Exchange Cluster 2003 recovery to stand alone server ( Disaster Recovery )

The following sets out from start to finish how to recover Exchange from a cluster to a standalone server. I have done this in the LAB, however we have now moved to 2010 so this doco may be some use to someone.


Configure NIC on DC to same settings as original server

Now we need to run ADSI edit remove old exchange.

Click Start, Run, type "ADSIedit.msc"

Configuration

CN=Configuration,DC=contoso,DC=msft

CN=Services

Delete the entry CN=Microsoft Exchange

Now we need to delete the second entry.

Expand Domain

DC=contoso,DC=msft

Delete the entry

CN=Microsoft Exchange System Objects

Now close ADSI edit

Now delete old Mail computer account from AD to allow the new mail server to take the old name

Join the allocated machine to the domain with original exchange server name (case sensitive)

Configure the following:

Computer Name: MAIL

Tick Domain: contoso

Restart computer on success.

Now we need to setup a static IP for NIC on mail

Configure NIC on exchange server to same settings as original server

Now we need to install the pre requisites for Exchange 2003 Enterprise.

Which are as follows:

Install IIS with the components as listed below

NNTP SMTP, World Wide Web Services

ASP.net

Once this requirements are complete you can run exchange setup for standalone first time server.

Set install path to “default company standard”

Select “Create a new Exchange Organization

Set Organization name to: MAIL (is case sensitive)

Now install Microsoft Exchange 2003 SP2 update

Now we need to relink the names

If needed download legacydn from Microsoft and extract to C:

To execute

Go to Start, Run type CMD

Go to root of C:

Type: legacyDN.exe /force write

Login with a domain admin account

Make necessary changes for Org Name: MAIL (is case sensitive).

Now we can open Exchange system manager

Rename First Storage Group to “Original Name”

Create required storage groups as they existed in clustered environment (is case sensitive)

Click Database Tab, tick this database can be overwritten by a restore

NOTE: But do not mount DB’s yet

Copy restored DB’s into default DB folder ie: d:\program files\exchsrvr\dbadata

This step for public folders is incomplete due to no fix found yet.

Now we need to create the public folders store.

Right click Mail -> New -> Storage Group

Type name: Storage Group - Public Folders

Click OK

After rebooting you should have the stores mounted.

Open AD and right click each user and remove exchange attributes.

Open Exchange System Manager and right click each user and reconnect there mailbox.

User can now log in and test. This was painful at the time MS said it could not be done.