Skysoft Incorporated

5 Steps – Physical to Virtual Migration of Exchange 2010 Using Gbridge

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 22:49:41 +0000

In this blog, I will show you how to migrate a physical server running Exchange 2010 and Active Directory to a virtualized environment with some pretty simple steps.Â Although there is some downtime due to the transfer of large files, this can be overcome by physically delivering the large files to your data center or server.Â I am using VMWare Esxi 5.1 on a Dell 2950 server.

Things you will need

Step 1 – Install Esxi on your hardware, configure the IP address on the machine, and test it to make sure you can access it over the internet.

Step 2 – Install VMWare Standalone Converter on the Live Exchange 2010 Server – In our case we were running Windows 2008 R2.

Create a new conversion job and convert the machine to the Esxi Host – Use the IP or the FQDN as the target and use the credentials you assigned during installation of Esxi.

If the files are large, we suggest physically taking the files to the VMWare Host, hooking up a USB, and transferring the files into Esxi via VMWare Client.

Modify any settings on the new Guest OS – Add or remove NIC’s, USB Drives, CD Rom and adjust memory and CPU as necessary.Â We recommend that you do several reboots, and take a snapshot before moving further.Â Sometimes the machine will break after a failed Snapshot.

Step 3 – On the TARGET machine (virtual machine at this point)

Dismount all databases using the Exchange PowerShell or the EMC
Stop all Microsoft Exchange Services
Download and install GBridge, after installation run the program and make sure that it doesn’t crash.

Step 4 – On the LIVE machine

Alert users that Exchange will be offline for xx period of time.
Disable the send Receive connectors.
Dismount all databases using Exchange PowerShell or EMC
Stop all Microsoft Exchange Services
Download and install GBridge, after installation run the program and make sure that it doesn’t crash.
In GBridge, create Secure Shares using the following image as a guide on the LIVE server. (SKYMAIL is the live database folder, Skysoft Folder is a Public Folder we have setup.)

Step 5 – On the TARGET Server (Note: We have a SPAM filter with email spooling in place so we don’t have to worry about losing emails, they spool for us to 30 days)

Rename the above folders the something else like SKYMAIL2 – ExchangeOAB2, etc…
Open GBridge and right mouse click on the Secure Share folder from the LIVE server and click AutoSync and Download it.Â Now select the location of the folders you have renamed accordingly to have GBridge sync the LIVE (unmounted) database from the LIVE server to the TARGET server. (You may transfer these files via USB physically as an option)
After completion of all transfers
- Make sure to change your MX Records – We didn’t have to do this because we point to our SPAM filter.
- Modify DNS Server on TARGET machine with new IP configurations
- Change HOSTS file if you have hard coded any host names.
Ping your server to make sure DNS has propagated, and check with MXTOOLBOX to make sure all IP configurations have taken place.
Reboot the server – Exchange will start all services and mount the databases as if if were the LIVE server, which at this point, IT IS!

Now your Exchange server has been migrated to a Virtual environment with no VPN, very little downtime, and no loss of emails.

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Twitter Updates for 2012-10-02

cespada — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 14:34:00 +0000

21 Ways Rich People Think Differently – Yahoo! Finance http://t.co/OABKIsih via @YahooFinance #
Dinner with Doug Van Dyke, from Leadership Simplified. (@ Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Convention Center) http://t.co/pmmhgFrF #
I just unlocked the "Newbie" badge on @foursquare for checking in for the first time! http://t.co/RuL7KJ3C #

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Twitter Updates for 2012-09-28

cespada — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 14:34:00 +0000

Need a cloud server but don't have $800/month? 1K purchase & setup of your own server in our data center for only $200/month MANAGED! #

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Twitter Updates for 2012-09-25

cespada — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:34:00 +0000

Foxconn closes China factory after brawl
http://t.co/IpbKd832 #

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GoDaddy’s Deceptive Practices on Domains

cespada — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 17:24:02 +0000

We are GoDaddy resellers and recently we had an interesting experience with customer support which requires blogging.Â Just the mear fact that they didn’t believe me, pompted me to post this about the domain SCAM!!!!Â Throughout the entire checkout process, one is led to believe that you are actually purchasing a domain, while in reality, you are just buying a BACKORDER – no where in the process does it EVER state this!!!!

Step 1

Step 2

Step 2 B

Step 2 C

Final Step

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Twitter Updates for 2012-09-12

cespada — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:34:00 +0000

New Apple mobile software to get maps, Siri update http://t.co/iteRkgoj #

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Twitter Updates for 2012-09-11

cespada — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 14:34:00 +0000

Godaddy DNS server are down! #
GoDaddy Bullet proof DNS Security? Time for a new strategy. http://t.co/hqhqnuW7 #
@AnonymousOwn3r Another reason to get a good IT company. Hire one with hackers on board! @Skysoftinc http://t.co/n9OEGyF4 #
@AnonymousOwn3r Nice work to someone who can show large companies with lazy IT staff that ignorance is NOT bliss… #
@film_girl I have an interesting product for you to see. It's a combination of media and technology, but its got legs for sure! @skysoftinc #

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Twitter Updates for 2012-08-30

cespada — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:34:00 +0000

SPOTTED: In Paris, Cops Use Rollerblades http://t.co/atbZgU53 #

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Twitter Updates for 2012-08-27

cespada — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:34:00 +0000

Deltek to be acquired by Thoma Bravo for $1.1 billion http://t.co/EpjhIrEj via @WBJonline #

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Twitter Updates for 2012-08-24

cespada — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:34:00 +0000

Everyone Should Look At The NY Times Roster of our Dead heroes http://t.co/pSLIJJZS #

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