Checklist : Upgrading to Exchange 2010 from Exchange 2007

Daya Patil, who works as a Premier Field Engineer at Microsoft India, focused on Exchange and Active Directory, presents an exhaustive checklist which she has found to be very valuable in performing version upgrades for Exchange Server.


Recently I was doing an upgrade from Exchange Server 2007 to Exchange Server 2010. In this process, I had to go through a number of articles and find suitable ones to apply to my needs as per organization requirement. I figured that it would be so good if these all articles are listed at one place along with the sequence of tasks during the migration. So here it is!

This article provides all the steps/tasks to perform successful migration from Exchange 2007 to Exchange 2010. With each task there is a set of reference links are provided as guide for how to perform the specific task. Note that a few steps can be optional depending on the environment.

Also, we suggest you use the Exchange Role Requirements Calculator, to determine the appropriate requirements for the Mailbox server role by specifying your set of input factors. Please refer this article to understand what values you need to specify while using it.

No.

Potential Tasks

References

1

The first step, before even installing Exchange 2010 is to run JetStress. It’s important to do this to measure the performance capabilities of a disk subsystem for Microsoft Exchange database and log files. It will help you validate if your hardware can take the load.

Microsoft Exchange Server Jetstress 2010 Planning for Jetstress 2010 TechNet Jetstress Field Guide

2

Verify system requirements. Update Exchange 2007 servers with latest Service Pack.

Exchange 2010 System Requirements: Exchange 2010 Help

3

On servers that will host the Hub Transport or Mailbox server role, install the Microsoft Filter Pack and prerequisites

Exchange 2010 Prerequisites: Exchange 2010 Help Download 2007 Office System Converter: Microsoft Filter Pack from Official Microsoft Download Center

4

Configure disjoint namespace. This step is optional. It's only necessary if your organization is running a disjoint namespace.

Configure the DNS Suffix Search List for a Disjoint Namespace: Exchange 2010 Help

5

Prepare Active Directory

Prepare Active Directory and Domains: Exchange 2010 Help

6

Install the first Client Access Server role

Upgrade from Exchange 2007 Client Access: Exchange 2010 Help Install Exchange Server 2010: Exchange 2010 Help

7

Create a new digital certificate request

Create a New Exchange Certificate: Exchange 2010 Help

8

Install certificates (once you receive certificate from your CA for above request)

Install Certificates Issued for Certificate Requests: Exchange 2010 Help

9

Enable Outlook Anywhere. This step is optional. It's only necessary if you decide to deploy Outlook Anywhere.

Enable Outlook Anywhere: Exchange 2010 Help

10

Configure settings on virtual directories, including OAB, Exchange Web Services, ECP, Outlook Web App, and Exchange ActiveSync virtual directories

Note: This step is necessary if you want to use Exchange Web Services, Outlook Anywhere, or the offline address book. It also may be required if you need to change any of the default settings for the Exchange Control Panel, Outlook Web App, or Exchange ActiveSync.

Create an Offline Address Book Virtual Directory: Exchange 2010 Help Configure ECP Virtual Directory Properties: Exchange 2010 Help View or Configure Outlook Web App Virtual Directories: Exchange 2010 Help View or Configure Exchange ActiveSync Virtual Directory Properties: Exchange 2010 Help

11

Authentication Settings for Exchange-related Virtual Directories

Default Authentication Settings for Exchange-related Virtual Directories: Exchange 2010 Help

12

Configure a legacy host name and create respective DNS record

Upgrade from Exchange 2007 Client Access: Exchange 2010 Help

13

Install the Unified Messaging server role This step is optional. It's only necessary if you want to use Unified Messaging in your organization.

Upgrade from Exchange 2007 SP3 to Exchange 2010 RTM Unified Messaging: Exchange 2010 Help

14

Configure and transition Unified Messaging This step is optional. It's only necessary if you want to use Unified Messaging in your organization.

Upgrade from Exchange 2007 SP3 to Exchange 2010 RTM Unified Messaging: Exchange 2010 Help

15

Install the Hub Transport server role

Upgrade from Exchange 2007 Transport: Exchange 2010 Help Install Exchange Server 2010: Exchange 2010 Help

16

  Install the Mailbox Server role.

Install Exchange Server 2010: Exchange 2010 Help

17

Install rest of the servers (CAS/HUB/Mailbox) in all sites. Configure all Virtual directories, enable OA, import certificate.

Import an Exchange Certificate: Exchange 2010 Help

18

Load Balancing CAS servers

Exchange 2010–Links to how to setup CAS Array with a Load Balancer - Microsoft Exchange pour Tous V2 - Microsoft Exchange made simple - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

19

Create CAS Array and make a DNS record for it

Understanding RPC Client Access: Exchange 2010 Help How to setup an Exchange 2010 CAS Array to load balance MAPI - The Three UC Amigos - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

20

Enabling Kerberos Authentication for MAPI Clients

Recommendation: Enabling Kerberos Authentication for MAPI Clients - Exchange Team Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

21

To convert the OAB virtual directory to a web application, execute the ConvertOABVDir.ps1 script on each CAS member

Script ConvertOABDir.ps1

22

Create a Database Availability Group

Planning for High Availability and Site Resilience: Exchange 2013 Help Database Availability Group Design Examples: Exchange 2010 Help Step by Step Create a Database Availability Group (DAG) - winde76 - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

23

DAG network Configuration (If DAG members are on different subnet, you need to add static route)

Deploying High Availability and Site Resilience: Exchange 2013 Help

24

Add DAG members

Manage Database Availability Group Membership: Exchange 2013 Help

25

Set DAG in DAC mode

Datacenter Activation Coordination Mode: Exchange 2013 Help

26

Create a test user on Exchange 2010 and test OWA, ECP,OA Internally For Active sync PDC

Blogs - Exchange Team Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

27

Change external DNS pointing to Exchange 2010 for connectivity (URL) and test OWA, ECP, OA, ActiveSync. You can use the test connectivity analyzer website to test connectivity.

Remote Connectivity Analyzer

28

Move a test user from Exchange 2007 to 2010 and test connectivity and mailflow

Create a Local Move Request: Exchange 2010 Help

29

Do a custom health check on Exchange 2010 environment, You can use BPA to do this.

EXBPA download link

30

Move OAB generation to Exchange 2010

Move the Offline Address Book Generation Process to Another Server: Exchange 2010 Help

31

Install the Edge Transport server role This step is optional. It's only necessary if you want to use the Edge server role in your organization.

Upgrade from Exchange 2007 Transport: Exchange 2010 Help

32

  Move Exchange 2007 mailboxes to Exchange 2010

Create a Local Move Request: Exchange 2010 Help

33

Move public folder data to Exchange 2010

Configure Public Folder Replication: Exchange 2010 Help

34

Change the default Public Folder database for a Mailbox Database

Change the Default Public Folder Database for a Mailbox Database: Exchange 2010 Help

35

OWA Cross-Site Silent Redirection in Exchange 2010 SP2

OWA Cross-Site Silent Redirection in Exchange 2010 SP2 - Exchange Team Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

36

Upgrading from LDAP to OPATH filters

Upgrade Custom LDAP Filters to OPATH Filters: Exchange 2010 Help

37

Once all mailboxes are moved to Exchange 2010, Configure Send and Receive connector to send and receive mail from internet or your smart host

Configure Send Connector Properties: Exchange 2010 Help

38

Change MX record to point to Exchange 2010 Hub transport server and test mail flow

 

39

Decommission Exchange 2007 servers

 

40

Exchange Server 2010 and Antivirus exclusions

Exchange Server 2010 and Antivirus exclusions - Dave's ramblings on Exchange and other stuff - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

That’s it for now! I also have some tips specific to upgrade to Exchange Server 2013, which I will share with you in the future.


Original content by Daya Patil; posted by MSPFE editor Arvind Shyamsundar.