Exchange set up

Hello,

I was having a big Active Directory / everything issue with my domain
controller. This server has basically had a lot of hands on it and
things have been going wacky and I would like to start from scratch.
Since there are only 50 users, the adding users over again won't be a
big issue. What I am most worried about is the exchange. I will also
need to reinstall exchange 2007 and would like obviously to save
everyone's email. I have seen a whole slue of ideas on ost to pst
conversion, but I would like to keep the users out of this if
possible. Is there any way I can backup the mail store and put it back
when the re-install is complete? I am unsure as to whether or not SIDs
come into play here when the exchange server is syncing with the new
AD and the users don't have the same SID as they did when the store
was previously mounted. I was thinking there might be a good way out
there to export and import the AD from the old server, but I wasn't
too successful on finding documentation on my exact situation of
looking to wipe the system clean and re do everything. If this would
make more sense, can someone please point me in the correct direction
to export AD and import it correctly into the new Domain controller
and then also whether they will keep the same SID's or for that matter
whether it even matters at all to exchange...

Thanks in advance,

Gregg

Mark
Wed Feb 07 14:53:46 CST 2007

On 7 Feb 2007 09:16:45 -0800, "Gregg" <Gregg.M.Coleman@gmail.com>
wrote:

>Hello,
>
>I was having a big Active Directory / everything issue with my domain
>controller. This server has basically had a lot of hands on it and
>things have been going wacky and I would like to start from scratch.
>Since there are only 50 users, the adding users over again won't be a
>big issue. What I am most worried about is the exchange. I will also
>need to reinstall exchange 2007 and would like obviously to save
>everyone's email. I have seen a whole slue of ideas on ost to pst
>conversion, but I would like to keep the users out of this if
>possible. Is there any way I can backup the mail store and put it back
>when the re-install is complete? I am unsure as to whether or not SIDs
>come into play here when the exchange server is syncing with the new
>AD and the users don't have the same SID as they did when the store
>was previously mounted. I was thinking there might be a good way out
>there to export and import the AD from the old server, but I wasn't
>too successful on finding documentation on my exact situation of
>looking to wipe the system clean and re do everything. If this would
>make more sense, can someone please point me in the correct direction
>to export AD and import it correctly into the new Domain controller
>and then also whether they will keep the same SID's or for that matter
>whether it even matters at all to exchange...
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Gregg

If you are re-installing Active Directory you don't have a choice.

Let's take this back to Active Directory. What's so wrong with it that
you have to start from scratch? That's a rhetorical question and if
you need to respond you should post a question within the AD Groups to
see what your options are. I'd be surprised if your AD was in such a
state that you had to start again.

Nick
Sun Feb 11 05:08:27 CST 2007

Fix the problem, don't abandon it.

Exchange 2007 is much simpler to backup and restore however here is what I'd
think about based on 50 users.

Install a new 2003 Server in the domain, dcpromo. Get it happy and
replicated. dcpromo the existing DC down. Wait until all stages are done.
Blow that server, bring it back as the same name, dcpromo it up. Then you
know it is clean and you've got 2 DCs which is always a good plan.

Then review group membership of all groups in AD. Then look at shares /
group membership as a final check. AD is a very stable puppy and it takes a
lot to need to start afresh.

"Gregg" <Gregg.M.Coleman@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1170868605.626152.100380@k78g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Hello,
>
> I was having a big Active Directory / everything issue with my domain
> controller. This server has basically had a lot of hands on it and
> things have been going wacky and I would like to start from scratch.
> Since there are only 50 users, the adding users over again won't be a
> big issue. What I am most worried about is the exchange. I will also
> need to reinstall exchange 2007 and would like obviously to save
> everyone's email. I have seen a whole slue of ideas on ost to pst
> conversion, but I would like to keep the users out of this if
> possible. Is there any way I can backup the mail store and put it back
> when the re-install is complete? I am unsure as to whether or not SIDs
> come into play here when the exchange server is syncing with the new
> AD and the users don't have the same SID as they did when the store
> was previously mounted. I was thinking there might be a good way out
> there to export and import the AD from the old server, but I wasn't
> too successful on finding documentation on my exact situation of
> looking to wipe the system clean and re do everything. If this would
> make more sense, can someone please point me in the correct direction
> to export AD and import it correctly into the new Domain controller
> and then also whether they will keep the same SID's or for that matter
> whether it even matters at all to exchange...
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Gregg
>