Ok, I'm about to move my exchange server to a new hardware and would like to keep the same name and IP. I'm fine with all the windows networking side of things but have some questions. First off, if you know of any documentation I can read about this, I would love to see it. I got the technet one but its a 14 step process and not very detailed. When it says, make a full backup of the storage groups and SRS Database I have some questions. My SRS database service is disabled. Why? I don't know but it never has ran. Does this matter? Also storage groups, it says nothing about online or offline backups. Should I use NTbackup or simply trust me Backup server (CA). Then is says: Take the existing exchange 2003 computer offline. Do they mean simply bring it down? Rename it? Pull it off the domain? WHAT? I also have a BES? How will this affect it? A Backout plan? If lets say i can't successfully do it within the time period, do i simply bring back up the old server, add it back to the domain and hope the god all works?? Anyways, i have about a week to read up and find documentation before I try this. Never done one before so any help or tips are apreciated. Exchange 2003 sp2 is my release.

Hi, If the SRS service is disabled you can safely ignore that database. You can use both offline and online backups. If you need to be really sure - make both. Server offline means pull the cable (and never connect it again). Not sure about the BES. Backout plan would be to add the original server back to the network and reset the computer account password (but there is no need for that - the technet article works :-)). Leif

Another question. I know your suppose to move it to the exact OS. Well...i have windows 2003 std edition...id like to install it on windows 2003 std R2. Any problems you think?

As the article you have read before: To move Exchange 2003 to a new computer and keep the same server name, the new computer must have the same operating system installed as the original computer Confirm that the new computer is running the same operating system that was installed on the existing Exchange 2003 computer Microsoft does not recommend moving exchange to a different Operating System in such condition, as it may cause unpredictable issues

Another question now that i'm getting closer to completing the install. Instead of using the backup utility, could I not simply do a file lever copy? Could I not copy over the store manually? Instead of using backup? I assume its the samething.?

Backups are correct way of ensuring data integrity. Exchange does not have information about transaction log status and other information if you copy files. Restore will replay necessary transaction logs when bringing the databases online.

Ok ok, I'll stop trying to cut corners and take the long way.

This article may help. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124429.aspx