Exchange & Outlook UPDATE, Exchange Edition, July 26, 2002

Exchange and Outlook UPDATE, Exchange Edition—brought to you by Exchange & Outlook Administrator, a print newsletter from Windows & .NET Magazine that contains practical advice, how-to articles, tips, and techniques to help you do your job today.
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Esker Software
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(below COMMENTARY)

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July 26, 2002—In this issue:

1. COMMENTARY

2. NEW AND VIEWS

3. ANNOUNCEMENTS

4. HOT RELEASE (ADVERTISEMENT)

5. RESOURCES

6. NEW AND IMPROVED

7. CONTACT US

1. COMMENTARY
(contributed by Jerry Cochran, News Editor, [email protected])

Last week, I talked about changing out the hardware of an Exchange Server 5.5 system. I explained the two basic approaches: the Forklift method and the Move Mailbox method. This week, I want to visit the same topic for Exchange 2000 Server systems and discuss why the task is a little more complicated for Exchange 2000.

First, let's look at the Forklift approach. With Exchange 5.5, you use this approach to move directories from the original Exchange server to the new Exchange server. You run a couple of utilities, and bingo—your new installation is running on new hardware. However, Exchange 2000 is so tightly integrated with Active Directory (AD) that you can't simply copy Exchange directories from the old server to the new server as you can in Exchange 5.5. The best way to approach the Forklift method when retrofitting an Exchange 2000 server is as a disaster-recovery operation. As such, you can use the new /disasterrecovery option in the Exchange 2000 Setup program to recover your Exchange 2000 server to the new hardware configuration. However, Microsoft offers no documented procedure for using the Forklift approach in Exchange 2000—a good indication that this method is probably the higher-risk option. If you still want to pursue the Forklift method, I recommend that you read the Microsoft Product Support Services (PSS) white paper "Exchange 2000 Server Database Recovery" (see the URL at the end of the Commentary).

So what about the Move Mailbox approach? The Move Mailbox method for Exchange 2000 has all the benefits of the same procedure for Exchange 5.5 and works in a similar fashion, albeit through different tools.

In fact, when you use a tool such as ExMerge to accomplish the move, there's really no difference at all. The preferable approach, however, might be to install Exchange System Manager (ESM) on a server or administrator's workstation so that you can use the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in to move mailboxes through ESM's Move Mailbox task. (You use the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in rather than the ESM snap-in because an Exchange 2000 mailbox is an attribute of an AD user account.)

Regardless of whether you're moving mailboxes between Exchange 5.5 servers or Exchange 2000 servers (or from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2000, for that matter), you need to understand the consequences of your chosen method before you proceed. For example, using ExMerge instead of Microsoft Exchange Administrator or the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in will wipe out mailbox permissions, rules, and delegation. When you use the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in, opening the snap-in and initiating the move on the target Exchange 2000 server is more efficient than performing the operation from the administrator's workstation. (The former method causes a direct connection between the source and target Exchange servers, whereas the latter method causes a connection from the source to the administrator's workstation, then to the target server—a much slower and less efficient process.)

When you face the challenge of retrofitting the hardware of your Exchange 2000 or Exchange 5.5 server, take some time to carefully research your options, understand the trade-offs and consequences, and plan and test your approach. Doing so will ensure a smooth transition with the least amount of downtime.
"Exchange 2000 Server Database Recovery"

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2. NEWS AND VIEWS
(contributed by Jerry Cochran, News Editor, [email protected] and Carolyn Mader, [email protected])

Microsoft announced a security vulnerability in Exchange Server 5.5. The vulnerability can let an attacker remotely compromise the server. For more information, see the following URL:
http://www.secadministrator.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=26048

Exchange 2000 Server Service Pack 3 (SP3) is a cumulative service pack that provides interoperability with Windows .NET Server (Win.NET Server) domain controllers (DCs), fixes to customer-reported problems, and updates based on the Microsoft Trustworthy Computing Initiative. Microsoft recommends that you download and install SP3 on all servers running Exchange 2000.
http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/downloads/2000/sp3/default.asp

Malcolm Pearson, general manager of Microsoft's Exchange Server Business Unit, explains how the next Exchange Server release (code-named Titanium and scheduled for 2003) will increase the productivity of information workers and IT administrators while lowering total cost of ownership (TCO) and boosting availability.
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2002/jul02/07-15exchangeqa.asp

Have you used a product that changed your IT experience by saving you time or easing your daily burden? Do you know of a terrific product that others should know about? Tell us! We want to write about the product in a future Windows & .NET Magazine What's Hot column. Send your product suggestions to [email protected].

3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
(brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine and its partners)

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4. HOT RELEASE (ADVERTISEMENT)

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5. RESOURCES

Each week, Microsoft posts several Exchange Server how-to articles to its Knowledge Base. This week, learn how to stop message transfers from a queue in Exchange 2000 Server and how to restore normal operations.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q314157&

Michele is looking for information about running a mixed-mode Exchange 2000 Server and Exchange Server 5.5 environment. To offer your advice or join the discussion, go to the following URL:
http://www.exchangeadmin.com/forums/thread.cfm?cfapp=72&thread_id=109853&mc=1

6. NEW AND IMPROVED
(contributed by Carolyn Mader, [email protected])

PROMODAG announced PROMODAG Reports for Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0, software for Exchange 2000 Server and Exchange Server 5x. The product reports usage statistics so that you can adequately plan the evolution of your messaging architecture. The new version integrates five new predefined reports, including cost chargeback on mailbox storage, individual traffic reports, distribution list usage, messages to more than a specific number of recipients, and details about messages (i.e., date, time, size, and subject). You can print reports in color and 3-D. For pricing, contact PROMODAG at [email protected].
http://www.promodag.com

7. CONTACT US
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