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sqlagent007Flag for United States of America

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How to move Exchange 2003 back to a single server solution

I have an environment where OWA and ACTIVE SYNC are running on an exchange front end server. The information store and SMTP server on the back end server. I need to free up the front end server for another project, so how can I successfully move the front end functions to the back end server. At the end of all this I want to have only 1 server doing everything for Exchange. The server is well equipped to handle the load of all 50 users and 3 mobile devices.

Please list the steps to take, things to check and gotchas

Thanks experts!
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Mestha
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sqlagent007
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I don't have to do anything in ESM (Exchange System Manager)? Or is ESM smart enough to see the change when I remove exchange from the front end box?

Thanks a bunch!
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Mestha
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Nothing needs to be done with ESM.
As long as you remove the server using add/remove programs, the server will be removed from the domain correctly and therefore it will be gone from ESM as well.

-M
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HDWILKINS
What about public folders??  Don't they get moved?  Just asking because I have the same task in front of me.
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Mestha
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Depends if you have public folders on the server or not. If the Frontend server has been configured to best practises then you shouldn't have public folders on the server.

-M
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HDWILKINS
This question is closed but looking at this Microsoft page, it sure seems like there is more to do that you have discussed:  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822931.  If I understand sqlagent007's question, he wants to retire the first server.  I'm concerned that if he doesn't move the roles the first server has responsibility for that the second server will simply stop working..  
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Mestha
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That is retiring the FIRST server. Highly unlikely for a frontend server to hold the unique functionality that the first server holds.

-M
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HDWILKINS
Sounds to me like he has two servers and the server he is taking down would be the first server.  Way I read the question he only has the two and wants to step back to One.  So......  
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Mestha
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It isn't usual to deploy a frontend server first, holding the unique roles. The backend server is usually deployed first, which would then hold the unique roles.

You have read the question in a different way to me.

-M