MANGO247
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Exchange 2010 CAS and DAG Servers to be moved to DR Site
Hi I have 4 Exch 2010 servers on Win 2008 R2 Enterprise. CAS and DAG are all working fine. Both of my DAG servers have MBX/HT roles. I initially planned to move 1 member of DAG and 1 member of CAS i.e total 2 out of 4 servers to my DR site. I know CAS array needs to be in same subnet so i decided to extend my vlan.
However for some reason i cant have same vlan on both sites. This leaves me to a situation to have a work around. Im now thinking to leave 2 CAS servers on main site along with 1 MBX/HT (DAG) and move 1 member of DAG in DR site. I know it will work fine if users are on main site. However if users are on DR site then they will have no CAS. For this im thinking to install CAS role on same MBX/HT server which is also a member of DAG.
My question is, would it work? i.e. will my users on DR site be able to connect to MBX/HT server in DR? Sorry if it sounds too straight forward but its a production environment and i dont want to take any chances.
However for some reason i cant have same vlan on both sites. This leaves me to a situation to have a work around. Im now thinking to leave 2 CAS servers on main site along with 1 MBX/HT (DAG) and move 1 member of DAG in DR site. I know it will work fine if users are on main site. However if users are on DR site then they will have no CAS. For this im thinking to install CAS role on same MBX/HT server which is also a member of DAG.
My question is, would it work? i.e. will my users on DR site be able to connect to MBX/HT server in DR? Sorry if it sounds too straight forward but its a production environment and i dont want to take any chances.
ASKER
Many thanks for reply.
I want to clarify how my DR Users will connect to their mailboxes under normal and DR conditions?
Under normal conditions when Main site is accessible my Exch 2010 users in DR will be coming to main site for MBX/HT and CAS? and Once the main site is inaccessible then script should point them to local MBX/HT server that will have database copy and also CAS role?
Could you confirm if above is what you are advising?
I want to clarify how my DR Users will connect to their mailboxes under normal and DR conditions?
Under normal conditions when Main site is accessible my Exch 2010 users in DR will be coming to main site for MBX/HT and CAS? and Once the main site is inaccessible then script should point them to local MBX/HT server that will have database copy and also CAS role?
Could you confirm if above is what you are advising?
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ASKER
OK, so there is no harm in installing CAS role on DR Server with MBX/HT already installed?
I will not be using SCOM but i have a small user base so in case i have lost my main site and we are on DR site i need to manually change the outlook to point to local MBX/HT server with CAS role and it will work?
My DR Users will be around 10 so that should not be a big problem. If it was a large site i was supposed to worry about SCOM?
I will not be using SCOM but i have a small user base so in case i have lost my main site and we are on DR site i need to manually change the outlook to point to local MBX/HT server with CAS role and it will work?
My DR Users will be around 10 so that should not be a big problem. If it was a large site i was supposed to worry about SCOM?
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ASKER
I have already done the installation. My original advice was to have it virtual but management only wanted physical servers.
To re-iterate I have 4 Exch 2010 Std servers on Win 2008 Ent
2 are DAG with MBX/HT
2 are CAS with NLB
CAS and DAG working fine on Main site.
I need to move 1 member of DAG to DR site which i know is possible as DAG supports 2 different subnets and 1 member of CAS Array to DR Site.
Problem with CAS Array is that both members must be in same subnet. so i thought i will extend my vlan and move 1 member of CAS and 1 member of DAG to DR Site.
Now for some reasons i cant extend my VLAN. so im thinking that i move 1 member of DAG to DR site and leave both CAS array servers at main site. This way i will have full resiliency under normal circumstances.
Now under DR, users from DR site will have no CAS server to contact. So im thinking to install CAS role on my MBX/HT Server in DR. Under DR i will then manually change outlook to point to local MBX/HT Server with CAS role and to my understanding it should work? This is my basic question that i need confirmation that it is doable
Sorry for the lengthy reply but i hope it explains my situation
To re-iterate I have 4 Exch 2010 Std servers on Win 2008 Ent
2 are DAG with MBX/HT
2 are CAS with NLB
CAS and DAG working fine on Main site.
I need to move 1 member of DAG to DR site which i know is possible as DAG supports 2 different subnets and 1 member of CAS Array to DR Site.
Problem with CAS Array is that both members must be in same subnet. so i thought i will extend my vlan and move 1 member of CAS and 1 member of DAG to DR Site.
Now for some reasons i cant extend my VLAN. so im thinking that i move 1 member of DAG to DR site and leave both CAS array servers at main site. This way i will have full resiliency under normal circumstances.
Now under DR, users from DR site will have no CAS server to contact. So im thinking to install CAS role on my MBX/HT Server in DR. Under DR i will then manually change outlook to point to local MBX/HT Server with CAS role and to my understanding it should work? This is my basic question that i need confirmation that it is doable
Sorry for the lengthy reply but i hope it explains my situation
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You need a CAS server in each AD site you have so you do need on in the DR site. However you can simply add the CAS role to the server you are planning to move to the DR
in short
main site DR Site
MBX/HUB MBX/HUB/CAS
CAS1
CAS2
in short
main site DR Site
MBX/HUB MBX/HUB/CAS
CAS1
CAS2
Which is what we'd already agreed on ;-)
ASKER
Thanks for the advice re: Virtualizing.
Do i still have to run (similar to following) to change RPC Server?
Get-MailboxDatabase -Server ex1.domain.local | Set-MailboxDatabase -RpcClientAccessServer ex2.domain.local
Or manual repointing will do the job?
Do i still have to run (similar to following) to change RPC Server?
Get-MailboxDatabase -Server ex1.domain.local | Set-MailboxDatabase -RpcClientAccessServer ex2.domain.local
Or manual repointing will do the job?
:o) yea i just noticed after i hit submit, i missed your last reply sorry about that
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ASKER
Thanks guys. Its all clear now
Ah don't you hate that? When someone answers as you type a response?
On a serious note though, it's always good if another expert agrees. That way you can be reasonably certain that the info is solid - especially from a respected source like Akhater.
Thanks for the points and good luck with your migration work.
On a serious note though, it's always good if another expert agrees. That way you can be reasonably certain that the info is solid - especially from a respected source like Akhater.
Thanks for the points and good luck with your migration work.
You are welcome and thanks for the points
@Tony1044 come on bro it is only 500 points i stole :o)
Cheers to both
@Tony1044 come on bro it is only 500 points i stole :o)
Cheers to both
eh? I wasn't complaining - I meant what I said :)
I was kidding my friend ! You are doing great
set-mailboxdatabase -id database_name -RpcClientAccessServer casarray.contoso.local
Some guidance for HA & Site resilience information is here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd638121.aspx