Tip

Watch out for the little things

Watch out for the little things
Adesh Rampat

Upgrading your Exchange server? The little things that have to be done are important, as this tip shows.
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When you upgrade or replace an Exchange server, you have to do a great deal of planning. But the planning process must start with the basics. Many times omitting certain procedures at the basic level can cause problems later on. Here are some basic procedures you should be sure to apply when upgrading or replacing an Exchange server:

  • Make sure that you know the Exchange service account password.

  • Perform a full offline backup of the Exchange database and relevant files.

  • Perform an offline defragmentation of Exchange databases.

  • Make sure that you know the proper location of all the Exchange databases. Load Exchange optimizer to have a better understanding of where the databases are located.

  • Have a record of all directories present on the Exchange server hard drives. This will ensure that if you compare information on both servers, your reference record will the proper information.

  • Restart the Exchange servers to verify that they are operating properly.

  • After restart, check the event viewer for any errors.

  • Always have a backup plan in the event that the upgrade or replacement does not go well. For example, if you're replacing an Exchange server, the old server should be used as a standby in the event that there are problems getting the replacement server up and running.

Adesh Rampat has 10 years experience with network and IT administration. He is a member of the Association of Internet Professionals, the Institute for Network Professionals and the International Webmasters Association. He has also lectured extensively on a variety of topics.

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Related Book

Administering Exchange 2000 Server
Author : Mitch Tulloch
Publisher : Osborne
Published : Feb 2001
Summary:
Build, maintain, and troubleshoot a scaleable, reliable messaging infrastructure using Exchange 2000 Server. Logically organized into task-based sections, Administering Exchange 2000 Server explains how to manage sites, clients, address lists, and Internet protocols. The book also covers the new features of Exchange, such as Active Directory integration, the Windows 2000 security model, instant messaging, and video conferencing services. The step-by-step walk-throughs, task-at-a-glance sections, and detailed screen shots make this the perfect day-to-day reference for administrators working with or migrating to Exchange 2000 Server.


This was first published in August 2001

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