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Migrating Exchange Server 5.5 mailboxes

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9 replies

by spepler

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We want to migrate our mailboxes to a new server. We are using Exchange 5.5 and are running out of drive space and want to move asap. The sever we are moving to is a different server. Dell Powervault 715n running a stripped version of Dells advancedserver. Exchange is running on NT4.0 now. Do we have to install Exchange on the new server? We don`t want to if we don`t have to, we would like to have just the data files on the new server.

9 replies

by nettek

Another alternative is to buy another hard disk, install it on the old Exchange server, and run Exchange Optimizer. Exchange will then move the databases to the new drive by itself. A 10GB SCSI disk is only a couple hundred bucks.

by timwalsh

I have never tried this but I think theoretically it could be done (I would try this out in a test environment before attempting it with your active mailboxes).

1. Install your new server. Prepare an appropriately-sized storage location and make it a shared resource.
2. On the old server where Exchange is installed, map the shared drive from your new server.
3. Run Perfomance Optimizer and point it to the shared drive on the new server as the preferred location for your databases. Performance Optimizer (if it will accept the shared drive as a viable location) will then move the databases and make the appropriate changes to the registry.
WARNING: Attempting to move Exchange database files in any other manner than through Performance Optimizer usually leads to disaster.

Possible issues/problem areas:
Bandwidth usage (I would definitely ONLY try this through a switch - definitely NOT a hub.)
Throughput/access speeds (difference between internal bus of computer and ethernet cable)
Connectivity
Troubleshooting/Optimization (You increase thenumber of possible points of failure or source of bottlenecks by 100 percent.)

BTW, I agree with previous answers that suggest you just move your entire Exchange installation to the new server.

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