Avatar of Peter Jones
Peter Jones
 asked on

Exchange 2007 Standard Database Move

We have an Exchange 2007 Standard installation running on Server 2003 R2 which is running like an absolute bag of cr**, therefore I have built a new Exchange 2007 Standard installation on Server 2008 R2 and given it the resources it needs, everything is up and running and I can move users manually from old databases to the new databases on new server without issue, it's just that the time it's taking is too long for the amount of mailboxes we have.

My question is, if I choose to move the entire database as a whole rather than individual mailboxes, do the naming conventions for the new storage groups and databases have to match the old naming conventions?

For example:-

Old Config

Storage Group 1 > Mailbox_Database 1.edb

New Config

First Storage Group > Mailbox Database.edb

Is this OK?

The databases are huge in size, around 250 GB, hence the reason I'm carrying out this entire process as I'll eventually spread the load more efficiently. I'm also aware of the default limits set @ 250 GB for the database to dismount, I can get around that with a registry change temporarily.
ExchangeInstallation

Avatar of undefined
Last Comment
Peter Jones

8/22/2022 - Mon
Tom Cieslik

I.m not quite sure what do you want to do ?
Do you want copy over whole storage from old server to new one and connect it (mount) in Exchange ? )

You not supposed to play with Exchange 2007 anymore this days.
New Office 2016 is not compatible with old Exchange.
Peter Jones

ASKER
Do you want copy over whole storage from old server to new one and connect it (mount) in Exchange ?
- Yes, from old server to new server

You not supposed to play with Exchange 2007 anymore this days.
- That is a matter of opinion, not fact. Exchange 2007 Standard is currently in extended support by Microsoft until 04/10/2017. Therefore the product is still valid.

New Office 2016 is not compatible with old Exchange.
- I haven't mentioned anything about Outlook 2016? I'm fully aware of client-side compatibility, hence the reason I haven't included this in my question.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Tahir Qureshi

THIS SOLUTION ONLY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS.
View this solution by signing up for a free trial.
Members can start a 7-Day free trial and enjoy unlimited access to the platform.
See Pricing Options
Start Free Trial
GET A PERSONALIZED SOLUTION
Ask your own question & get feedback from real experts
Find out why thousands trust the EE community with their toughest problems.
Tom Cieslik

I don't think you can mount old database and use it on new server.
You should mount it and perform users migration to new database
It's called Dial Tone Recovery on an Exchange 2007 Server
You can try this article
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb310773%28v=exchg.80%29.aspx

I know you did not mentioned Outlook 2016 and I also know that support for Exchange 2007 is extended, but very soon you can face this problems specially that extension will expire in one month.
Experts Exchange has (a) saved my job multiple times, (b) saved me hours, days, and even weeks of work, and often (c) makes me look like a superhero! This place is MAGIC!
Walt Forbes
Peter Jones

ASKER
It turns out that it is possible to migrate an Exchange 2007 database to a new Exchange 2007 installation running on a new Windows Server platform:-

1.) Create new storage groups on new Exchange installation

2.) Create new mailbox databases on new Exchange installation with exactly the same naming convention as old databases. Also, allow database to be overwritten via a restore and remove database limits to allow overwrite

3.) Check database integrity using ESEUTIL /MH. If database is in "Clean Shutdown" state then migrate database to new location. If database is in "Dirty Shutdown" state then further work is required to replay transaction logs using ESEUTIL or "Exchange Aware" backup to commit logs

4.) Move databases to new specified location. Check for integrity again using ESEUTIL /MH just to be sure.

5.) Mount database on new Exchange installation

6.) Run Powershell command to point mailboxes to new configuration "Get-Mailbox -Database <SourceDatabase> |where {$_.ObjectClass -NotMatch '(SystemAttendantMailbox|ExOleDbSystemMailbox)'}| Move-Mailbox -ConfigurationOnly -TargetDatabase <TargetDatabase>"

7.) Add required OWA configuration to be accessed externally (FQDN)

Source = https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa998340(v=exchg.80).aspx