Migrating from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange Server 2003

Differences between Exchange 5.5 and Exchange Server 2003 Environments

Exchange version 5.5 worked well in smaller organizations. Exchange 5.5 deployments typically consisted of Exchange servers being at each remote location, and with no more than thirty users.

The main Exchange 5.5 design limitations are summarized here:

The improvements provided by Exchange Server 2003 for Exchange 5.5 are listed here:

The different versions of Exchange 2003 are:

Preparing for Migration to Exchange Server 2003

To ensure a simpler migration from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange Server 2003, it is recommended that you perform the following activities:

There are basically different approaches which you can take to migrate from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange Server 2003:

The Active Directory forest and domain also has to be prepared for Exchange Server 2003. One of the first steps that you need to perform for an Exchange Server 2003 environment is to extend the Active Directory schema. The Active Directory schema defines what types of objects can be stored in Active Directory. It also defines what the attributes of these objects are. When you install Exchange Server 2003, the Active Directory schema is extended to contain Exchange Server 2003 specific classes and attributes. To extend the Active Directory schema, you will need to run ForestPrep. ForestPrep updates the Active Directory schema so that the necessary Exchange 2003 classes and attributes are added.

Before proceeding with extending the Active Directory schema, consider the points listed below:

You also have to prepare the Windows Server 2003 domain that will be used to host the Exchange 2003 servers. The account which you utilize to prepare you domains by running DomainPrep, must be a member of the Domain Admins group in the specific domain. DomainPrep creates the necessary Active Directory groups and permissions that Exchange Server 2003 will change.

The changes made to the domain when DomainPrep is run are listed here:

DomainPrep must be run in the following domains:

The permissions are needed to install Exchange Server 2003 are listed here

The Role of the Active Directory Connector (ADC)

When migrating from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange Server 2003, the Active Directory Connector (ADC) must be installed so that the connection agreements (CAs) it contains can be utilized to synchronize directory entries between the different Exchange systems. You can install the Exchange Server 2003 ADC on a member server as well.

The Exchange Server ADC includes capabilities for replicating configuration and routing information. It updates the Active Directory schema on the first installation. When the user accounts are migrated to Active Directory, directory synchronization has to occur between the Global Catalog and the Exchange directory service. The Windows user accounts have to be synchronized with the proper mailbox information. This is done through the ADC connection agreement.

The Exchange Server 2003 Active Directory Connector (ADC) tools can be used to create the connection agreements that you need to perform the migration from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange Server 2003. You can use the ADC MMC snap-in on the domain controller running the ADC to manually configure any connection agreement.

To create the required connection agreements, the following ADC tools are used:

To use the ADC MMC snap-in to manually configure a connection agreement:

  1. Click Start, All Programs, Microsoft Exchange, and then Active Directory Connector.
  2. Right-click the Active Directory Connector service for the server and select New and then select Recipient Connection Agreement from the shortcut menu.
  3. On the General tab, provide the following information:
    • Direction for the new connection agreement.
    • ADC server for the connection agreement.
  4. On the Connections tab, provide the following information:
    • User name and associated password for accessing, reading, and writing to Active Directory.
    • Server name for the Exchange 5.5 server.
    • LDAP port number for the Exchange 5.5 server.
    • User name and associated password for accessing, reading, and writing to the Exchange 5.5 directory.
  5. On the Schedule tab, provide the following information:
    • Specify the schedule for directory synchronization.
    • Select the Replicate the Entire Directory the Next Time checkbox so that a full directory synchronization is initially performed.
  6. On the From Exchange tab, provide the following information:
    • Specify which of the Exchange 5.5 site recipients should synchronize with Active Directory.
    • Specify where in Active Directory matching accounts should be looked for and new accounts should be created.
    • Specify which object types should be replicated.
  7. On the From Windows tab, provide the following information:
    • Specify which Active Directory organizational units (OUs) should be utilized to obtain objects.
    • Specify where the objects should be located.
    • Leave the Replicate Secured Active Directory Objects to the Exchange Directory checkbox unselected.
    • Leave the Create Objects in Location Specified by Exchange 5.5 DN checkbox unselected as well.
  8. On the Deletion tab, provide the following information:
    • Specify which deletion strategy suits your needs. This is where you define whether deletions should be processed.
  9. On the Advanced tab, you should only change the default settings under the following conditions:
    • The Exchange Server 2003 ADC has to replicate between Exchange organizations.
    • There is more than one connection agreement.

To use the ADC MMC snap-in to configure a public folder connection agreement:

  1. Click Start, All Programs, Microsoft Exchange, and then Active Directory Connector.
  2. Right-click the Active Directory Connector service for the server and select New and then select Public Connection Agreement from the shortcut menu.
  3. On the General tab, provide the following information:
    • Direction for the new connection agreement.
    • ADC server for the connection agreement.
  1. On the Connections tab, provide the following information:
    • User name and associated password for accessing, and reading and writing to Active Directory.
    • Server name for the Exchange 5.5 server.
    • LDAP port number for the Exchange 5.5 server.
    • User name and associated password for accessing, reading, and writing to the Exchange 5.5 directory.
  1. On the Schedule tab, provide the following information:
    • Specify the schedule for directory synchronization.
    • Select the Replicate the Entire Directory the Next Time checkbox so that a full directory synchronization is initially performed.
  1. On the From Exchange tab, provide the following information:
    • Specify which of the Exchange 5.5 site recipients should be synchronized with Active Directory.
    • Specify where in Active Directory matching accounts should be looked for and new accounts should be created.
    • Specify which object types should be replicated.
  1. On the From Windows tab, leave the Replicate Secured Active Directory Objects to the Exchange Directory checkbox unselected.
  2. You next have to force the connection agreement to replicate.
  3. Right-click the connection agreement which should be replicated, and select Replicate Now from the shortcut menu.

Exchange Migration Wizard Overview

You can use the Exchange Migration Wizard to perform a number of migration tasks:

The Exchange Migration Wizard does though have a number of limitations, some of which are listed here:

How to install the first Exchange 2003 server

  1. Run the Exchange Server 2003 setup called SetupPrep to verify that all requirements for installing Exchange Server 2003 are in place.
  2. Initiate the Exchange Installation Wizard.
  3. Click Next on the Welcome to the Exchange Installation Wizard screen.
  4. On the following page, proceed to accept the license agreement by clicking I Agree, and then click Next.
  5. Select the Typical installation option and click Next.
  6. On the Installation Types page, you have to specify whether to perform a new Exchange Server installation or an upgrade installation. Click the Join or Upgrade an Existing Exchange 5.5 Organization option and then click Next.
  7. Provide the server name for the Exchange 5.5 server.
  8. Click OK.
  9. On the Licensing Agreement page, read the Exchange Server licensing agreement, and select the option, I agree that I have read and will be bound by the license agreements for this product. Click Next.
  10. Provide the password of the Exchange 5.5 service account.
  11. The Installation Summary is displayed. Review the settings specified on this page, and then click Next.
  12. Click Finish to close the Exchange Installation Wizard and complete the installation process.

A number of modifications are made when you install Exchange Server 2003:

Methods for Migrating Mailboxes to Exchange Server 2003

The methods which you can use to move migrate mailboxes to Exchange Server 2003 are listed here:

You can use the ExMerge utility to extract the mailbox contents to a personal store (PST) file and then add the PST file to the Outlook profile of the user. The PST file can be added to a destination mailbox to another server, site or organization.

ExMerge can be used to merge the information listed here:

ExMerge cannot be used to merge the information listed here:

You need to have Service Account Administrator permissions in Exchange 5.5 at each of the following levels to use ExMerge to migrate Exchange 5.5 mailboxes to Exchange Server 2003:

You should only really use the ExMerge utility when you are migrating between Exchange organizations.

How to move mailboxes using the Active Directory Users and Computers management console

  1. Click Start, Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
  2. Locate the users whose mailbox should be moved.
  3. Select all the users which should be moved, right-click and then select Exchange Tasks from the shortcut menu.
  4. The Exchange Task Wizard launches.
  5. Click Next on the Exchange Task Wizard welcome page.
  6. Select the Move Mailbox option and then click Next.
  7. Specify the destination server and the mailbox store. Click Next.
  8. You now have to specify whether corruption should be reported or whether it should be ignored and then click Next.
  9. Define when the mailboxes should be moved. Click Next.
  10. The Task in Progress page appears, the necessary connections are established to the source server and destination server, and the mailboxes are moved.

Migrating Exchange 5.5 Connectors and Services to Exchange Server 2003

The Internet Mail Service (IMS) in Exchange 5.5 is replaced by the following Exchange Server 2003 components:

When it comes to Exchange 5.5 connector migrations, one of the better approaches is to create parallel connectors on Exchange Server 2003 so that the Exchange 5.5 connectors can route mail and perform directory synchronization with the foreign mail system.

The benefits of creating parallel connectors are listed here:

The foreign mail connectors supported in Exchange Server 2003 are listed here:

When it comes to foreign mail connector migrations, one of the better approaches is to create parallel foreign mail connectors on Exchange Server 2003.

After the foreign mail connectors are upgraded, you have to change these configuration settings listed below:

Converting to Native Mode

In Mixed Mode, mailboxes cannot be moved between various administrative groups. Servers from the same administrative group reside in a routing group. With Exchange Server 2003 Native Mode, routing groups can include servers from many administrative groups. None of the previous limitations of the previous versions of Exchange are relevant in Native Mode. It is impossible to switch from Native Mode to Mixed Mode.

When Exchange 5.5 servers are not needed any longer, the next step is to convert to Exchange Server 2003 Native Mode.

Under the following conditions, it is strongly recommended that you convert to Exchange Server 2003 Native Mode:

The benefits made available by switching to Exchange Server 2003 Native Mode are summarized below:

Steps for converting to Exchange Server 2003 Native Mode

  1. Start by deleting all Directory Replication Connectors.
  2. Next, delete any Exchange 5.5 servers from each site.
  3. Delete the recipient connection agreements from the site.
  4. Delete ay other connection agreements from the site.
  5. Delete the Site Replication Service (SRS).
  6. Access the Properties of the organization, and then use the Change Mode button to convert to Exchange Server 2003 Native Mode.

How to convert to Exchange Server 2003 Native Mode

  1. Open the Exchange System Manager administrative tool.
  2. Navigate to the organization.
  3. Right-click the organization and then select Properties from the shortcut menu.
  4. On the General tab, in the Change Operations Mode area, click the Change Mode button.
  5. Click Yes to verify the move to Exchange Server 2003 Native Mode.
  6. Click OK.

Best Practices for Migrating from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange Server 2003

A few best practices for migrating from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange Server 2003 are summarized here:



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