I have a dysfunctional (to put it mildly) Exchange Server that is hosted by a WS03r2x64/DC.  This DC hosts all roles of Exchange 2007.  To address some previous hardware issues, we re-imaged this DC/machine onto a new/bigger disc subsystem and did a Repair/Install to facilitate (F6) the needed/new disc drivers.  Afterwards, the said Exchange/IIS problems surfaced.

Currently, there are no AD or network/DNS issues as reported by comprehensive dcDiag/NetDiag testing nor are there any DNS, DS, or FRS error events in those logs.  However, iisAdmin won't run (invalid machinekey) and neither will Exchange Powershell (as is needed to work on the IIS issue).

My first goal is to get this DC upgraded to WS08r2 and to still host Exchange on such.  Budgetarty reasons prevent us from going to WS12 at this time or from properly hosting Exchange.  (We suspect by fall of this year to properly migrate/commission these instances, however, we won't be able to do such before WS'03 becomes unsupported in the next few months.)

So my question is which path do i follow:
  1) Do i pursue a remedy for PowerShell so i can use it to preserve IIS settings for Outlook/web and then rebuild IIS (and get this `03DC and Exchange completely functional before doing the WS08r2 migration)?

  2) Do i just preserve the Exchange db and then install WS08r2 and do a disaster recovery of Exchange (from the preserved db)?  -Is this even feasible?

All comments/suggestiongs are immensely appreciated!

Thanks,
G

Hi ,

Restore the DC and install exchange server with the same OS and recover the exchange server by installing exchange with the Setup.com /M:RecoverServer. Below is the TechNet link to restore the server.

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-in/library/aa998656(v=exchg.80).aspx

Once you restore the server, you could create the recovery database and merge the mails with the user maibox.

Alternatively, you could use third party tool to connect to preserved and merge the email with the users pst.  

http://www.lepide.com/exchange-manager/

Regards,
Krishna
http://smtpport25.wordpress.com

• Proposed as answer by Simon_WuMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator 2 hours 51 minutes ago

Hi Krishna and thanks for the fast response!

Is there a practice by which I could just go directly from WS03r2 to WS08r2 then restore the Exchange data to WS08r2; this would save me some work?

Thanks,
Glenn

Hi ,

Restore the DC and install exchange server with the same OS and recover the exchange server by installing exchange with the Setup.com /M:RecoverServer. Below is the TechNet link to restore the server.

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-in/library/aa998656(v=exchg.80).aspx

Once you restore the server, you could create the recovery database and merge the mails with the user maibox.

Alternatively, you could use third party tool to connect to preserved and merge the email with the users pst.  

http://www.lepide.com/exchange-manager/

Regards,
Krishna
http://smtpport25.wordpress.com

• Proposed as answer by Simon_WuMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Thursday, February 19, 2015 8:59 AM

Hi,

Krishna.Smtpps suggestion is more efficient.

Since the previous Exchange is on the DC. The normal way is to firstly migrate the DC. Then build-up a new Exchange and move the DB to it. Then decommission the old one.

Thanks,

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact tnmff@microsoft.com

Hi Simon,

I'm confused about: "The normal way is to firstly migrate the DC".   Because, that's what i proposed:  "migrate DC from WS03r2 to WS08r2" (and then recover Exchange) or am i missing something here?

Thanks,
Glenn

Hi Glenn,

Yes, the order you proposed is right.

Thanks,

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact tnmff@microsoft.com

 

Hi,

Is there any further question on this thread?
Thanks,

If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact tnmff@microsoft.com

I plan on migrating the DC to either 2012R2 and am in the process of acquiring that license/software.  I thought i'd try that route and comment then/during.  This should happen next week.

Thanks,
GlennXS