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Removing Exchange 07 from a second server without messing up main Exchange server???
I have an Exchange server that is a failover server (using Doubletake software) for my main Exchange server. The problem I am having is that the failover server ran out of room in its drive so I need to uninstall Exchange, add more drives, reconfigure the RAID and reinstall the OS and Exchange again.
When I tried uninstalling Exchange, I got the following error when the wizzard was running the Mailbox Role Prerequisite portion:
Uninstall cannot continue. Database 'Public Folder Database': The critical property 'PublicFolderHierarchy' is missing in the PublicFolderDatabase object 'SERVER\Second Storage Group\Public Folder Database'.
Is there a way for me to accomplish this tast (and not corrupt the database in my main Exchange server or cut any access to my users?)??? This server really contains no active mailboxes and other than the duplication purposes, I am not sure why it has its own Public Folder DB... Please let me know if you have any suggestions.
Thanks in advance, Allie
When I tried uninstalling Exchange, I got the following error when the wizzard was running the Mailbox Role Prerequisite portion:
Uninstall cannot continue. Database 'Public Folder Database': The critical property 'PublicFolderHierarchy' is missing in the PublicFolderDatabase object 'SERVER\Second Storage Group\Public Folder Database'.
Is there a way for me to accomplish this tast (and not corrupt the database in my main Exchange server or cut any access to my users?)??? This server really contains no active mailboxes and other than the duplication purposes, I am not sure why it has its own Public Folder DB... Please let me know if you have any suggestions.
Thanks in advance, Allie
Check if the server that you want to uninstall has a PF database, if yes and if you can delete that database try deleting the PF database and try to uninstall the server. that should to the trick.
Else use ADSIEDIT tool and locate the PF database that is there on the server that you want to uninstall and look for the "MSexchOwningPFtree" attribute in the properties of the PF database and pls let me know if that is set to "not set".
if that is set to "Not Set" then there are few changes that we will have to make.
you will find the PF database object at the following location:
open ADSI Edit.
Expand each of the following items:
Configuration Container
CN=Configuration, DC=Domain_Name,DC=com
CN=Services
CN=Microsoft Exchange
CN=Your_Organization_Name
CN=Administrative Groups
CN=Your_Administrative_Gro
CN=Servers
CN=YourServerName
CN=Informationstore
CN=YourStoragegroup
CN=PFdatabase
Else use ADSIEDIT tool and locate the PF database that is there on the server that you want to uninstall and look for the "MSexchOwningPFtree" attribute in the properties of the PF database and pls let me know if that is set to "not set".
if that is set to "Not Set" then there are few changes that we will have to make.
you will find the PF database object at the following location:
open ADSI Edit.
Expand each of the following items:
Configuration Container
CN=Configuration, DC=Domain_Name,DC=com
CN=Services
CN=Microsoft Exchange
CN=Your_Organization_Name
CN=Administrative Groups
CN=Your_Administrative_Gro
CN=Servers
CN=YourServerName
CN=Informationstore
CN=YourStoragegroup
CN=PFdatabase
ASKER
Hi Cyrus9,
Thank you so much for your response. Unfortunately deleting the DB and trying to uninstall did not work. So I checked the msExchOwningPFTree attribute (ADSI,..., Public Folder Database Properties) and you are right, its value is "Not Set". Please let me know which changes need to be made!
Thanks again! Allie
Thank you so much for your response. Unfortunately deleting the DB and trying to uninstall did not work. So I checked the msExchOwningPFTree attribute (ADSI,..., Public Folder Database Properties) and you are right, its value is "Not Set". Please let me know which changes need to be made!
Thanks again! Allie
Ok,
the problem here is that the pf store that you have is not associated to a pf hierarchy tree. each and every pf store had to be associated to a pf hierarchy tree. the msExchOwningPFTree attribute in the properties of the pf store tell the pf store to which pf hierarcy tree it associated to.
since the pf store in your environment is not associated to pf hierarchy tree you are getting the error
"Database 'Public Folder Database': The critical property 'PublicFolderHierarchy' is missing in the PublicFolderDatabase object 'SERVER\Second Storage Group\Public Folder Database'"
once we enter the proper entry for msExchOwningPFTree attribute, you should not get that error.
to do this u have to do the following:
open ADSI Edit.
Expand each of the following items:
Configuration Container
CN=Configuration, DC=Domain_Name,DC=com
CN=Services
CN=Microsoft Exchange
CN=Your_Organization_Name
CN=Administrative Groups
CN=Your_Administrative_Gro
CN=FolderHierarchies
in the FolderHierarchies you should see an object called CN=Public Folders
go to the propreties of the CN=Public Folders object and look for an attribute called "Distinguished Name"
copy that attribute details on a notepad.
then go back to the msExchOwningPFTree attribute (ADSI,..., Public Folder Database Properties) and past the copied details in the msExchOwningPFTree attribute. then click on OK all the way out.
then restart the msexchangeIS service on the exchange server and then try to uninstall, and you should not get "Uninstall cannot continue. Database 'Public Folder Database': The critical property 'PublicFolderHierarchy' is missing in the PublicFolderDatabase object 'SERVER\Second Storage Group\Public Folder Database'." error again.
will be waiting for you reply.
the problem here is that the pf store that you have is not associated to a pf hierarchy tree. each and every pf store had to be associated to a pf hierarchy tree. the msExchOwningPFTree attribute in the properties of the pf store tell the pf store to which pf hierarcy tree it associated to.
since the pf store in your environment is not associated to pf hierarchy tree you are getting the error
"Database 'Public Folder Database': The critical property 'PublicFolderHierarchy' is missing in the PublicFolderDatabase object 'SERVER\Second Storage Group\Public Folder Database'"
once we enter the proper entry for msExchOwningPFTree attribute, you should not get that error.
to do this u have to do the following:
open ADSI Edit.
Expand each of the following items:
Configuration Container
CN=Configuration, DC=Domain_Name,DC=com
CN=Services
CN=Microsoft Exchange
CN=Your_Organization_Name
CN=Administrative Groups
CN=Your_Administrative_Gro
CN=FolderHierarchies
in the FolderHierarchies you should see an object called CN=Public Folders
go to the propreties of the CN=Public Folders object and look for an attribute called "Distinguished Name"
copy that attribute details on a notepad.
then go back to the msExchOwningPFTree attribute (ADSI,..., Public Folder Database Properties) and past the copied details in the msExchOwningPFTree attribute. then click on OK all the way out.
then restart the msexchangeIS service on the exchange server and then try to uninstall, and you should not get "Uninstall cannot continue. Database 'Public Folder Database': The critical property 'PublicFolderHierarchy' is missing in the PublicFolderDatabase object 'SERVER\Second Storage Group\Public Folder Database'." error again.
will be waiting for you reply.
ASKER
Hi again, I performed all the steps above and now am getting the error: Uninstal cannot continue. Database 'Public Folder Database'. The public folder database "SERVER\Second Storage Group\Public folder Database is the default public folder database for the mailbox database(s):
SERVER\First Storage Group\Mailbox Database. Before deleting the public folder database, assign a new public folder database to the mailbox database(s).
Thanks again, Allie
SERVER\First Storage Group\Mailbox Database. Before deleting the public folder database, assign a new public folder database to the mailbox database(s).
Thanks again, Allie
Do u have a mailbox database on the server that you are trying to uninstall.
If yes-- then do you have any mailboxes on that mailbox database (If you have mailboxes on the mailbox database pls move them to a different server, and after moving the mailboxes delete the mailbox store and try uninstalling the server)
If No- then can you delete the mailbox store and try uninstalling the server.
If yes-- then do you have any mailboxes on that mailbox database (If you have mailboxes on the mailbox database pls move them to a different server, and after moving the mailboxes delete the mailbox store and try uninstalling the server)
If No- then can you delete the mailbox store and try uninstalling the server.
ASKER
Ok. I will try it on Monday as I am about to leave for a long weekend. I will let you know how it goes.
Thanks again! Allie
Thanks again! Allie
Have a wonderful weekend ahead... :)
ASKER
Hi Cyrus, sorry but I have not been able to get back to this issue... I was the only network admin here in the beggining of the week and am still trying to catch up. Hopefully I will get back to it today or tomorrow and will keep you posted on my progress.
Thanks, again, Allie
Thanks, again, Allie
ASKER
Hi Cyrus9,
There are no mailboes in the store. As a matter of fact, both the mailbox database and the public folder database are not mounted. I tried mounting them so that I could delete them (for some reason, it won't let me delete the stores if they are not mounted) but I get a Exchange is unable to mount the database that you specified. Error code MapiExceptionCall Failed: Unable to mount database. (hr=0x80004005, ec=-528) - when trying to mount the Mailbox database.
And I get a warning that says: At least one of this store's database files is missing. Mounting this store will force the creation of an empty database. Do not take this action if you intend to restore an earlier backup. are you sure you want to continue? I have not pressed yes (figured I should ask if this can potentially mess up my "real" public folders or not???)
Also, sorry for taking a week to respond but i had a server crash last week and am still dealing with it (just lucky it wasn't Exchange...).
Thanks again in advance! Allie
There are no mailboes in the store. As a matter of fact, both the mailbox database and the public folder database are not mounted. I tried mounting them so that I could delete them (for some reason, it won't let me delete the stores if they are not mounted) but I get a Exchange is unable to mount the database that you specified. Error code MapiExceptionCall Failed: Unable to mount database. (hr=0x80004005, ec=-528) - when trying to mount the Mailbox database.
And I get a warning that says: At least one of this store's database files is missing. Mounting this store will force the creation of an empty database. Do not take this action if you intend to restore an earlier backup. are you sure you want to continue? I have not pressed yes (figured I should ask if this can potentially mess up my "real" public folders or not???)
Also, sorry for taking a week to respond but i had a server crash last week and am still dealing with it (just lucky it wasn't Exchange...).
Thanks again in advance! Allie
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ASKER
No worries, I hope you are feeling better!
So I removed the Public Folder Database using ADSIEdit and then tried uninstalled. Now I get Error: Uninstall cannont continue. Database 'Public Foldr Database': Exchange is unable to check the public folder replicas for "SERVER\Second Storage Group\Public folder Database" Verify the Information Store service is running on server and that the database is properly mounted... Thanks again, Allie
So I removed the Public Folder Database using ADSIEdit and then tried uninstalled. Now I get Error: Uninstall cannont continue. Database 'Public Foldr Database': Exchange is unable to check the public folder replicas for "SERVER\Second Storage Group\Public folder Database" Verify the Information Store service is running on server and that the database is properly mounted... Thanks again, Allie
ASKER
Hi Cyrus9,
Sorry for not responding earlier but i was pretty ill and then had MS classes out of the office all week. i was just now able to get back to this issue and am happy to report that removing all the stores fromt he server worked :-) Exchange is finnaly uninstalling! Thank you so much for hanging in there with me!
Sorry for not responding earlier but i was pretty ill and then had MS classes out of the office all week. i was just now able to get back to this issue and am happy to report that removing all the stores fromt he server worked :-) Exchange is finnaly uninstalling! Thank you so much for hanging in there with me!
Well all i can say is that "It was my pleasure, working with U"
Cyrus
Cyrus
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb885058(EXCHG.80).aspx
thanks