decommissioning exchange server

Which version of Exchange are you running? Are you replacing the server with a new version, moving to cloud, or what?

Uninstalling Exchange requires that all mailboxes are removed from all databases, and that all databases be removed as well, so don't forget about that one.

Also, removing the Active Directory Schema changes made by Exchange at installation isn't supported. It won't really impact your environment to leave them there, and you may find you need them in the future. This is just informational since you mention "Uninstall Exchange from AD". Running an Uninstall of Exchange through the control panel on each Exchange server will effectively remove all presence of those servers in Active Directory, but it will not remove the AD Schema changes made. Having the Exchange Schema entries in your AD with no Exchange servers involved will not negatively impact your environment, though.

Version:  2003   Just decommissioned and turning it off, not to be repurposed for anything.  Been off now for several months.  Accounts have been migrated to a cloud based exchange want to ensure there are no forwarders.  So will scrub the smtp logs and continue with steps.  


Yes, will definitely ensure mailboxes are removed and databases as well.  Im sorry, referencing the removal process I was referring from the actual server via control panel applet.  Thanks for the heads up

i would stop all exchange services before breaking things down that way if something was missed, you will see it break then and can bring exchange online immediatly if needed instead of waiting until later, finding out something broke then potentially prolonging the problem

yes I fully agree, thanks for the reminder:  Will test this theorie out and respond within the next few days and reward/accept answer respectively.  Thank you

No need to stop Exchange Services. You can just check the SMTP Logs and see if anything is still talking to it.

"Been off now for several months. "
I assume you mean the exchange server not you?
In that case, if something still NEEDED it, would you not have noticed? If emails where IMPORTANT and still going to it (Or trying to at least) Wouldn't you have noticed?

If the machine has been OFF for several months then switching it on is NOT going to work as the server will have been tombstoned almost certainly.

IF all of the above is the case then I would leave it off and do an AD Clean up to get rid of all trace of it. Will be easier than trying to bring it back online and confusing the issue.

Ah missed the follow-up comment. Yep. Just turning off Exchange servers for months is not good. You can try and do it gracefully and hope for the best. But as Neil pointed out. Its most likely tombstoned in AD.

Suggestion for this questions was instrumental, but there was much more involved