Transition Steps - Moving a Mailbox from an Exchange 2003 Organization to an Exchange 2007 Organization using the Move Mailbox Wizard

Over the past months I have worked with a number of Clients to 'Transition' from Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2007.  If you research you can find information about the difference between a 'transition' and a 'migration' in this Blog Entry.  For this entry I use the previously configured Exchange 2007 Server located in the existing Exchange 2003 Organization.  The Installation Steps for the First Exchange 2007 Server in an Exchange 2003 Organization are located in this Blog Entry.  Once we have the first Exchange 2007 Server installed in the existing Exchange 2003 Organization we can begin to 'transition' (or Move) Mailboxes into the Exchange 2007 Storage Groups and Information Stores.

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Our 'Source' Server for this Mailbox Move is an Exchange 2003 Server running Ex2k3 SP2.  I previously integrated the first Exchange 2007 Server into the existing Exchange 2003 Organization.

Here is the IP Configuration detail of the existing Exchange 2003 Server.

The Exchange 2003 System Manager shows both the 'First Administrative Group' where the Exchange 2003 Server resides and the newly created 'Exchange Administrative Group (with Cipher Text spelling something cool!) where the Exchange 2007 Server resides.

If we observe closely the Exchange 2003 Routing Group Connector we find this is the mechanism through which 'Ex2k3 knows about Ex2k7' and vice versa.

If we select 'Properties' on this Routing Group Connector a 'normal' error message appears indicating we need something from the Exchange 2007 MMC (or Management Shell) to open to modify settings.

We observer the 'Default Settings' on this Ex2k3/Ex2k7 Routing Group Connector.

Upon further investigation into both Administrative Groups we see a Routing Group Connector for both Exchange 2003 and Exchange 2007.

When we move over to the Exchange 2007 Server and invoke the 'Get-ExchangeServer' Commandlet we see the 2 existing Exchange Servers in their respective Version (V6.5 is Ex2k3 and V8.0 is Ex2k7).

In the Exchange 2007 Management Console I have selected a Mailbox for 'Ralph McGee' our target Mailbox for Moving from Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2007.  Notice the 'Recipient Type Details' column indicating 'Legacy Mailbox'.

The 'Action Pane' from the Exchange 2007 Management Console offers access to the 'Move Mailbox' Wizard.  I select the appropriate Exchange 2007 Server, Storage Group and Mailbox Database.

The 'Move Options' provide the benefit of scheduling the Mailbox Move 'after working hours'.  Or when more convenient for End Users.

I trigger the 'Move Schedule' to be 'Immediately'.

This is the final confirmation before the Exchange Management Shell Commandlet is invoked (behind the Graphical Interface). 

The 'Move Mailbox' process kicked off and indicates we completed succesfully.  Ralph McGee now resides on an Exchange 2007 Server. 

Notice the 'Recipient Type' has changes from 'Legacy Mailbox' to 'User Mailbox' indicating the Mailbox is on Exchange 2007.

I now move to a Windows XP SP2 Workstation with Office 2007 and Outlook 2007.  I login as 'Ralph McGee' - a Domain User.

I invoke Outlook 2007 to see how Ralph's e-mail faired during the 'Move Mailbox' process.

Success! (as far as I know!)  I observe Mail Messages previously included in the Exchange 2003 Mailbox Store.

Now I begin testing Mail Flow by sending an e-mail message from 'Ralph McGee' to 'Ralph McGee' and copy a Query-Based Distribution Group as well!

Instant feedback!  Mail is flowing.

I now begin testing Mail Flow from Exchange 2007 to Exchange 2003 by targeting an e-mail to Joe Smith.  Joe Smith has a Mailbox on the Legacy Exchange 2003 Server.

Logging in as 'Joe Smith' I immediately receive the e-mail from Ralph McGee.  This indicates proper Mail Flow between Exchange 2007 and Exchange 2003.

My next steps would be to plan the migration of the remaining Users, Contacts, Distribution Lists and Public Folders.  Everything is working well and I am off to the next Task!

If you'd like to 'Learn Advanced IT' - Check out the Free Video Lessons on Windows 2008 SP2 Failover Cluster Nodes for Highly Available File Services and other Microsoft topics as well - http://www.exchangesummit.net. 

Lynn Lunik
Independent Security Consultant
Windows(R) Platform
IT Pro Secure Corporation
blog <at> itprosecure.com