Very Computer

I'm confronted with the following sutuation:

In my company we're running on one dual-processor NT Server running Exchange 5.0, it is the only server present.

Because of quite heavy damages to the registry and an unfortunate disission to implement an IIS 4 -beta, the server has become quite unstable.

What would be the "best" way to "renew" the server? In other words: I want to reinstall NT & Exchange while mainaining the present Information stores & mailboxes.............

I've been thinking about the folowing process:

    a.. Install a temporary server and let it join the present site
    b.. Migrate all mailboxes and Public Folders to this machine
    c.. Reinstall the original server
    d.. Mirgrate everything back again to the original server
Would this be a viable option? Or is there perhaps a more efficient aproach?

Thanks & Regards,

Iwan van der Kleyn

Iwan,

What you suggest would work if you are using the Enterprise version of
Exchange.  Be sure, however to read KB aricle Q152959 - How to Remove the
First Exchange Server in a Site.

For other approaches, you may want to check out the Exchange Backup and
Restore white paper at
http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/support/deployment/planning/deploy....
&B=1
as it contains a wealth of information on the safe handling of Exchange
information stores.

Regards,
--
Ray Sundstrom
MCSE, Exchange MVP



    I'm confronted with the following sutuation:

    In my company we're running on one dual-processor NT Server running
Exchange 5.0, it is the only server present.

    Because of quite heavy damages to the registry and an unfortunate
disission to implement an IIS 4 -beta, the server has become quite unstable.

    What would be the "best" way to "renew" the server? In other words: I
want to reinstall NT & Exchange while mainaining the present Information
stores & mailboxes.............

    I've been thinking about the folowing process:

        a.. Install a temporary server and let it join the present site
        b.. Migrate all mailboxes and Public Folders to this machine
        c.. Reinstall the original server
        d.. Mirgrate everything back again to the original server
    Would this be a viable option? Or is there perhaps a more efficient
aproach?

    Thanks & Regards,

    Iwan van der Kleyn

Be careful that circular logging (the Exchange server default) is turned off
before you try this approach or you may find you have no backup at all!

--
Ray Sundstrom
MCSE, Exchange MVP



    1.  Use an Exchange-aware backup package to do an online backup the Dir
and IS.
    2.  Format & reinstall NT and any service packs.
    3.  Install Exchange, using the same ORG, SITE, SERVER names, and
Service Account.
    4.  Restore from tape.

You're not even close -- it is a rather delicate process outlined in Microsoft published "Disaster Recovery - Part I". You can get this document in http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/evalgd.htm

In summary, the steps are:
    1.. Do an online full backup of your IS & DS using NTBACKUP.EXE in Exchange Server 5.0 CD.
    2.. Write down all Exchange configurations, including the location (drive/directory) of your exchange data.
    3.. Reinstall NT: same server name, same server configuration (PDC/BDC/Server), same SP.
    4.. Install Exchange 5.0: run SETUP.EXE /R, run optimizer and choose to move files to original location in step 2.
    5.. Apply same Exchange 5.0 patch: UPDATE.EXE /R.
    6.. Restore IS & DS: select "Delete existing files" & "Start Services after restore" in NTBACKUP.EXE.
It is VERY IMPORTANT that you use NTBACKUP.EXE from Exchange 5.0 CD.

Good Luck!!

    I'm confronted with the following sutuation:

    In my company we're running on one dual-processor NT Server running Exchange 5.0, it is the only server present.

    Because of quite heavy damages to the registry and an unfortunate disission to implement an IIS 4 -beta, the server has become quite unstable.

    What would be the "best" way to "renew" the server? In other words: I want to reinstall NT & Exchange while mainaining the present Information stores & mailboxes.............

    I've been thinking about the folowing process:

        a.. Install a temporary server and let it join the present site
        b.. Migrate all mailboxes and Public Folders to this machine
        c.. Reinstall the original server
        d.. Mirgrate everything back again to the original server
    Would this be a viable option? Or is there perhaps a more efficient aproach?

    Thanks & Regards,

    Iwan van der Kleyn

Shawn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shawn D. Connelly, (the ubiquitous) Network Engineer

Notes: Remove the ".delete.this." from the suffix of my email address.
       For assurance that I will read your reply, please copy your
       public posting to my email account.

Search the technet for the author "Pagano" and you will see the "MS Exchange
Disaster Recovery Part 1".