Hi, we have 1 exchange 2007 server running on win 2003 std x64, with all roles on 1 server Our server is giving some hardware issues, so we plan to install new server as backup Can someone suggest any steps or best practice to how to install 2nd server as backup to current exchange so if primary server fails then backup automatically take over the control and functionality? We dont have any cluster or HA, this is only 1 server with all roles on it I want to install 2nd server with exact copy of existing server (Replica) Any suggestions are appreciated Thanks in Advance

Hi, if you cannot build a cluster, the easiest way would be to add the second server in your organization with all server roles. Configure the local continuous replication on the server that hosts the mailbox db by using perhaps and external device (attached storage, nas etc). If something bad happens to the main server, you can move db, logs on the other server, mount the db and let all the traffic go through that one (you might need also to change the mx record accordingly or point your smart host to the new server if any) It is going to be a disaster recovery solution, far from HA since you will experience outage of course while moving from one server to another in case of emergency.Vincenzo MCTS, MCTIP Server 2008 | MCTS Exchange 2010 | WatchGuard Firewall Security Professional

Thanks Vincenzo, we cant move the storage to NAS/SAN what we want is install second server with all roles and replicate all data from old to new server and make this new server as primary and then later we will remove old server --> Is it possible to simply add a new server and just replicate everything from primary server to it and if primary goes down then backup should kick in automatically (Active/Passive) And to build a cluster in exchange 2007 I guess it need to be formed before exchange installation??? and we are running win 2003 std edition so we dont have that option in that case

Yes, Install the new server move all the resource on to the new server (move Mailbox, replicate Public Folders etc) OR As you said you are looking for High Availability than CCR/SCC is the only option you have but that requires to have MBX Role only installed on the server. I would recommend that you bring in Exchange 2010 (If possible) as you are going on to install the new server on the new hardware. You can have HA in 2010 having all the roles installed on the single server. You just need to keep in mind that Windows 2008 is running Enterprise. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd979802.aspx http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd351172.aspx Cheers, Gulab | MCITP: Exchange 2010 | MCITP: Exchange 2007 | Skype: Gulab.Mallah | Blog: www.ExchangeRanger.blogspot.com

Yes, Install the new server move all the resource on to the new server (move Mailbox, replicate Public Folders etc) Thanks Gulab this is what we are looking at to just install new server and move everything off to new server My concern is when installing exchange on new server will it automatically find existing organization (It will) and just install all roles on it? and about the mailboxes and Public folders, do we need to manually move all mailboxes and PF to new server or there is any way it can be automatically sync to new server?

1. You first need to make your mind up if you're going to use 2007 or 2010. As suggested above 2010 would be the better choice. 2. When you install exch, you decide if you want all the roles installed or any in particular you want or dont want. 3. It will automatically find the existing Exch org. 4. Mailbox, you will have to move the mailboxes yourself as well replicatate the PF db from one server to another. - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb691120.aspx 5. You can use a schedule and or scripts to do. some info on move-mailboxes - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd298174.aspx#AdvSukh

Thanks guys, well 2010 is not an option at this time --> so if I install 2nd server and install all roles it wont start serve any requests? --> what do I need to do (once i move all mailboxes and PF) to make this server as primary server? --> and yeah do I need another certificate for CAS or can I just move the same cert? thanks for your responses and answers......

1. When you install it will start to be used as a HUB server for transport (assuming you only have 1 AD site). 2. When you move mailboxes to the new server it will become active. Make sure you create your PF db before you move the mailboxes and associate this to the new mailbox data you created. 3. When you install exch it create a self signed cert, depending on how youre using CAS, i.e OWA/active-sycn etc...then you may need to include this on your cert, if yurenot then you wont have toSukh