Upgrading Hardware for Exchange 2000 Server

[akshatp]

Basically, the server running our Exchange server is dying, and I have placed an order for a brand new Dell PowerEdge to be delivered in the next two weeks.

I have some options as to what to do OS-wise.

1) Basically duplicate the existing server, by performing a re-install of Win2k and Exch2k and move the data store to the new server, give it the same name, DNS settings, IP address etc and switch the Ethernet cable when ready.

2) Upgrade to Win2k3 Server and Exch 2k3 and give the server a new name, migrate all of the mailboxes, and add the server to the network as a new member server, and then retire the old server.

3) Ghost the existing server to the new hard drive for the Dell PE server.. Would this even work???


What would you do? Im looking for advice here. Money for the new OS and Exchange is already approved. This is for a company with 6 employees, 2 of them P/T.

 

[Mavtech]

You should only Ghost it over if the new server is the same. Otherwise, I think I would go with #1.

 

[Rilex]

#2 would be best.
#1 would be easy as long as you used NTBackup to backup the System State and Exchange Store.

 

[Xtremist]

I'd highly suggest #2 if you have the budget for Win2k3 and Exchange 2k3. The newer OWA is awesome and if your boss has a Windows Mobile device, the server activesync will be very very nice as well. That's what basically sold my boss on upgrading to E2k3. Of course, it might be worth just putting 2000 back on and waiting until 2k7 is released. Up to you!

When we did our upgrade a few years ago we opted for option 2. Number 3 could work but if you're upgrading from hardware that's pretty old (which it sounds like you are) you can run into big issues with network and especially hard drive controllers, let alone different HAL's. Not warm fuzzies ;-)