How to Move Exchange Server 2007 to New Hardware and Keep the Same Server Name

We have received some requests regarding how to move Microsoft Exchange 2007 to new hardware and keep the same server name. You can find the solution by following detailed steps below.

1. Complete copy of the mailbox database.edb and pubic database.edb as well as mail.que files to the network/external drive location.

Once the files have completed copy:

2. Power down the current Exchange server

3. In ADUC reset the machine account for "Your Exchange Server Name" and synchronize your domain controllers (if you have multiple).

4. Change the new server name to "Your Exchange Server Name" and join the domain.

5. Adjust the IP Address for the new machine so that it uses a static IP that matches the IP in the DNS host record for the old server.

6. Run Exchange setup. From the Run windows browse to the setup executable and add the /recoverserver and /donotrestart switches. The complete command should resemble the following:

Setup /m:recoverserver /donotrestart

Once setup completes.

a. Move the mail.que database back into the queue folder (this folder should be empty): c:program filesMicrosoftExchange ServerTransportRolesdataqueue

b. Move the mailbox database into the production folder (this folder should also be empty): c:Program FilesMicrosoftExchange ServerMailboxFirst Storage Group

c. Move the Public database into the production folder (this folder should also be empty): c:Program FilesMicrosoftExchange ServerMailboxSecond Storage Group

d. Open the Exchange Management Console – obtain properties of the two stores and select the option that “This database can be overwritten by a restore”.

e. Start all Exchange services.

7. Verify your Send Connector configuration – you should have a * domain listed with a type = SMTP in order to send mail outbound.

8. Verify your Receive Connector configuration – In order to receive mail the connector needs to accept anonymous connections.

9. If your external SMTP domain is different than the internal domain you need to Verify the External SMTP Domain is added to the Accepted Domains list.

10. OPTIONAL: enable the Anti-Spam Agents for the Hub Transport role. To do so:

a. Open Exchange Management shell and navigate to the scripts directory: c:program filesMicrosoftExchange ServerScripts. Issue following command: .install-AntispamAgents.ps1

b. Once installed restart the Exchange Transport Service (MSExchangeTransport).

c. In Exchange Management console verify that the SPAM Agents are enabled on the Anti-Spam tab. This will be Organization Configuration – Hub Transport – Anti-Spam.

Now, you can test both internal and external mail-flow. If both work you are done.