Install Exchange 2003 server on a New server and Options for Upgrade to Exchange Server 2010

My query: When you said that server has been outdated, what I understood from your description that hardware of the server where Exchange is installed, is very old and need to upgrade.. If this is the case...my answer is below:

Option 1: You can migrate your mailbox on new server where Exchange is installed. Now you may have two options.
A) You have Exchange and A.D. are installed on same physical server. If this is the case, ans is below...
Ans A) Follow the steps in sequence: Lets say your existing Server name is Server01.
- Install Windows 2003 Server on new server. Lets its name is Server02
- Upate the server with all Service Packs and Security Updates.
- Add Server02 as a member of your existing domain.
- Install Directory Services on Server02 and promote it as Additional Domain Contoller.
- Install Exchange 2003 Server on Server02 in same Exchange Organization.
- After Installation of Exchange 2003 Server, move all mailboxes from existing Exchange Server server01 to Server02
- Uninstall Exchange Services from Server01.
- Move all FSMO Roles on Server02 and make that server as Global Catalog
- Uninstall Directory Services from Server01.

B) You have Exchange Server installed on Member Server. If this is the case, follow below steps in sequence:
- Install Windows 2003 Server on new server. Lets its name is Server02
- Upate the server with all Service Packs and Security Updates.
- Add Server02 as a member of your existing domain.
- Install Exchange 2003 Server on Server02 in same Exchange Organization.
- After Installation of Exchange 2003 Server on Server02, move all mailboxes from Server01 to Server02.
- Uninstall Exchange Services from Server01.

Option 2:
If you want to migrate to Exchange 2010, you need to follow the steps as I mentioned above, the only difference would be in steps.

Please provide me details about your existing environment so that I can provide you better solution.

If you need details about process to perform any of the step, please let me know. It is not possible to provide evey detail over here.

Hi,

Yes, by outdated I mean the Hardware of the existing Exchange Server.
The environment has 3 DC's and 1 Exchange Server 2003 on a Stand alone Windows 2003 server which we want to move to New Server (New Hardware). You didn't tell me if we can install Exchange Server 2003 on a Windows Server 2008 server, or does it has to be Windows 2003 Server???

Would you recommend installing a New Exchange Server 2003 before migrating to Exchange Server 2010??

Installation of Exchange 2003 is not possibe to install on Windows 2008 server. It has to be Windows 2003 Server.

If you current hardware is suffecient to handle load of current mailbox and Migration to Exchange 2010 is far, you may go for new hardware. But I would recommend you purchase new Hardware which should compatiable to Windows 2008+Exchange 2010.

We have New Hardware for the migration to Exchange Server 2010. Could you clearly state your recommendations.

Thanks

Well if you have new hardware for Exchange 2010, then you can move ahead to migrate your existing A.D. and Messaging inftastructure to Windows 2008 and Exchange 2010.

I can write a plan/steps to migrate but for this, please provide me detail about your new upgradation:

- In new Windows 2008 Server, how many sites you want to have.
- How Many DCs you want to have in A.D. domain.
- How many mailboxes you want to have on Exchange server

Regards...

Hold on before we move to WIndows 2008 and Exchange 2010 I still want to move Exchange 2003 to another server. What are your recommendations on this???

Okay Thanks for the comment and I think I knew that one and just wanted to make sure. Do you know how we can restore the current exchange on a new server for disaster recovery purposes. What do I need to backup to have my exchange environment up and running again.

No multiple questions in single 500 Points ;)

Its no multiple questions its regarding the same exchange migration. come on!

time to go home now....cab waiting...will reply you from home...please wait.