Software

Hiya, in your setup, personally I would add the new server into the organisation and move the mailboxes, it very straight forward using this method, and allows you to clean up anything that may be wrong with your installation.

I just finished that task. I followed the procedure here and it worked without a hitch.

I setup a new Exchange Server, joined the domain, then do this as documented.

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=307**7

Good Luck!

I moved my E2k from old server to new server a couple weeks ago. In addition to all the stuff in the KB article 307**7, I also had to tell my new server to be the Global catalog server. That was located in the AD Sites & Services, see MS article #295419. I also had to move the global addressbook, which (I think) was also under sites & services.

MS calls it "rehoming" files and you will have to do it for all the public files that 'live' on your old exchange server. do a search on their site for rehome exchange if you have problems.

I do know that once you have followed the steps and THINK you have everything moved, you have to take a deep breath (say a prayer) and then insert the exchange cd and uninstall it, with the server still plugged into the network. Then, after restarting, if your phone is not ringing, unplug the patch cable from old server and see what happens. You'll probably need to close and reopen outlook and see if it is "waiting for response from <old server>". If so, put the network cable back in and see what else needs to be moved.

Learning all this cost me $245 for a call to MS, so hopefully it will save you that! :)

Good luck!!!!!

then you also need to remove AD from the old mail server, else you have all these mysterious replication things happening that are not easy to kill.
I just learned this last week. :)