Reconnecting Exchange 2003 to a failed domain controller
We recently had our primary domain controller fail. We replaced it with a new server running the same operating system as before. We recreated the user ID's and Passwords for the domain. We restored the data to the new server. Since our Exchange 2003 box was a member server of the old domain how do we reconnect the exchange box to our system? I dont want to remove it fromt he doamin until I am sure taht we will not lose any data.
Neil Russell
How did you create the new domain controller? From a system state backup of the old server? Or jus by installing AD and giving the same name as the old server/domain?
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We created a new AD server with the old name.
well that is why Exchange is not working. You have new SIDs, accounts etc. The forest and domain prep have not been run so the schema is not ready for the Exchange server.
The above procedure should work. Hopefully you have good backups of your Exchange mail. You will need them to do a restore at the end of the recovery period.
The above procedure should work. Hopefully you have good backups of your Exchange mail. You will need them to do a restore at the end of the recovery period.
edit my post above. that procedure will NOT work. It assumes AD has not been touched.
As you created new AD server, now the next option for your to mimic the old Exchange step and then restore date from the backup. For this you need to use the legacyexchangedn tool, note these are advance steps and required high level exchange expert.
If you have Microsoft support, call them.
If you have Microsoft support, call them.
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If you created a new domain then your in do-do!!
Did you not have a system state backup of the old domain? Did you ONLY have a single domain controller?
Did you not have a system state backup of the old domain? Did you ONLY have a single domain controller?
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The original DC failed. We installed a new system, reloaded Server 2003 and created a new domain.
As old dc is gone, that means users are also gone. Buy 3party tool like edb to pst and merge the data.
" We recreated the user ID's and Passwords for the domain."
You can't, yes the names will be the same, but every user has a SID which will be different, and Exchange knows its different. Can you confirm you only had one DC? Are you sure you have no remenants, copies or backups of the DC anywhere?
In addition the exchange config is stored in AD so you have lost that as well. You need a tool to export the mail from the mailbox database EDB files to PST files with no AD in place. Make sure you copy your Exchange EDB before starting. Some tools I found which may work:-
http://www.quest.com/recovery-manager-for-exchange/
http://www.edb-pst-converter.com/buy-edb-conversion-software.php
http://www.lucid8.com/pricing/pricelist_digiscope.asp
http://www.unistal.com/exchange-recovery-tool-buy-now.html
http://www.krollontrack.com/information-management/email-management-for-exchange/
I haven't personally tried any of the above. The Quest tool is often praised in other forums, but it may be too expensive for your use. Once you are happy you have the mail backed up in PST files the you will need to re-install exchange from scratch, mail-enable the new users, and import the PST files.
Good Luck.
You can't, yes the names will be the same, but every user has a SID which will be different, and Exchange knows its different. Can you confirm you only had one DC? Are you sure you have no remenants, copies or backups of the DC anywhere?
In addition the exchange config is stored in AD so you have lost that as well. You need a tool to export the mail from the mailbox database EDB files to PST files with no AD in place. Make sure you copy your Exchange EDB before starting. Some tools I found which may work:-
http://www.quest.com/recovery-manager-for-exchange/
http://www.edb-pst-converter.com/buy-edb-conversion-software.php
http://www.lucid8.com/pricing/pricelist_digiscope.asp
http://www.unistal.com/exchange-recovery-tool-buy-now.html
http://www.krollontrack.com/information-management/email-management-for-exchange/
I haven't personally tried any of the above. The Quest tool is often praised in other forums, but it may be too expensive for your use. Once you are happy you have the mail backed up in PST files the you will need to re-install exchange from scratch, mail-enable the new users, and import the PST files.
Good Luck.