Migrating from Exchange 2000 single server to 2-node Exchange 2003 clustering

Migrating from Exchange 2000 single server to 2-node Exchange 2003 clustering

we are currently running exchange 2000 enterprise on windows 2000
advanced server.

We are going to migrate to exchange 2003 enterprise clustering on 2 new

brand servers with windows 2003 and adding some SAN storage also.


On the SAN, beside hard drive space for the quorum, exchange database
files and log files, do I need hard drive space for anything else? I
keep hearing about a logical DTC drive, but from my reading this is
just a service. Can anyone clarify?

Also, what's the best way to migrate the mailboxes and public folders?


Thanks, zm

date: 1 May 2006 07:48:54 -0700 author: unknown

Re: Migrating from Exchange 2000 single server to 2-node Exchange 2003 clustering

wrote in message 
news:1146494934.717477.123170@j73g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> On the SAN, beside hard drive space for the quorum, exchange database
> files and log files, do I need hard drive space for anything else? I
> keep hearing about a logical DTC drive, but from my reading this is
> just a service. Can anyone clarify?

MSDTC is required as part of your Exchange cluster installation. You can, 
however, use the quorum drive with the blessing of Microsoft. For more 
information, refer here:

http://msmvps.com/blogs/clusterhelp/archive/2005/08/05/61718.aspx

> Also, what's the best way to migrate the mailboxes and public folders?

Add the new cluster to the existing Exchange 2000 org and move mailboxes and 
public folders.

-- 
Russ Kaufmann
MVP - Windows Server - Clustering
ClusterHelp.com, a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner
Web http://www.clusterhelp.com
Blog http://msmvps.com/clusterhelp

date: Mon, 1 May 2006 11:05:24 -0600 author: Russ Kaufmann [MVP]

Re: Migrating from Exchange 2000 single server to 2-node Exchange 2003 clustering

Does the Quorum grow? How much space should allow for that? How about
the MSDTC?

We are putting the databases, logs, quorum, and msdtc on an IBM Fast-T
SAN. As far as the RAID config, will RAID 10 be the best choice and if
so, more hard drives and smaller will be the best or bigger and fewer
hard drives?

We are going to do active/passive cluster (2 servers). If need be can I
later on add more servers or not?

Also, is active/active better than active/passive?

Thanks, zm

date: 4 May 2006 04:00:38 -0700 author: unknown

Re: Migrating from Exchange 2000 single server to 2-node Exchange 2003 clustering

wrote in message 
news:1146740438.298768.43790@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com...
> Does the Quorum grow? How much space should allow for that? How about
> the MSDTC?

The quorom is circular. MSDTC is fine, too. Did you read the link?

> We are putting the databases, logs, quorum, and msdtc on an IBM Fast-T
> SAN. As far as the RAID config, will RAID 10 be the best choice and if
> so, more hard drives and smaller will be the best or bigger and fewer
> hard drives?

Please read up on disk sizing for Exchange 
http://blogs.technet.com/exchange/archive/2004/10/11/240868.aspx

As far as the Quorum does, it should be at least 500 MB because that is the 
smallest size when NTFS is most efficient. Lots of people go with 1 GB for 
the Quorum.

Recommendation:
Raid 1 for Quorum (in the SAN)
Raid 1 for Transaction logs (in the SAN)
Raid 5 or 10 for the databases (in the SAN)

> We are going to do active/passive cluster (2 servers). If need be can I
> later on add more servers or not?

Yes.

> Also, is active/active better than active/passive?

No, active/active is not recommended. 
http://msmvps.com/blogs/clusterhelp/archive/2005/08/05/61704.aspx


-- 
Russ Kaufmann
MVP - Windows Server - Clustering
ClusterHelp.com, a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner
Web http://www.clusterhelp.com
Blog http://msmvps.com/clusterhelp

date: Thu, 4 May 2006 09:15:04 -0600 author: Russ Kaufmann [MVP]

Re: Migrating from Exchange 2000 single server to 2-node Exchange 2003 clustering

yes, I read the link, but I'm still not understanding. Do I need a
quorum and MSDTC or just one?

You said the quorum is circular. I don't know what that is. Does it
grow or not?

Thanks, zm

date: 4 May 2006 09:12:05 -0700 author: unknown

Re: Migrating from Exchange 2000 single server to 2-node Exchange 2003 clustering

wrote in message 
news:1146759125.276738.121850@j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> yes, I read the link, but I'm still not understanding. Do I need a
> quorum and MSDTC or just one?

I am sorry, but if you still don't know the difference between the two, then 
it is time to do some serious reading about clustering. I would recommend 
going through the articles on technet and the knowledge base. Clustering can 
be very confusing, and it is important that you understand it well before 
deploying a cluster.

I would suggest you start here:

Windows Server 2003 Clustering
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/overview/bdmtdm/default.mspx

Available features in Windows Server 2003 clusters
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/278007

Windows Server 2003 Clustering Services
http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/technologies/genclust.mspx

Microsoft Cluster Server General Questions
http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/support/faqs/clustering_faq.asp

Guide to Creating and Configuring a Server Cluster Under Windows Server 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=96f76ed7-9634-4300-9159-89638f4b4ef7&displaylang=en

Once you have been through those articles, then you should start looking at 
Exchange on a server cluster.

> You said the quorum is circular. I don't know what that is. Does it
> grow or not?

No, it does not grow, it is circular. It over writes itself.

-- 
Russ Kaufmann
MVP - Windows Server - Clustering
ClusterHelp.com, a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner
Web http://www.clusterhelp.com
Blog http://msmvps.com/clusterhelp

date: Thu, 4 May 2006 13:07:46 -0600 author: Russ Kaufmann [MVP]