We have a pretty basic Exchange 2003 environment that contains two servers. A small server holds OWA and Exchange wireless Activesync roles. The big server holds the mailbox server role, and also SMTP virtual server, etc. We're preparing for the Exchange 2k07 upgrade and we've taken the MS class for the upgrade so we're pretty familiar with the process, however, I have a few questions:
1. What would be the best way to start the project? My thought is to simply install Exchange 2007 on the new hardware, add it to the current email organization and start moving mailboxes. The new environment will also hold two servers-a CAS server, and then a mailbox server that will hold the other Exchange roles. We won't have an Edge Transport at first...we have an email gateway set up already on a SPAM device that will host this role at first. 2. I guess I'm just confused on what to do first. Also, at what point we need to configure the new SMTP routing roles. I'd prefer to bring the new Exchange into the environment gradually, and first move mailboxes to the server, and slowly migrate the roles out of the old environment. 3. I'm also a little confused as to when you can safely remove the old environment...I assume once all rolls have been moved to E2k07, you simply uninstall E2k03 out of the environment? I have the MS Exchange upgrade class manual, so I can easily do some refresher reading, but I just thought I'd run our upgrade scenario by a few colleagues to get some feedback. Thanks, MM ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~
