Monving exchange to new hardware

You can't have two servers with the same name. You'll have to rename the second box if you're doing an live migration. You can shutdown the old Exchange server and delete the computer account from the AD Users/Computers then join the new box to the domain.

I am doing this after shutting down existing server. Renaming new server to existing server name and then joining. Microsoft document says to reset computer account.

Delete the computer account from active directory and then add it. The ID of your new server will be different from that of the old one, given you're removing the old machine from the domain anyway then no problem with you deleting the machine account. Out of interest why didn't you just image it and re-image to the new server? There are several apps out there that will allow you to image to dissimimilar hardware.

I want to be on safer side. I want to use the existing server , in case shifting to new hardware doesnot work.

Ahhh thne you have a problem. I'm reading that document now, give me 5 or 10 mins and I'll respond again.

Ok is this also a DC?

no

it's a member server

Righto, this is how I'm reading their instructions
1) Create new machine with an original name (Not the smae name as your old server)
2) Join it to the domain.
3) Switch off original machine
4) Reset machine in Active directory
5) Rename your new server to be that of your old machine (at this point becuase you have reset that machine account in AD you should then be able to join it to AD)

At a guess did you create your new machine as the same name at the start? If so rename your machine thne join it to the domain and then follow the steps.

Although I have to say, this sounds like way to much work, assuming the only reason you are moving the machine because you want it on new hardware and not becuase the OS is failing. Then I would image the machine, Acronis have a very good imaging system that allows for baremetal restore, i.e restore to a machine with dissimilar hardware.

Way too many steps.
1 turn off old system
2 delete from caduceus
3 join new server to domain (using existing name)
4 copy all mdbs and ldfs

However, my recommendation is to have 2 exchange servers and migrate with both running. When you move the mailboxes the old exchange server will update your outlook clients when the users launch it.

@Pitchford maybe I'm reading this incorrectly but kappor is having trouble putting the new machine into the AD, I've just summerised what the tech doc says, just incase he's missed a step.

I agree with pitchford's comments.  One should never take steps that leave them without an option to return to what they had.
Reusing the server name is not imperative to the function that the server provides.

But at this stage we are beyond that point.

The migration of the mailboxes has to be done by backing up the exchange store on the "current" server and then restoring it on the new one. Which I think is covered in step 10 of the document you referenced.

are you using acronis Backup & recovery or something else? With acronis you can backup the old server as an image and put it back to work on a different hardware (called universal restore) without loosing any functionality.

i am using symantec backup exec.

hi,

I have tried what DBrookfieldhas told. But still i am not able to rename new machine to old machine name. It gives error machine already exist.

Like I said on my first post, you have to manually delete any OLD computer names from Active Directory Users & Computers > Computers (or Domain Controllers depending on the case).

But why microsoft document say to reset computer account . and then join new computer to domain

Reset is the same thing; you are doing away with the account. My original recommendation was to move the new box to a new name that way you can roll back if needed. If you don't want to do that, then you must delete the existing computer account from ADUC. No if, ands,or buts about it. You can't have 2 different machine SIDs with the same name. It just won't let you.

At some point you need to draw the line, you've been working on this topic for about a month now. You could have paid someone to come in and do this in less than 1 day. Heck, want to pay me and I'll remote to your server and delete the AD computer acocunt for you. =)

Again, I recommend Acronis with universl restore option. Use a boot disk to do the backup, use universal restore for restore. Everything should be as it was before afterwards.

please close it. Got solution