Upgrading Exchange 2003 to SP2

The_KiD · 13 Sep 2007 at 10:16

Have been asked if I can upgrade someone's Exchange 2003 server to SP2 from SP1 so they can enlarge the size of their mailboxes.

Exchange is something I have very little experience of, although I am more than confident in server 2000, 2003, AD, etc etc

Is it a difficult process or is there anything that would warrant them getting an exchange expert to do it?

If it is simply a case of backing up their settings, applying the update, restarting and bingo then I will go for it. Even if it is a tad more convoluted than that I would be able to do it I think.

Just wanted your opinions on whether it is a difficult process or not?

Hodders · 13 Sep 2007 at 10:44

It should be as simple as running the install. I would always suggest a good image of the server before the install as if things go wrong you will be in for a world of pain and an image will make your life so much easier.

The_KiD · 13 Sep 2007 at 11:50

Cheers Hodders, when you say it "should" be as simple, have you done it? Was it that simple?

Just need to make sure there isnt much to it before I go messing with places servers.

oddjob62 · 13 Sep 2007 at 12:04

I don't think it even needs a reboot, done it on a few servers.

Remember it doesn't automatically make the max database size increase, you need to make a registry change to enable this.
http://www.petri.co.il/change_store_size_limits_ex2003_sp2.htm

stoofa · 13 Sep 2007 at 12:07

MS Exchange is a beast as you'll no doubt see.
When I first rolled Exchange 2000 out many years ago I had next to zero experience with it.
We're now running on Exchange 2003, testing Exchange 2007 (looking to upgrade soon) and only after nearly 7 years do I feel any major confidence playing with Exchange and its settings.

Do yourself a favour - make sure you've got a good backup of everyones mail before you start.
I don't know what you use for backup - we use Networker that now allows us to backup & retrieve individual mailboxes.
We obviously backup the whole server nightly - but you can run one off jobs.
Make sure the mail is backed up and if possible do a practice retrieve from your chosen backup system.
Create a test account for example, populate it with some mail, back it up, delete it and bring it back from your backup.
The amount of people who backup their network servers without ever testing to make sure they can actually get the data back is scary.

I've done two such upgrades, SP1 to SP2 (our UK and US based servers) and they both went without a single hitch.
Obviously all of the services will need to restart, so best done out of hours or get everyone out of the system before hand.
I would recommend that you tell people when it is going to happen and before you actually start the process reboot the server.
This process will terminate any rogue or dropped connections that the Exchange server maybe holding onto.

After the reboot just install the SP and then go to Microsoft Update (not Windows Update) as there are some post SP2 patches that you will also want to install.