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Dead Exchange 2010 Server

I came in this morning to a dead exchange 2010 server with no backup. We're a relatively small shop with not a lot of users. Here's my plan and I'd like some input from the experts. We were in the planning stages of upgrading to Exchange 2013. I would like to export everyone's outlook to a pst. Already tested this with one user and we were able to export to a pst everything since Friday. Next I'd like to install a new server with Exchange 2013. After that is up and going then import each user's pst file. What are some thoughts about this?

Scott C

So is the Exchange server still dead, or were you able to reboot it and get it up and running?

If you can get most of the data off of the old server, I'd say your plan is good and should be implemented ASAP.

If you aren't talking about a large number of users, this is probably the fastest and easiest way to get email working again.

Theresa Parrett

ASKER

The exchange server is totally dead. Does not appear I can get any data from it.

Should I remove this server from AD before the 2013 install or should I proceed with the 2013 install and do a clean up after?

No we are not talking about a large number of users.

I really appreciate your help and any other thoughts people have.

Wayne88

I think your plan is as simple as it can get and that's a very good thing. Your method is straightforward and I don't see any problems with it.

I would have done exactly the same if I didn't have other backups.

Scott C

You should get Exchange 2010 out of your AD now. It's much easier to do it before you install 2013. You don't want to be mucking around in AD and have something go wrong after you do all of the work to get 2013 installed and working.

Theresa Parrett

ASKER

I have found a post on technet about removing the Exchange server with Adsi Edit (since the server is dead).

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/exchange/en-US/46ca107c-7ece-4da7-8aea-46b705793f37/removing-old-exchange-and-installing-a-new-one

Would everyone concur with this process?

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Simon Butler (Sembee)

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Amit

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Will Szymkowski

Based on what you have stated above for your initial solution you are going to have remnats left over in your AD/Exchange environment from the 2010 server. The most appropriate way to accomplish this is using the Setup /m:RecoverServer /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms switch. This means you would prep a new server using the same computer name as the old Exchange server and install Exchange using the switch i have mentioned above.

This way you can recover the 2010 server and migrate all of the mailboxes seamlesly or atleast remove the Exchange server grancefully.

Recover Exchange Server
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd876880(v=exchg.150).aspx

If you have already removed the Exchange 2010 computer account you will then need to resort to using ADSIEdit to remove Exchange 2010 objects from Active Directory.

Remove Exchange using ADSIEdit

Will.

Theresa Parrett

ASKER

Thanks so much to all comments and feedback. Ended up opening an incident with Microsoft. Did the exchange recovery and at least got mail flowing. Were able to recover some emails from exporting to pst for individuals before bringing on the replacement server. Needless to say many hours long work and will have a better backup solution than what we had before.