Migrate from Exchange mixed mode to native - tips or hints
Chavvy
mixed mode to native. The aim is to decommission our single 5.5 exch
server and re-route all outgoing mail through the 2000 Exchange boxes
via the internet. Want to do this in two stages – 1 decommission Exch
5.5 server, 2 Move to Native Mode).
Have consulted the articles below but grateful for any advice from
anyone who has actually gone through this process to give me a heads
up on any issues that arose or any pitfalls to avoid. For example, 5.5
directory updates between our site and the rest of the Organisation
are currently not working on the 5.5 side following a server failure/
rebuild on the far end of our site connector (will this need
resolution prior to anything else?). Changes between our Active
Directory and our 5.5 server are working through ADC.
Background - We run in Exchange 2000 mixed mode with 3 mail servers (1
administrative Group)
2* Windows 2000 – Exchange 2000 (Directory Controllers/GCat) – User
mailboxes
1* Windows 2000 – Exchange 5.5 (Directory Controller) / No user
mailboxes
1* Windows 2000 – Running Active Directory Connector
No public folders / OWA are in use.
Site connectors – 5.5 server has one Site Connector through which some
email (x400 mail that exchange can currently route) and Exchange
Directory information flow. This is connected via WAN.
The 2000 Exch servers have a mail store each and one Connector which
faces the internet/smart host.
ADC - Separately we run an Active Directory connector (another server)
to manage GAL updates between ourselves and our Exchange Organisation
partners but this will be replaced within the next 4 weeks by an smtp
based GAL solution
The current exchange 5.5 Organisation has around 10 Sites managed by
around 3 different contractors. I believe this may have been the first
5.5 server in the organisation.
I have consulted :-
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555262
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/284148/
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/272314/