Question : Moving a large number of Exchange 2003 mailboxes on remote AD site to Exchange 2007 HQ

Hello,

I have a transition project to Exchange 2007 where there is an Exchange 2003 server in a remote AD site. This mail server has a fairly large single database (250GB+) with approx. 800 mailboxes ranging in size from 300KB to 10GB. I've been researching for the best way to move these mailboxes over to their new home server, but I haven't found a solid answer. There are some potential solutions that I've come across such as exporting to PST files and then importing in the new location. Another suggestion has been standing up a dedicated server in that site and move the mailboxes over to that server and then backup the database and ship the backup tape over and use database portability to restore.

I'm reaching out to seek advise from those who have faced this same challenge and were able to overcome it. Thanks!

Any advise or comments welcome!

Answer : Moving a large number of Exchange 2003 mailboxes on remote AD site to Exchange 2007 HQ

Last time I did this I went for the simple solution - I picked the server up and moved it to the same location, then did move mailbox.

The server was backed up first to tape and then the tape stored safe in case something happened to the server which it was moved.

Another method would be to move the smaller mailboxes using move mailbox over a period of time, and then look for a solution for the larger mailboxes.

Simon.