Migrate Exchange 5.5 users to Exchange 2003 1

[mikesid]

Sometime next month we are planning to change to an Exchange 2003 server. We are going to get a new server with Windows 2003 and put Exchange 2003.

Right now we have a Windows NT 4.0 server running Exchange 5.5. Does anyone know of any documents or books that explain how to migrate exchange 5.5 mailboxes, folders, etc to Exchange 2003? All of our users are on an NT 4.0 server.

 

[AlexIT]

Search (here or M$) for "Exmerge"...unless you have 100+ user mailboxes.

Alex

 

[zbnet]

The MS website definitely has documentation to cover this scenario. You have a few options, but there are procedures and recommendations for your migration, and understanding the process and sequence of events is as important as understanding the tools and utilities that will actually achieve the physical data migration for you.

 

[mikesid]

We have around 200 mailboxes.

 

[mikesid]

Zbnet,
you are right about the seequence of events. That is where I am getting confused. I have been readin up on the ms exchange site and the docs. From what I can gather I should:

Make sure I have AD installed and running
Install Windows 2003 server and Exchange 2003 server.
Add the Exchange server to the 5.5 site and then use the deployment wizard to configure the domain prep forest prep (and some other stuff
then migrate the users

But I don't know what order.

 

[unknwnusr]

You must be in active directory in order to install exchange 2003

Follow the deployment wizard which will describes these steps
below. However, here is the order below:

A/D check:
Confirm o/s minimum requirements met.
Confirm nntp, SMTP, asp.net services are installed on 2003 server.
Run Dsscope (check logs for errors)
Confirm support tools are installed.
Run Dcdiag (check logs for errors)
Run Netdiag (check logs for errors)
Review Exdeploy logs and correct all errors


Place Exchange 2003 CD in drive, select exchange deploy tools, [enter]
Select first 2003 Exchange server, [enter]
Select coexist with Exchange 5.5
Go through A/D check
Run Forest prep.
Run Domain prep, if security check pops up select ok.
Run Org Prep (review log for errors)
Install ADC connector.
Run adc
Create connection agreements for public folders and users
run setup prep
install exchange 2003
install smtp route for internet
replicate public folders on new 2003 server
move mailboxes
decommission exchange 5.5

These steps are outlined in the wizard on the Exchange 2003 CD.

I advise to run through the procedures in your test environment.

 

[weshot]

you might want to take a look of book title :
"Exchange 2003 Unleashed" --by Rand M.
his procedure provide safe deployment and minimize impact to end users.

 

[mikesid]

Thank you for the help. I just found out the other day that we may be going with Exchange 2000 and not 2003. would the same steps apply? Thank you again for the help.