We have a stand-alone 2003 Windows Server Enterprise with 2003 Exchange Enterprise. This box serves as our DC, DNS, Exchange, File, and App server. I've already purchased four servers to replace the one with 2 allocated as DCs, 1 File, and 1 Exchange server. I've set up the new servers on a separate subnet with deny traffic between the two. The new servers use the same Domain.local name. However, because of a multitude of errors in the existing domain, I've decided to recreate the complete domain/forest. With only 48 users, recreating user accounts didn't take long. The problem now is:

How do I move the mail boxes and public folders (one storage group) from one 2003 Exchange Server to the new 2003 Server ? The machine names are different, the domain name is the same. I'm sure it can't be as easy as copying the databases and logs from one to the other. I don't think creating .pst files is the answer, a few users have 2-3GB mailboxes.

Hi,

 I ran this problem by one of our Exchange authors, Brien Posey. This is what he had to say:

"I have never been in a situation like that, so I honestly don’t know if moving the databases will work or not. My initial thought is that it won’t work because the servers are in different forests and have different SIDs. The user accounts also have different GUIDs. He might try bringing the database into a recovery storage group on the new server, and then linking the mailboxes to the user accounts. It may not work, but he can’t do any harm trying it. If that doesn’t work, then I am afraid that he will have no choice but to create PST files."

I hope this helps. Thanks for using the forums!

p.s. Here are some links to articles on Recovery Storage Groups that might help:

Recovery Storage Groups Explained

How can I create the Recovery Storage Group in Microsoft Exchange Server 2003?

From which servers can you restore databases into Recovery Storage Groups?

Best Practices for Recovery Storage Groups and Exchange Server 2003