Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of ColerAdmin
ColerAdmin

asked on

Restore to Exchange 2003 Server when on Exch 2010

Hi,

We're are about to complete the process of migrating to Exchange 2010 from Exchange 2003.  The last step is to decommission the 2003 server.  A question came up about being able to restore 2003 mailboxes from tape.  From what I understand, you can't restore an older 2003 mailboxes into the 2010 environment.  We use Symantec BackupExec 2010 R3 for our backup solution and there appears not to be an option to do this.  I'm trying to figure the best way to be able to recover backed up email and go native with Exchange 2010.  
One thought would be to promote the 2003 server to a DC, point exchange/active directory services to itself and the isolate it from the network and then do DC failure cleanup to our AD site.  Anything I should consider when doing this?

Has anyone come across this issue?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.  
ColerAdmin
Avatar of Manpreet SIngh Khatra
Manpreet SIngh Khatra
Flag of India image

From what I understand, you can't restore an older 2003 mailboxes into the 2010 environment - Absolutely Right :)

Any reasons why if everything is working fine you want to change something that isnt required ? It isnt recommended to demote or promote an Exchange to\fro DC\GC :(

- Rancy
Avatar of ColerAdmin
ColerAdmin

ASKER

In the end, I have a requirement to still have the ability to restore old mailboxes.  With that not an option in 2010, my thought was to isolate the 2003 environment from the network to maintain the functionality.  It would only be in place for this purpose.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of Manpreet SIngh Khatra
Manpreet SIngh Khatra
Flag of India image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
We ended up using BackupExec 2012 which allowed us to restore mailboxes to PSTs without any connection to the original 2003 exchange server.  Worked great!