XADM: How to Move a Microsoft Exchange Server to a New Domain

• Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5

SUMMARY

You can move existing Microsoft Exchange installations into new Windows NT domains if the Microsoft Exchange Service Account is created in advance and permissions are granted at the Organization, Site, Configuration, and Schema containers.

Microsoft does not recommend that you change the domain that the Microsoft Exchange Server is located in because it requires changing the Microsoft Exchange Service Account. However, the procedure below can be used in a situation where there is a single Microsoft Exchange Site and a single Microsoft Exchange Server. In situations where there is more than one Microsoft Exchange Server or Site, you will have to perform a complete reinstallation of Microsoft Exchange.

MORE INFORMATION

Use the following steps to move an existing Microsoft Exchange Server to a new domain:

1. Make a full backup of the DSADATA subdirectory.

2. Create a trust with the new domain.

3. Create a Microsoft Exchange Service Account in the new domain with the same user name and password as in the previous domain. Grant this account Logon as a Service, Backup and Restore, and Act as Part of the Operating System rights.

4. Start the Microsoft Exchange Administrator program in raw mode, Admin /r, and add the new Microsoft Exchange Service Account to the Organization, Site, and Configuration containers. Grant this account the Service Account Admin role.

   5 Add the new account to the Schema object by completing the following steps:

   a. View the Raw directory.

   b. Highlight the schema and choose Raw Properties from the File Menu.

   c. Edit the Windows NT security Descriptor Object Attribute and click

            OK.
   
         d. Add the new account, click OK, and click Set.
   
   

5. Run the Services tool from the Control Panel and shut down the Microsoft Exchange System Attendant. Then assign ownership of each Microsoft Exchange Service to the new Microsoft Exchange Service Account.

6. Run the Network tool from the Control Panel and join the new domain.

7. Restart the computer.

   9 . Break the trust with the old domain.

8. Start the Microsoft Exchange Administrator program in raw mode again and remove the old account from the Organization, Site, Configuration, and Schema containers. Change the ownership of any local Microsoft Exchange mailboxes to the new domain user accounts.