Hello and thanks a lot for reading, I'm about to install SBS 2008 with the Exchange server 2007. We are now using a hosted Exchange (10 accounts), and as we have to add something like 20 users more, we decided to install our own server. I'm worried about the transition, and as I've no experience on the Exchange Server, I don't know exactly how to do it. Is there any way of installing everything and configure some accounts for testing purposes?, I mean my email is for example: jud.aster@company.com, and I'm using one of these hosted exchange accounts. Can I create an user let's say jud@company.com and start using my own server, but keep the hosted Exchange until I'm sure that everything works well?. How would you do it?, I don't want to change the MX records and then stop receiving emails due to my bad Exchange setup. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks and have a nice day, Jud

Hi You can setup a lab environment with another smtp domain than company.com like example.com instead to verify everything Then reinstall the server and all things to have it correct with names etc. If the provider doesn't want to give you the pst files for the 10 users they provide with email you can always export it by using outlook. Jonas Andersson MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007/2010 | MCITP: EMA 2007/2010 | MCSE/MCSA Blog: http://www.testlabs.se/blog

Hi, In addition kindly read this guide Exchange 2007 Standard Edition Deployment Guide I hope this will help you. Regards. Shafaquat Ali.M.C.I.T.P Exchange 2007/2010, M.C.I.T.P Windows Server 2008, M.C.T.S OCS Server 2007 R2, Phone: +923008210320

Thank you very much for your advice. I'll read the guide and also I'll use a different .com domain to perform all the testing, then I'll reinstall everything from scratch with the real .com domain. Wish me luck ! Best regards, Jud

Good luck Jud ! Just ask if something is unclear Jonas Andersson MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007/2010 | MCITP: EMA 2007/2010 | MCSE/MCSA Blog: http://www.testlabs.se/blog

Thank you very much Jonas. I've had an idea (probably is a silly thing): I've read that one domain can have multiple MX records. They are normally for backup purposes, but... What would happen if I add my new SBS/Exchange server to our domain MX records, but I create new users, so the users in the hosted Exchange are different from the user names of my new installation?. Could I keep using the hosted Exchange for these 10 accounts and create new users for the testing purposes?. Example: When an email is sent to jud.aster@mydomain.com and the name is not valid for the hosted Exchange server, will it go to the next MX records server?, because if it goes there, I'll receive it in my new Exchange box as I created that account in the new box. I don't know if this works like this, can anyone of you experts confirm it? Thanks again, Jud

You can point the MX record for domain1.com to your hosting provider and point the MX record for domain2.com to your external IP and forward the smtp (25) to your sbs server. That should work well, but don't mess with the existing records, or else the mailflow for the existing accounts will stop work So the best thing for you to evaluate this is to use another domain than the existing you're using for the "hosting mail" Then you won't have any problems and you can just setup the emailaddress how you want them to look like, that's done in SBS Jonas Andersson MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007/2010 | MCITP: EMA 2007/2010 | MCSE/MCSA Blog: http://www.testlabs.se/blog

Ok, I'm going to use a different domain as you advice, it lucks way more safe, thank you very much. After the installation and tests, I guess I'll have to format and reinstall the SBS2008 and Exchange 2007 from scratch with the "real" domain name right?. And then have the hosted exchange users to backup their emails from Outlook and import to the new email server right? My new Proliant server is formatted and waitting for the software. Go go !! Jud

Ok, I'm going to use a different domain as you advice, it lucks way more safe, thank you very much. After the installation and tests, I guess I'll have to format and reinstall the SBS2008 and Exchange 2007 from scratch with the "real" domain name right?. And then have the hosted exchange users to backup their emails from Outlook and import to the new email server right? My new Proliant server is formatted and waitting for the software. Go go !! Jud Yes, i think that would be the best to do, or let's say, the easiest way to do it :) Go go go :)Jonas Andersson MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007/2010 | MCITP: EMA 2007/2010 | MCSE/MCSA Blog: http://www.testlabs.se/blog