Monday, December 6, 2010

Exchange 2003: Decommissioning an Exchange 5.5 Environment

Perform checks to ensure clients are working as expected (setting the baseline):
1. Check that a client inside the site (administrative group) can download the OAB.
2. Check that a client inside the site can see free busy information within the site.
3. Check that a client outside the site can see free busy information within the site to be decommissioned.
Ensure the Site Replication Service is started on each Exchange 2003 SRS:
1. On each Exchange 2003 SRS server, open Services MMC console and ensure Microsoft Exchange Site Replication Service is started.
Verify no mailboxes remain on the Exchange 5.5 server (this is expected to have already been performed):
1. Open Microsoft Exchange Administrator on the Exchange 5.5 server
2. Expand the siteConfigurationServersExpand the server to be decommissionedPrivate Information StoreMailbox Resources.
3. Ensure there are no mailboxes listed other than System Attendant and Directory Service.
4. Remove any other mailboxes or move them to an Exchange 2003 server using Exchange System Manager.
Verify all required public folders have replicated to an Exchange 2003 server in the site (this is expected to have already been performed):
1. Log into the Exchange 2003 SRS server and open the EXDEPLOY folder from the Exchange 2003 installation files.
2. Run PFMIGRATE.WSF /S:EX55SVR /T:EX2K3SVR /R to determine if there are any public folders not yet replicated to 2003.
3. If necessary, run PFMIGRATE.WSF /S:EX55SVR /T:EX2K3SVR /A /N:100 to add Exchange 2003 to the replica list of any non-replicated public folders.
4. Replicate the ADC public folder agreement and then Active Directory
5. Open Exchange System ManagerAdministrative GroupsSite NameFolders.
6. For each of the folders that were updated (see the PFMIGRATE log file), check under the Status tab that the folder has the expected number of items listed.
Remove all public folders from the Exchange 5.5 server:
1. See http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124112(EXCHG.65).aspx
2. Log into the Exchange 5.5 server to be decommissioned.
3. Start Microsoft Exchange AdministratorSite NameServersServer to be decommissionedPublic Information StorePropertiesAge Limits.
4. Ensure there are no public folder instances listed except system folders.
5. If this is the last server in the site, there should only be site-specific folders listed.
6. If there are public folders listed then run PFMIGRATE.WSF /S:EX55SVR /T:EX2K3SVR /D to remove the public folder replicas from Exchange 5.5 wherever there is already a replica on Exchange 2003.
7. Recommended: Set the replication schedule on the public information store to always in order to speed up the process.
8. Repeat steps 1 – 5 to ensure the replicas have been removed.
Verify the Offline Address Book is replicated to an Exchange 2003 server in the site:
1. See http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=152959
2. See http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=822450
3. Log into the Exchange 2003 server in the site.
4. Start Exchange System ManagerAdministrative GroupsSite NameFoldersView System Folders.
5. Expand Offline Address Book. The OAB should be in the format: EX:/O=ORG/OU=Site.
6. Select the OABPropertiesReplication tabVerify an Exchange 2003 server is listed.
7. If there are no replicas then click Add to add one.
8. Repeat steps 1-7 for OAB Version 2 if present.
9. Alternative method is to use PFMIGRATE.WSF /S:EX55SVR /T:EX2K3SVR /A /N:50 /SF to replicate this and all other system folders to Exchange 2003
Verify Schedule+ Free Busy Information have replicated to an Exchange 2003 server in the site
1. Repeat steps for the OAB above in order to ensure that there is an Exchange 2003 replica of the Schedule+ Free Busy folder for the site
Note: Free/busy may be unavailable for some users until it is generated by activity in their calendar. There should be at least one Exchange 2003 replica of free/busy for every Exchange site.
Verify the Organization Forms are replicated to an Exchange 2003 server in the site:
1. Repeat steps for the OAB above in order to ensure that there is an Exchange 2003 replica of the Organization Forms folder.
Move the Routing Calculation Server role to Exchange 2003 SRS:
1. Open Exchange 5.5 Administrator and connect to a server in the site.
2. Expand the Site NameConfigurationSite AddressingProperties.
3. Set the Routing calculation server to the Exchange 2003 SRS server in the site.
4. On the Routing tab, click Recalculate Routing.
5. To reflect the change immediately on the Exchange SRS, either restart the SRS service or open Exchange 5.5 Administrator > Select the SRS server > Microsoft Exchange Site Replication Service > Properties > Update Now
6. To reflect the change immediately in Exchange 5.5, open Exchange 5.5 Administrator > Select the SRS server > Directory Service > Properties > Update Now
7. To reflect the change in AD and Exchange System Manager, replicate the ADC Config_CA connections.
Move Replication Connector to an Exchange 2003 SRS server in the site:
1. See http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124174(EXCHG.65).aspx
2. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822450
3. Replicate connections and test mail flow between the site and another site after moving each connector across.
4. Log into the Exchange 2003 serverOpen Exchange Administrator for Exchange 5.5Site NameConfigurationDirectory Replication.
5. Open each Directory Replication Connector (except ADNAutoDRC) and change the local bridgehead server to the Exchange 2003 SRS server in the site. Also change the remote bridgehead for the partner Directory Replication connector in the other site.
Move connectors to an Exchange 2003 SRS server in the site by replacing them with Routing Group Connectors:
1. See http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124174(EXCHG.65).aspx
2. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822450
3. Open Exchange System Manager and create a Routing Group Connector that parallels every Exchanger 5.5 Site Connector in the site. For example, if there is a site connector between SiteA and SiteB then create a Routing Group Connector between SiteA and SiteB. Set the connector cost to “1”.
4. Log into the Exchange 2003 serverOpen Exchange Administrator for Exchange 5.5Site NameConfigurationConnections.
5. On each Site Connector to and from this site, change the cost to “2” or greater.
6. On each Site Connector from this site, set the Messaging Bridgehead to the Exchange 2003 SRS in the site.
7. On each Site Connector that connects to this site, set the Exchange 2003 SRS as the only remote bridgehead server.
8. Replicate this change through the organization and test mail flow immediately.
9. If mail flow stops working, reverse the changes made to the Site Connectors.
If there is an X400 connector or other connector then also update the bridgeheads on these connectors in both the local and remote sites.

If there is a “Connector for cc:Mail” or “MS Mail Connector” and they are not in use then these can be safely ignored and removed when Exchange 5.5 is uninstalled.
Verify that Internet e-mail connectors on the Exchange 5.5 server are moved to Exchange 2003:
1. Log into the Exchange 2003 serverOpen Exchange Administrator for Exchange 5.5Site NameConfigurationConnections.
2. Check for the presence of an Internet Mail Service.
3. Move any existing Internet Mail Service to Exchange 2003 by following http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883407/.

Verify expansion server for all distribution lists in the site are not set to an Exchange 5.5 server:
1. Open Exchange 5.5 Administrator.
2. Open each distribution list in the site and check that Expansion server is set to “Any Server In Site” or to the name of an Exchange 2003 server.
Force ADC replication on the Config CA connection agreement
1. Open the ADC management tool and replicate the Config CA connection agreements.
Force replication through Active Directory
1. Open Active Directory Sites and Services.
2. Replicate all connections.
Wait for public folders, Schedule+ Free Busy, and Organization Forms information to replicate before continuing.
1. Check in Exchange System Manager that Connector modifications have replicated.
2. Open Outlook and connect to a mailbox in the site to ensure that public folders appear as expected and free/busy data can be viewed for other users in the site.
3. Attempt to download the Offline Address Book. If it fails then force a rebuild of the OAB from Exchange System Manager.
4. Open organizational forms in Outlook and confirm that they open (if applicable)
Disable Exchange services and shutdown the Exchange 5.5 server for testing
See functional testing plan
Start the Exchange server
Restart the Exchange services
Remove Exchange 5.5 from the server:
1. Start the Exchange Server 5.5 CD and run setup.exe.
2. On the Microsoft Exchange Server Setup page, click Add/Remove.
3. Clear the checkbox for Microsoft Exchange Server and click Continue.
4. Use Exchange 5.5 Administrator to connect to another server in the site (the Exchange 2003 SRS server will be fine).
5. Confirm that the SRS service is running.
6. Select the server to be removed.
7. On the Edit menu, click Delete.
Remove the Exchange 5.5 server from the SRS database and Active Directory:
1. See http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124174(EXCHG.65).aspx
2. Open the Active Directory Connector Tool MMC console, right click the Config_CA_Site_Server_Name object, and then click Replicate Now.
3. Replicate Active Directory
See functional testing plan
Prepare final Exchange 5.5 server for removal:
1. See major task 1
See functional testing plan
Remove final Exchange 5.5 server:
1. See major task 3
See functional testing plan
Remove Exchange SRS:
1. Follow directions specified at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124572(EXCHG.65).aspx
2. Do not remove the Config_CA connection agreement!
Remove any Directory Replication Connectors:
1. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/272314/
2. Use Exchange 5.5 Administrator to connect to each SRS in the organization.
3. For each SRS, expand the local site name, expand Configuration, click Directory Replication Connectors.
4. Delete any Directory Replication Connectors that exist. Do not delete ADNAutoDRC connector listed under Directory Replication Connectors!
5. Allow time for Config_CAs to replicate the changes to Active Directory.
Remove all SRS in the organization:
1. Start Exchange System Manager and ensure no Exchange 5.5 server computers are displayed in any administrative group.
2. Navigate to the Tools container, click the Site Replication Services container.
3. Right click each SRS and then click Delete. This will remove the SRS and corresponding Config_CA.
4. Confirm that all SRS have been removed from the entire organization.
Remove the Active Directory Connector service by uninstalling it.

Exchange 2003: Issues (including migration)

Outlook is unable to download the offline address book (OAB)
Check that the folders OAB Version 2 and OAB Version 3a exist under /o=Org/cn=addrlists/cn=oabs/cn=Default Offline Address List

If they do not exist then you can recreate them by forcing a rebuild of the offline address list: -
Exchange System Manager > Recipients > Offline Address Lists > Right click the offline address list > Rebuild

If the address list does not exist at all then recreate it according to http://blogs.msdn.com/b/dgoldman/archive/2007/04/19/outlook-oab-download-fails-with-0x80004005-and-0x8004010f.aspx.

Check that there is either a replica in the administrative group / routing group, or that public folder referrals is enabled across each relevant routing group connector

See http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa996531(EXCHG.65).aspx for further details.

Unable to see OAB for Exchange 5.5 users (co-existence)
Check that the Exchange 5.5 OAB has been generated

Open Exchange 5.5 Administrator > Site Name > Configuration > in the right hand pane open DS Site Configuration > Offline Address Book tab > Generate All

Once it is generated it will appear in the system folders under Exchange Administrator > Folders > System Folders > OFFLINE ADDRESS BOOK > EX:/=Org/ou=Site Name. It will be called OAB Version 2.

Unable to see Free/busy for Exchange 5.5 users in Exchange 2003

Ensure there is an Exchange 2003 replica of Exchange 5.5 free busy folders. This may need to be replicated to all Exchange 2003 routing groups, or else check that the routing group connectors allow public folder referrals.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Allow End Users (owners) to Manage Distribution lists

To allow end users to manage distributions lists in Exchange 2007, open the distribution list in Active Directory Users and Computers. On the security tab, click Advanced. Add the user or group into the list and on the Properties tab, select the Read Members property and Write Members property.

To do this via the Exchange Management Console, run the following command:

Add-ADPermission - ID "Name of distribution list" -User "Name of user or group to provide permissions to" -AccessRights WriteProperty -Properties Member

Add-ADPermission - ID "Name of distribution list" -User "Name of user or group to provide permissions to" -AccessRights ReadProperty -Properties Member

For Exchange 2010, you can configure the owner of groups to be able to manage distribution lists by using RBAC and the following instructions: http://sysadmin-talk.org/2010/06/omg-allowing-end-users-to-manage-distribution-group-membership-in-exchange-2010-2/. Indications are that the previous methods do not work on Exchange 2010.