How to Move Exchange Server 2007 from Windows Server 2008 SP2 to Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

In this Blog post we will be exploring on how to move Exchange Server 2007 from Windows Server 2008 SP2 to Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.

Note : This scenario may or may not work for you. Please perform a thorough test before implementing it into production environment.

Below are some of the few points which will help us to understand when and why this scenario will help us.

• Windows Server 2008 SP2 had some performance issues.
• Company had planned to Upgrade from Windows Server 2008 to 2008 R2.
• Existing Server had a blue screen of death. Non reliable.
• Server is completely compromised due to Virus.
• Server crashed due to power outage..etc. etc..

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Permission Prerequisites

The account should be a member of Domain Admins and Enterprise Admins Groups. Full Exchange Administrators permission.

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Data Prerequisites

Full Exchange Database Backup is mandatory. If not, then blank database can be mounted, however no old emails will be accessible.

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Scenario

Exchange Server : Exchange Server 2007 SP3 (MBX)

Windows Server 2008 SP2 which will be replaced with Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

Domain Name : MSEXCHANGETEAM.IN

DC Name : DC1

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How to check the previous version and SP using Active Directory Users and Computers.

Figure 1.1 : Server Properties

Using ADUC we can easily understand what operating system the server was running before crashing or replacing. This will help us to plan whether we will bring the same operating system or different.

Figure 1.2 ; Using ADSIEDIT.msc. Connecting to Domain Partition and the properties of server object.

Figure 1.3 : Exchange Server Version.

In figure 1.3 the Exchange Server version will remain same.

Figure 1.4 : Number of Test Users.

Figure 1.5 : Test Emails Before moving to 2008 R2

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So far we have checked basic requirements. We also have proper exchange database for recovery. Now its time to recover the server as follows.

Login to domain controller and open Active Directory Users and Computers > Navigate to the Computer Object and right click > Select Reset Account as shown below.

Figure 1.6 : Reset Account

Figure 1.7 : Account Reset successfully

Now join the server to Domain. The server is now Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.

Figure 1.8 : Post joining the Server the Properties have changed.

In figure 1.8  we can now see that the operating system has changed.

Install Exchange Server 2007 Prerequisites by running the following command.

ServerManagerCmd -i Web-Server
ServerManagerCmd -i Web-ISAPI-Ext
ServerManagerCmd -i Web-Metabase
ServerManagerCmd -i Web-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console
ServerManagerCmd -i Web-Basic-Auth
ServerManagerCmd -i Web-Digest-Auth
ServerManagerCmd -i Web-Windows-Auth
ServerManagerCmd -i Web-Dyn-Compression
ServerManagerCmd -i RPC-Over-HTTP-Proxy

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Reboot the server post installing the above features.

Its time to run Recover Server with Exchange Server 2007 SP3 media as follows.

Figure 1.9 : Recover Server Completed

In figure 1.9 we have used /DoNotStarTransport. This is to avoid failure of recovery process. Once recovery is finished start the service manually.

Figure 1.10 : This database can be overwritten by a restore

In figure 1.10 post recover server go to the properties of database and select the above option to restore the database.

Figure 1.11 : Database path

By looking at figure 1.11 ensure that Exact set of folders are created and the database is restored to its location. By default recover server would not create this folders.

Figure 1.12 : Database Health check

Post restoring the database health check is mandatory before bringing the database into production.

Figure 1.13 : Mount database

Now since we have confirmed database location and database health. Its safe to go ahead and “Mount Database”

Figure 1.14 : Mounted

Figure 1.15 : Mailboxes as seen before recovery

Figure 1.16 : Same Exchange Server Recovered

Figure 1.17 : OWA Test

Figure 1.18 : User able to login

Figure 1.19 : I am Back….

Exchange Server is back on a brand new operating system Windows Server 2008 R2. No settings have been modified.

This article illustrates as to what “Recover Server” can do. There are many scenario under which recover server can be performed.

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H