Migrating to Exch2000

[tosberg]

What is the easiest way to get mail from accounts on an Exchange5.5 server to the same accounts on an Exchange2000 server? Both servers are on the same network but we will be decommissioning the old 5.5 once the new one goes up.

 

[Zelandakh]

Add the 2000 to the 5.5 site. Then remove the 5.5 from the organisation.

 

[tosberg]

When you mean add 2000 to the 5.5 site, just connect it to the same network? What happens then? does 2000 take over and move all the old mail from 5.5 accounts to the 2000 accounts? Thanks for your help!

 

[Zelandakh]

No. On the install of 2000, you get the option to create a new org/site/server or join existing. Choose join existing, then use the migrate mailbox wizard to shunt the mailboxes from one server to the other. Then you can shut the 5.5 down and remove it from the site.

 

[tosberg]

We've already created the new site on a server already, which hasn't been connected to the network just yet. This is the one that is replacing the old one running 5.5 which is currently in production. So basically everything has been created and I just need to get the mail from the old 5.5 accounts to the 2000 accounts. I'm not sure of the best way to do this. I appreciate your help!

 

[tosberg]

So is there a different procedure now?

 

[Zelandakh]

In Exchange Admin highlight a test user, tools move mailbox. Select the new server.

Assuming it moves with no errors, you should be able to move the lot.

IMPORTANT NOTE - if it looks easy, it has a habit of going pear shaped. Backup everything at least twice before continuing!!! Check the backups worked, then do the above.

You could also do a backup and then restore the mailboxes to a different server.

 

[rarnold]

From your questions, I assume that you are starting from a a single server Exchange org. Have you looked at the upgrade docs at

http://www.microsoft.com/exchange?

Are your current Exchange 5.5 mailboxes owned by SAM accounts or AD accounts?

If it is not too late, put the new server on the network and re-install Exchange 2000, adding it to the exiting org/site. You cannot use Exchange 5.5 Admin to move a mailbox to a server in another org. Once you have a second server up in the site (Exchange 2000 server), use the Exchange 2000 System Manager to move mailboxes.

Of course, everything said above about backups still applies