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Rebuilding Exchange Server

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by rteo30

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Goal is to rebuild Existing Exchange Server (MxA) without interrupt any users at all? Now, two systems, one is MxA and the other is MxB (to install Exchange for joining the existing MxA). After joining MxA, move all the mailboxes to MxB. Then, down the MxA for rebuiding. Now, Renames MxB to MxA. Rebuild the oldMxA to MxC. Install Exchange on MxC, join the MxA. Then move all the mailboxes to MxC. Down MxA, renames MxC to MxA.
The reason to do this routine is to avoid going to each user to repoint the Exchange Server on their systems.
Can this plan achieves my goal?

8 replies

by shanghai sam

Actually you don't need to go through all that. While both A and B are up and running move mailboxes to B. Leave A running. When your users logon their Outlook clients will automatically update the profiles to point to B. Once everyone has started up their email and is happily running on B shutdown A and do your rebuild. Also, check out this link for details to make sure you don't miss anything moving to the other server:

http://www.swinc.com/resource/exch_faq_appxa.htm

Good luck!
-Heath

by hstahl

[Oops, My connection timed out while posting that first answer. If you see an answer from author "transient" please reject it. Accept mine (if you find answer useful). Thanks.]

Actually you don't need to go through all that. While both A and B are up and running move mailboxes to B. Leave A running. When your users logon their Outlook clients will automatically update the profiles to point to B. Once everyone has started up their email and is happily running on B shutdown A and do your rebuild. Also, check out this link for details to make sure you don't miss anything moving to the other server:

http://www.swinc.com/resource/exch_faq_appxa.htm

Good luck,
-Heath

by john beno

There is a significant problem with your plan. The problem being that even though you are moving the mailboxes, you have not mentioned moving the site folders that exist only on the first server in the site. Additionally, since the server name is in the directory upon creation, you cannot rename a server without rebuilding the directory. If you don't rename MxB to MxA and move the site folders from MxA to MxB. Sounds like you are actually going through a lot of trouble to rebuild one server. My recommendation:

Replicate site folders to MxB.
Move mailboxes to MxB.
Remove MxA from the site. (This will allow you to reuse the server name.)
Rebuild MxA.
Rejoin MxA to the Site.
Move Mailboxes from MxB to MxA.
Replicate site folders from MxB to MxA.

No renaming and you only rebuild one system.

Hope this helps.

by rteo30

I love John recommendation. Since MxA is running the IMC to connect outside world. So I have to manually setup the IMC for MxB, and get Mx Record for MxB from our ISP.
The other person 'hstahl76', he/she suggests to let the MxA runnig for a while before taking it down. That way all the users' outlook client will be automatically updated the profiles to point to MxB. Then take down the MxA to rebuild. Is there any other important procedures that I miss? Beside the Full Backup...

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