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Replacing an Ex2K server with a lager Server - 4.Feb.2003 8:19:00 AM

maunder

Posts: 20
Joined: 22.Nov.2001
Status: offline

Hi,

I need to replace my current Ex2K server with a new gruntier box.

My plan is to

1. back up the Ex2K DB using Veritas BU Exec V8.6

2. Disjoin the old Ex Server from the domain.

3. Join my new box (which has the same name) to the domain.

4. Load Ex2K onto it. (Do I need to use the Disaster Recovery option?)

5. Restore the Ex2K DB using BU Exec.

Will this work? Will I have problems with SID's?

This must be a very common practise but I cant find any articles or papers which address it.

Any help would be appreciated.

John

Post #: 1

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RE: Replacing an Ex2K server with a lager Server - 4.Feb.2003 12:40:00 PM

valeno

Posts: 63
Joined: 17.Jan.2003
From: Cape Town
Status: offline

In Exchange 2000, Active Directory almost always survives a disaster that occurs to an Exchange 2000 computer, and you cannot install an Exchange 2000 Server recovery computer in the Active Directory forest while also installing the recovery server outside the existing Exchange organization because there can be only one Exchange 2000 organization for each forest. Therefore, you cannot reinstall Exchange 2000 on a server without first removing that server from Active Directory. However, you do not want to remove the server from Active Directory because all of the configuration information will then be lost.
In Exchange 2000, the Setup utility /disasterrecovery switch solves this problem. In disaster recovery mode, Setup installs Exchange 2000 program files and local registry settings, but assumes that Active Directory information remains intact. Setup searches for the server in Active Directory, and reconfigures the local setup based on what Setup finds in Active Directory.
In disaster recovery mode, Setup only restores the components that you choose to restore. If you do not choose a component that was previously installed, that component is not restored. For example, if a particular connector was installed on the server, you need to manually select that connector in Setup before you begin restoration.
After Setup finishes, you can restore information store databases, and those information store databases are restored to the correct previous locations because information store database paths are stored in Active Directory.

(in reply to maunder)

Post #: 2

RE: Replacing an Ex2K server with a lager Server - 11.Feb.2003 4:43:00 PM

skearon

Posts: 3
Joined: 11.Feb.2003
From: Dublin, Ireland
Status: offline

Hi

I have a similar query:

Existing Exchange server to be replaced with new server (faster, more ram etc etc)

What precisely is the procedure?

Do I run setup /disasterrecovery on a new member server whilst the old exchange server is still connected and running ?

Or do I disconnect the original server first?

Does the new server have to have the same name ?

Once the new server is setup do I then just simply restore from a backup of the private store?

(in reply to maunder)

Post #: 3

RE: Replacing an Ex2K server with a lager Server - 11.Feb.2003 5:39:00 PM

Robkingabs

Posts: 2
Joined: 4.Feb.2003
From: Scotland
Status: offline

OK, I just did this.

I did a complete backup of my old server using NtBackup (Windows 2000 Advanced Server)

I then installed Windows 2000 Advanced Server on my new server, giving it the same name and IP address as my old server (offline by this time) I then created identical partitions om my new server (c:\, d:\, e:\) and did a complete restore from the backup I made of my old server.

The only problem I encountered was that I had to delete some old Exchange log files on the new server to get the databases to load.

I didn't have to install E2K, only the O/S.

Robert [Cool]

(in reply to maunder)

Post #: 4

RE: Replacing an Ex2K server with a lager Server - 12.Feb.2003 2:58:00 AM

maunder

Posts: 20
Joined: 22.Nov.2001
Status: offline

Hi guys. Thanks for replying.

I asked around here (Adelaide in Australia). Seems no one was prepared to risk Restoring EX2K DB's to a non identical box.

What I have ended up doing was to,

1. Build the new server with W2Ksp3 & call it a different name.

2. Join the domain & Load Ex2K.

3. Move the mailboxes (exMerge utility) & Public Stores to the new box.

4. Remove the 'old' Ex2K box from the domain (followed a Q307917 article). In my case this was the First Ex2K server so there were lots of little steps.

5. Retire the original server.

Step 3 was the biggest pain but my event Viewer Application Log is clean for the very first time. I had a Ghost of an Ex5.5sp4 server which I got rid of. But that's another story.

John

(in reply to maunder)

Post #: 5

RE: Replacing an Ex2K server with a lager Server - 25.Feb.2003 10:57:00 PM

Ibrokeit

Posts: 5
Joined: 25.Feb.2003
From: Kansas City
Status: offline

This is great info you provided, but what is the best practice. I'm in the middle of doing this for my client.
I have a new server, the old one is still running (barely). I want to move all of the mailboxes, store, etc.. to the new box (painlessly).

Is there a good answer or am I in for a weekend job?

thanks!

(in reply to maunder)

Post #: 6

RE: Replacing an Ex2K server with a lager Server - 25.Feb.2003 11:09:00 PM

maunder

Posts: 20
Joined: 22.Nov.2001
Status: offline

Hi,

I just spent last weekend doing it. Worked well but the mailbox moves took a long time. If you keep your old EX server up you can move people over a period of time instead of 1 big hit. (You need to leave it up anyway so that, when users log into the new server, Outlook automatically switches from the ols server to the new one). Finding I could Right Click on all the staff in the same OU & select them all at the same time & then click Move Mailbox helped heaps & saved me sitting in front of the server for hours.

Also creating one Top Level Public folder, copying all folders into it, then Selecting Replicas, made this job easy too.

I think this is best practice.

You could try backing up & restoring; Ide be very interested to see if it worked. However, no one that I spoke to thought that method was even wise practice let a lone best.

John

(in reply to maunder)

Post #: 7

RE: Replacing an Ex2K server with a lager Server - 27.Feb.2003 12:24:00 PM

Robin.Lent

Posts: 84
Joined: 14.Nov.2002
From: Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
Status: offline

I have a slightly different situation. I have E2K running on a Win2k box. What I need to do is upgrade the existing server. (It has the capacity for this) So, I need to re-install E2K on the SAME server, but to a different RAID set. i.e. another partition!

Anyone got any thoughts on how to do this easily??

Robin

(in reply to maunder)

Post #: 8

RE: Replacing an Ex2K server with a lager Server - 27.Feb.2003 8:24:00 PM

Ibrokeit

Posts: 5
Joined: 25.Feb.2003
From: Kansas City
Status: offline

I just did it as well, exactly as maunder explained, went very well as far as moving mailboxes.
NOW: The old exchange server is also the Master dc and the catalog server, so I will the MDC role to the new EK2 server (because it is a rocket!), but what about the catalog piece, does that happen automatically? (sorry for off topic)

(in reply to maunder)

Post #: 9

RE: Replacing an Ex2K server with a lager Server - 6.Mar.2003 11:54:00 PM

Ibrokeit

Posts: 5
Joined: 25.Feb.2003
From: Kansas City
Status: offline

I have just went through this:
I built the new server, I made it a DC (I know, not necessary, but client wanted it that way)
I moved all of the mailboxes over to the new server.

WHAT IS NEXT? Is that it? Can I bring down the old server?

Thanks!

(in reply to maunder)

Post #: 10

RE: Replacing an Ex2K server with a lager Server - 7.Mar.2003 12:08:00 AM

maunder

Posts: 20
Joined: 22.Nov.2001
Status: offline

Hi,

Re your question to what's next after moving the mailboxes, I strongly suggest you get a copy of the M/S KB article "Removing the first W2K server from the site".

There are so many traps re publc folders. Its not just the Public folders that you have to move but also the OAB & Free Busy connections.

You must first add the server server to each folder then sync. the public & system folders.

Then leave the old box up for a day or so.

Then delete the reference to your old box from each folder (public & system).

Then you can uninstall EX2k.

At last you can shut down the old box.

It would be nice to have a M/S migration tool to do this!

john

(in reply to maunder)

Post #: 11

RE: Replacing an Ex2K server with a lager Server - 11.Mar.2003 4:38:00 PM

atguilmette

Posts: 401
Joined: 4.Mar.2003
From: Southfield, MI
Status: offline

A few tidbits that some of you may find helpful in this thread:

- If you want to just add more disk space to your server (such as a RAID tower) and want the Exchange databases to be on it, you don't have to reinstall anything. Simply install the hardware, and move the mail stores through ESM. Open ESM | Administrative Groups | <Administrative Group Name> | Servers | <Server Name> | <Storage Group Name>. Right-click | Properties on the mail store you wish to relocate, select the database tab, and change the locations of the database (.edb) and the streaming file (.stm). It will take a bit (and this particular mail store will be unavailable), but this is the recommended way.

- If you don't have a 3rd-party utility to do brick-level backups of Exchange, you need to have a disaster recovery forest in place. New forest, but the server MUST have the same NetBIOS name, Administrative Group/Storage Group (includes mailstores) structure, same Organization Name and logical partition setup so you can restore the IS. You can restore the database, exmerge the PST out, and re-import it back into production.

- If you didn't have good backups of Active Directory (but you did have good Exchange backups) and your environment gets hosed, you can create a new forest, name your Exchange server the same NetBIOS name, install Exchange using the same Organization Name, recreate the same Administrative and Storage Group structures (including mailstore names), and restore the IS. Then, you can use mbconn (on the Exchange 2000 CD) to export an LDIF of all of the user names in the IS, and import that into Active Director. Doesn't do much for your groups, but at least you have a starting point.

- Instead of just replacing your server with a faster one, consider adding another one to the site. You can create new mailstores and balance the users between the two servers. It's one more thing to manage, but you can also migrate users to this box in the event that your firt server starts acting up.

- If you really do want to replace your server, you can follow one of two main paths. You can run setup /disasterrecovery or restore to a recovery forest (depends on what your need is). See the list of Q artciles and recommended reading at the end. Recommended reading for anyone interested is the "Disaster Recovery for Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server" whitepaper and the "Exchange 2000 Server Database Recovery Whitepaper," both available at microsoft.com.

The basic process is for replacing the hardware while maintaining the server name:

1. Make a backup of Exchange 2000 server (including Storage Groups and SRS information)
2. Take existing server offline.
3. Reset machine account in AD Users and Computers (so you don't have SID problems).
4. Build new server w/ same NetBIOS name; install same Win2K SP's and patches as other server.
5. Using an Exchange 2000 Full Administrator account, run setup: setup /disasterrecovery. Ensure the Action-Disaster recovery items are set for Messaging and Collaboration services and the ESM tools.
6. Upgrade to same E2K SP as the previous server.
7. Add the following registry string:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Exchange\Setup DWORD_NAME: ServicePackBuild
For SP1, use HEX Value 1268
For SP2, use HEX Value 1682
For SP3, use HEX Value 1869
8. Install post-SP hotfixes that were installed on the existing server.
9. Restore Storage Groups and SRS from the Exchange 2000 server backup (separate restore jobs).
10. Mount stores.

-----
Recommended reading and downloads
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;297289 - XADM: How to Move Exchange 2000 to New Hardware and Keep the Same Server Name
http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/1/e/01eeb9c2-3803-4da7-9ef1-e579886d9a42/exchange2000wp.exe - All Exchange 2000 Whitepapers published through 02/2003. Includes Disaster Recovery whitepapers, OWA configuration, the works. It's about 19mb.
-----

Hope some of this helps.

--Aaron

(in reply to maunder)

Post #: 12

RE: Replacing an Ex2K server with a lager Server - 12.Mar.2003 4:07:00 PM

Ibrokeit

Posts: 5
Joined: 25.Feb.2003
From: Kansas City
Status: offline

Here is where I'm at:
I've built another EK2 Server (it is a dc).
I moved all of the mailboxes to that server.
I gave the ip address of the old server to the new server.
I waited several days, then turned off all of the exchange services on the original mail server.

Now, we are getting inconsistent errors from outside senders. Most email makes it through ok, but some email from different places bounces back with this error:
The following recipients could not be reached:
joe@mydomain.com on 3/11/03 08:58am
The email account does not exist at the organization this message was sent to. Check the email address or contact the recipient to find out the correct email address.
<new-mail-server-name>

This is very inconsistent, not all external email is rejected.

What did I miss?

(in reply to maunder)

Post #: 13

RE: Replacing an Ex2K server with a lager Server - 12.Mar.2003 6:29:00 PM

dmb05

Posts: 42
Joined: 10.Mar.2003
From: CHI
Status: offline

Did you update the DNS records when you changed the IP's?

(in reply to maunder)

Post #: 14

RE: Replacing an Ex2K server with a lager Server - 12.Mar.2003 11:08:00 PM

maunder

Posts: 20
Joined: 22.Nov.2001
Status: offline

Guys,

What a great response from Aaron.

Had I only known this when I started out I would have saved weeks of time & effort.

However, I have learnt heaps in this process & am most greatful for all your contributions. Isnt it gratifying that there are others out there who will help you.

Thank you,

John

(in reply to maunder)

Post #: 15

RE: Replacing an Ex2K server with a lager Server - 13.Mar.2003 4:53:00 PM

Ibrokeit

Posts: 5
Joined: 25.Feb.2003
From: Kansas City
Status: offline

I agree with Maunder, an excellent response from Aaron!.

To answer the questions, yep, I updated DNS. Would a router reboot maybe fix this (clear the arp cache?)

Bob

(in reply to maunder)

Post #: 16

RE: Replacing an Ex2K server with a lager Server - 13.Mar.2003 5:31:00 PM

atguilmette

Posts: 401
Joined: 4.Mar.2003
From: Southfield, MI
Status: offline

Just wanted to clarify -- this is mail coming IN that is getting rejected? Have you noticed any particular pattern in the mail that gets rejected/denied? Like to a particular person (or group of people), a particular mailing list (or recipient on a mailing list), or from a particular user/domain?

How many users do you have? Maybe go through and check to see what their mailbox server is set to? Maybe an ADSI script to do that for ya?

Aaron

(in reply to maunder)

Post #: 17