, Outlook gave an error indicating it could not open the mailbox. This morning Outlook does open and I see that it did in fact switch to the new server just as you both said it would. So what changed over night?

Thanks again.

 

[58sniper]

AD now knows which store the mailbox is at. It usually only takes a couple of minutes.

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

 

[markdmac]

markdmac plays ninja at Zelendakh... stealthily runs away....

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[Zelandakh]

When you start Outlook it goes off to the server in the profile (DNS lookup and a WINS lookup) to ask about the mailbox. AD will then tell Outlook that the mail server home has changed and Outlook will update.

If AD has not updated / replicated then you will get an error from the old server that the mailbox cannot be found.

Once AD has replicated all clients should connect seamlessly. At that point you then need to wait while all clients start Outlook - if you shut down the old server too soon and some Outlook clients have not been used then they will fail once they are started.

And I was only having a bit of fun about the signature...

Sir Zelandakh, MCSE
Microsoft Exchange MVP
I already know how email works and that is why I am here -

http://www.tek-tips.com

 

[58sniper]

Well, it got me to fling a five pointed purple object your way. Sir.

Pat Richard
Humble servant