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

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.

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?

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