Hi, We have an old exchange server with no mailboxes or data on it. I cannot retire it because we occasionally have to do restores and our backup software (arcserve.. ugh) will only restore to an arcserve agent and directly to a recovery storage group. Problem: The exchange server is part of a cluster. We can keep the server and fire it up when we need it but this means we have to keep our old san (which has been off for months and months). I am trying to figure out how to bring exchange online without bringin on the whole cluster. I added a local drive that I wanted to use as a quorum but it wont let me. I cant point the recovery store to that disk because it isnt in a cluster either. Any thoughts? Thanks Drew

Remove Exchange, uninstall the cluster, reinstall Exchange.Ed Crowley MVP "There are seldom good technological solutions to behavioral problems."

Remove Exchange, uninstall the cluster, reinstall Exchange.Ed Crowley MVP "There are seldom good technological solutions to behavioral problems."

Agree just decom it, and reinstall exchange with the same server name and use local storage.James Chong MCITP | EA | EMA; MCSE | M+, S+ Security+, Project+, ITIL msexchangetips.blogspot.com

Thanks. Thinking about it this weekend I think this is the simplest way to do. Not sure if I reinstall using the recovery switches or not. Will look into that.. now.

I don't think you can reinstall using the /DisasterRecovery switch in this case.Ed Crowley MVP "There are seldom good technological solutions to behavioral problems."

Nope.. you are right Ed. So I am going through the Decom of the server. It is still our RUS server so I have to update that to our 2010 servers. After that I will start uninstalling. I read that uninstalling Exchange is pretty straight forward but uninstalling the cluster isnt so obvious.

I'm assuming it's the last node of the cluster? If not, you need to evict a node. Then just run the uninstall. Yes Exchange likes to complain when it uninstalls, such as still having RUS, (need to delete the enterprise RUS via adsiedit) any public folders still left, routing groups with it still as bridgehead, ghost mailboxes still existing that have never logged in so dont show in esm etc) Just run the uninstall and work your way to each complaint. Then just rebuild the server a single server, just give it the same server name and use local storage. Make sure when you rebuild that you create it the config almost identical same sp level and make sure all DB locations, log path partions are the same, ie same disk config layout. James Chong MCITP | EA | EMA; MCSE | M+, S+ Security+, Project+, ITIL msexchangetips.blogspot.com

I'm assuming it's the last node of the cluster? If not, you need to evict a node. Then just run the uninstall. Yes Exchange likes to complain when it uninstalls, such as still having RUS, (need to delete the enterprise RUS via adsiedit) any public folders still left, routing groups with it still as bridgehead, ghost mailboxes still existing that have never logged in so dont show in esm etc) Just run the uninstall and work your way to each complaint. Then just rebuild the server a single server, just give it the same server name and use local storage. Make sure when you rebuild that you create it the config almost identical same sp level and make sure all DB locations, log path partions are the same, ie same disk config layout. James Chong MCITP | EA | EMA; MCSE | M+, S+ Security+, Project+, ITIL msexchangetips.blogspot.com

You dont need to evict, just install exchange. There is no such thing as a clustered version. Right now you have a windows cluster with both nodes. You install exchange on each node. When complete than you cluster the Exchange resource.James Chong MCITP | EA | EMA; MCSE | M+, S+ Security+, Project+, ITIL msexchangetips.blogspot.com

Ok.. still need a little help. Making progress. I was able to remove the Exchange VS from the cluster. When I go into add remove programs it seemed to half uninstall but Exchange System management tools are still there. Trying to clean that up. Question. Before reinstalling do I have to evict the Node from the cluster or does Exchange detect it is a clustered server and automatically try to install the clustered version?

You dont need to evict, just install exchange. There is no such thing as a clustered version. Right now you have a windows cluster with both nodes. You install exchange on each node. When complete than you cluster the Exchange resource.James Chong MCITP | EA | EMA; MCSE | M+, S+ Security+, Project+, ITIL msexchangetips.blogspot.com

Did it anyway... worked ok. Everything seems to be working... kinda. In Arcserve hell now.. but that is another post lol. Thanks for the help. Drew