Moving to a new server..

Street · 1 Sep 2007 at 12:21

I'm currently in the process of moving to a new server in our office. We have an old one with Server 2k3 on and I've just built a new one to replace it as the old one is on its last legs!

I was wondering if there is an easy way to migrate AD/Exchange to the new server as I'm too lazy to set it all up from scratch again? I've set up plenty of servers but I've never had to move AD/Exchange to a new one before.. Can I just do an Exchange backup and import that in the new one?

Any help is appreciated!

Andy

masterk · 1 Sep 2007 at 13:40

I believe you can just transfer the AD database over the network when you promote the new server to a domain controller. Forgotten exactly how to do it though.

sidethink · 1 Sep 2007 at 13:54

What you need to do is quite a long and complex process; in general terms:

1. Join your new server to the domain so it can take on all of the AD schema objects

2. Setup an exhcnage server on the new box and integrate it with the existing exchange organization - test this with some new mailboxes on that server

3. Move mailboxes and public folders from old exchange server to new one

4. Move FSMO roles to new server

5. Reconfigure any services such as DNS, WINS and DHCP on new server

6. Decommission old server (or keep it on the network as a DC)

Street · 1 Sep 2007 at 14:13

Cool, so there is no backup and import feature as such..

Running the two servers side by side for a while will probably be the best option as I will have to configure it when I'm actually in the office which probably won't be that much. That will leave everyone with full functionality while I move the things over slowly. Although saying that, I don't have my car on Wed so will probably get a whole day to crack on with it!