Our Exchange 2010 Sp1 was installed and configured by mistake on a domain contoller, that is global catalog. This is not the first DC in the domain. Is there a way with theses versions to only do a dcpromo and demote this domain controller, or I really need to install a separate server and move all the mailboxes and all the configurations? For now nobody see any performance issue, but we will have about 600 mailboxes on this server. Thanks.

The easiest and safest solution, would be to install new server move all mailboxes and configurations there remove exchange 2010 from current computer. dcpromo to remove the DC from that computer. Install Ex 2010 and move everything back. remove the temporary exchange 2010 you created at the begining. Not the fastest to do, but quite safe procedure. Even if you do not see performance problems, deploying exchange on domain controller is not recommended. With kind regards Krystian Zieja http://www.projectnenvision.com Follow me on twitter My Blog

Ok this is what I've expected, but if I move the mailboxes on the new server, why should I go back to the same server after demoting it...Can I just do this : 1- Install a new server 2- Move mailboxes and all configuration to this server 3- demote the DC where Exchange was installed first and use it for something else... ? DC on this server was only an error...I have already two ohters DC that are doing only this role.. Also last question, instead of moving the mailboxes, can I just point the databases from the old server to the new one? My databases and logs are on separate luns for each...so can it be quickier this way?

On Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:39:48 +0000, mchartier wrote: > > >Ok this is what I've expected, but if I move the mailboxes on the new server, why should I go back to the same server after demoting it...Can I just do this : > > > >1- Install a new server > >2- Move mailboxes and all configuration to this server > >3- demote the DC where Exchange was installed first and use it for something else... ? Yes, you can. >DC on this server was only an error...I have already two ohters DC that are doing only this role.. > >Also last question, instead of moving the mailboxes, can I just point the databases from the old server to the new one? My databases and logs are on separate luns for each...so can it be quickier this way? If the O/S is running the Enterprise version of Windows 2008 you could use a DAG (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd979799.aspx) and make database copies that way (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd979802.aspx). The Exchange 2007 database portability (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb123954(EXCHG.80).aspx) may still work in Exchange 2010 (I haven't tried it), but there's no longer any storage groups in Exchange 2010 so you'll have to skip around a bit in these instructions: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa998340(EXCHG.80).aspx Moving the mailboxes instead of the databases won't take down the server for everyone while the database(s) are being moved. Only a few mailboxes at a time will be unavailable and only for as long as it takes to move them to their new home. --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP

Hi mchartier, Yes, you can just use the new server, no need to move back. I think Krystian is mean that if the new server is used as a temporary server, you can move back after you demote the DC. When you want to point the databases from the old server to the new one, you can refer to this document: Move a Mailbox Database Using Database Portability http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd876926.aspx Thanks, Evan Liu TechNet Subscriber Support in forum If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.com Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.