XADM: How to Move Exchange to a New Computer with the Same Name

• Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5

SUMMARY

It may be necessary, because of performance or other reasons, to replace a Microsoft Exchange Server computer with a new, more powerful system.

This article explains how to move Microsoft Exchange Server to a new computer, assuming that the old computer will be off the network and the new computer will have the same name as the old computer.

MORE INFORMATION

Before you move Microsoft Exchange Server to the new computer, verify that the computer to be moved is not the only Microsoft Windows NT domain controller in the domain. While this computer is shut down as part of the moving procedure, there must be a domain controller that can validate logon requests.

If the computer to be moved is a primary domain controller (PDC), make sure that there is at least one other backup domain controller (BDC) in the Windows NT domain. After you shut down the computer to be moved, upgrade the BDC to a PDC.

If the computer to be moved is a BDC, make sure that the PDC in the domain is up and operational or that there are other BDCs that can be upgraded to become the PDC.

The steps below explain how to move Microsoft Exchange Server to the new computer:

1. On the old computer, stop all the Exchange Server services.



2. Copy the entire Exchsrvr directory to another computer on the network, or to a tape drive. If the Exchange log and database directories are on different drives, use the Performance Optimizer or the Exchange Administrator program (from the server object's properties) to move all the directories to their corresponding locations under the Exchsrvr directory where Exchange Server was installed. Do this before you back up the Exchsrvr directory.



3. Shut down the old computer. As explained above, make sure that there is an operational domain controller in the Windows NT domain.



4. Install Windows NT on the new computer with the same computer name as the old computer. If necessary, make it a BDC.



5. Run Setup to install Exchange Server on this new computer; use the same site and organization names as the installation on the old computer used. You must install the same version of Microsoft Exchange Server that was installed on the old computer. Do not select the option to join an existing site. Instead, choose to create a new site. Select the same Exchange Server service account that was used on the old computer. Make sure to install all the connectors that were installed on the old computer. To do this, select the Custom installation option. Do not run the Performance Optimizer at the end of the Setup program. Upgrade to the same service pack that was installed on the old computer.



6. Stop all the Exchange Server services.



7. Copy the backed up Exchsrvr directory over the Exchsrvr directory on the new computer.



8. Use Performance Optimizer to make any desired changes.



9. Start the Exchange Server services.
   
   If an error 1011 occurs when starting the information store, at a command prompt in the Exchsrvr\Bin directory, type the following command:




Isinteg -patch

10. Connectors need to be reinstalled and reconfigured.

Additional query words: migrate hardware

Keywords          : kbenv kbusage XADM exc4 exc5 exc55 
Version           : winnt:4.0,5.0,5.5
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbhowto 

Last Reviewed: July 30, 1999