SBS 2003 Migration Questions

[Major_Disaster]

Hello,

Was just wondering what your thoughts on this setup are:

Currently have SBS 2003 server setup and running. Couple of clients (XP SP3) connected. All running fine, however the network is not connected to the internet and the user accounts have been setup as Company1, Company2 etc.

There is a standalone internet PC running outlook which collects email to one [email protected] address.

This is obviously not ideal, so im looking to migrate to a more standard Exchange setup. Im also looking on renaming / recreating the user account in the regular First.Last name style. But im wondering just what the steps would be? Im thinking:

• Put the server online.
• Install AV / Anstispam / Updates
• Sort out WSUS
• Create new user accounts and migrate data over (?)
• Copy over the PST and merge it into Exchange (somehow?)
• Setup individual mail boxes
• Setup the shared [email protected] mailbox (somehow?)

Does that seem about right? My main concern is transferring the emails from the standalone PC into Exchange and restoring the sales mailbox.

Cheers for any input

 

[Rob7865]

HI
Are you looking to set up a New SBS 08 box and move your current data across or looking to setup the SBS 2003 box correctly?!

What is the reason for s having the user accounts as Company1, company 2 etc? Are management just wanting a generic access account or do they want users to have their own login?

With SBS ALWAYS USE THE WIZARDS!! The way I would do this is:

Install the Server OS - Patch /Update and reboot as needed.
Run the Internet connection Wizard (sets up ISA rules too, if 2003 Prem.)
Setup User Accouts and Computer Accounts using the ADD USER Wizard (this also creates the Exchange Mailboxes)
Connect Client PC's to network and Run the Connect Computer Wizard to Join Machines to domain
Setup the Sales as a User Account
Copy the Sales PST file to Shared Folder on the Server.
Login as Sales user on Client PC
Import Sales PST into Outlook.

The Sales Mailbox can then be added as an additional mailbox to the users mail profiles as needed.

Rob

 

[Major_Disaster]

Thanks for the reply.

Nope, just looking to set up the 2003 box correctly!

The reason for the username is simply becuase no one knew how to operate the server, so in the event of someone leaving the company and a replacement being hired, no one knew how to create the new user accounts! But now im quite experienced i have taken over its management.

So i would have to create brand new user accounts and transfer the data across?

With the sales@company email is it best practise to setup a public folder? That .pst also has a bunch of contacts that would need to be shared - public folder again?

Just getting slighly confused between user and public mail box approach i guess.

Cheers

 

[Rob7865]

Hi
Yeah, if you going to do this correctly, I would setup new User accounts for the users as needed.

Yeap, you can create a public folder - if you use the Distribution wizard this will also create the Public Folder too. Once in place, you can then drag n drop the emails into the public folder. Then Create another public folder to hold the contact and drag them across too!
Hope that make sence?!

 

[Ev0]

With the sales@company email is it best practise to setup a public folder? That .pst also has a bunch of contacts that would need to be shared - public folder again?

Personally no, I wouldn't use a public folder.

I'd setup a shared mailbox as Rob said in his original post.