Convert from Exchane 5.5 to Exchange 2003

[Steven E. Protter]

Exchange 2003 server comes with Windows 2003 Server.

I have found this document cocerning conversion:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;831435

Seems to be based on writing a pst file out and converting it.

Is there a more direct form of conversion. Can i take the priv. database and convert it directly into Exchange 2003 Server.

If I must use .pst file conversion does that preserve calendar data.

I am assuming I will need to add the users ahead of time to the Windows 2003 server.

This document hints that a conversion is possible but fails to provide details.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;328741

The current environment is NT Server 4.0 fully servic packed with Exchange 5.5.

This document holds promise but make me think i need to be at Server 2000 as a start point. I don't have a license and can't do that.

Wondering how hard it is to configure multiple domains into the Exchange 2003 environment. That may not be needed because the user can be identified by reply address in the outlook client and the server will not actually receive any mail. Mail is kept and scanned on Linux popmail environment and migrated into Exchange via the Outlook client tools.

Full pointage requires links. Its a mouthful, but i want to practice and get an Exchange 5.5 server I have out of production and get some hardware out of the office.

TIA

SEP

[Roger Faucher · Accepted solution]

Steven:

Try the first 3 articles from here:

http://search.microsoft.com/search/results.aspx?st=b&na=88&View=en-us&qu=exchange+server+5.5+migration+to+exchange+server+2003

If you need more help, let me know. I will consult with my Exchange guru at work.

Make a great day!

Roger

[Steven E. Protter]

Interesting Roger.

Actually came across one of them myself.

Seems the process is predicated on having the backend OS at Server 2000 and then migrating.

The ADC tool doesn't seem to run on NT Server 4.0

Technically, I could do a W2K3 upgrade on the box. It marginally meets minimal memory requirements and that would convert the exchange data to Exchange 2003.

I only need to migrate two mailboxes though. Setting up a brand new clean server and doing the pst export seems the safe and less tense way to go for a Unix geek.

Thoughts. Opinions. Love to hear them.

O.T. Congrats on creating a vibrant forum here. I've only once had to go to the technet forums to get an answer that wasn't provided here. Microsoft could learn a few things from you folks.

Note: Free points for telling everyone what a nut I am for spending too much forum time:
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=752560

;-)

Honestly I spend so much time because physical issues are making it very difficult to sleep.

SEP

[Roger Faucher]

Steven:

Our Exchange guru at work recently had a problem migrating 5.5 mailboxes to EX2003. Microsoft said it could not be done but he succeeded nonetheless. I'll get his info tomorrow (if it can wait that long).

I'm sending you a huge burst of healing energy. I hope you sleep restfully all night in God's warm, loving embrace and wake up refreshed and energetic.

Roger

[Richard Perez]

Steven
there are five Exchange 5.5 to 2003 migration methods. They are compared at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;327928

Please note that you need a Win2000 or 2003 domain to have Exchange 2003, then you must upgrade your domain to Active Directory before trying Exchange.

The easiest method is "Move mailbox" (method one) but you need an additional server wher you will install Exchange.

You need ADC to do the migration.

There is a lot of information about migration at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/2003/upgrade.mspx

[Steven E. Protter]

The Exchange server install as part of SBS is beyond complex. Its going to take me a while to get that working.

Then I'll try some kind of migration methodology.

SEP

[Steven E. Protter]

The add in of Exchange 2003 has proven exceeding difficult. The hardware of the test platform is quite difficult.

I'm hoping to finish this a few days and then attempt to migrate data.

SEP

[Roger Faucher]

What I have done to move our users from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2003 is to move to a 2003 AD environment first. I then installed Microsoftâ s rollup pack with the latest service pack on all of our 5.5 machines; this will be required in order to move mailboxes in a mixed mode environment (5.5 and 2003). Once your finished migrating your users to Exchange 2003, switch to Exchange 2003 native mode.

Hope this helps!
Ari

[Roger Faucher]

Steven:

I let Ariel (Exchange guy I referred to earlier) use my PC to post his previous message. Let us know how this goes.

Make a great day!

Roger