Moving exchange 2000 clustered server into new HW.

[Chris Ciapala]

Hello,
I'd like to move existing cluster into new hardware. I know how to move mailboxes and all rest, but also I'd like somehow to retain network name of Exchange server. I have over 500 users in different locations so Outlook reconfiguration could be painful. Is it possible to rename running exchange server? Any ideas what side-effect this could cause? Or maybe some other approach?

Thanks for any ideas,

Chris

[Robin_37 · Accepted solution]

Hello Chris

When you move mailbox from old Exchange server to New, the outlook configuration on the client side automatically pointed to the new server, no need for Outlook reconfiguration.

Hope this helps

Regards

Robin

[Rune J. Winje]

I agree with the previous comment.

Give the servers new name - it will automatically be updated for the clients.
The way it works is that Outlook connects to the old server, get's the message back that the "Home Server" attribute has changed for the mailbox and updates it automatically.

Also take care to move any public folders and unique roles to the new server(s) or another server in the site.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307917
If the server has connectors take care to move those also (and reconfigure the other side of the connectors to point to the new server). For PF's replicated to this cluster from other Exchange servers, update those to point to the new server.

Moving mailboxes and public folders can basically be done during production with no downtime, so it is much preferrable to the one-shot disaster recovery type of actions needed when replacing an Exchange server's hardware.

Also moving for example 100 mailboxes each evening minimizes impact and also gives you better control if errors occur - but the Move Mailbox is really quite robust.


Cheers,
Rune