Moving Mailboxes

You can move mailboxes from one server to another to balance the load between servers, accommodate the physical location of users, or to make another server available when a server must be taken offline. To move mailboxes, you can:

• Use the Microsoft Exchange Server Administrator program.
-or-
• Use the Mailbox Migration tool available with the Microsoft BackOffice Resource Kit, Part Two compact disc or from the Microsoft Web at http://microsoft.com/exchange/reskit.htm.

Note   If a user's mail is delivered to a personal folder file, all previously configured folder and message views are lost when the mailbox is moved.

Moving Mailboxes Between Servers in the Same Site

You can move mailboxes between servers in the same site by using the Move Mailbox command from the Tools menu in the Administrator program. Be aware that when you move a mailbox to a new server, the size of the mailbox contents in the destination server may increase. This is because individual copies of single-instance messages are created for each moved mailbox in the private information store on the destination server.

Caution   The Move Mailbox command moves mailboxes only between servers in the same site. It does not move users between sites or between recipient containers. For more information, see "Moving Mailboxes Between Sites or Recipient Containers."

1. In the Administrator window, choose Recipients.
2. Select a mailbox or group of mailboxes you want to move.
3. From the Tools menu, choose Move Mailbox.
4. In the Move mailbox to box, select a server.

Moving Mailboxes Between Sites or Recipient Containers

Although the Move Mailbox command enables you to move mailboxes between servers in the same site, you may also need to move users' mailboxes between sites.

When moving mailboxes between sites, you may want to wait several weeks before deleting the old mailbox if the user will continue accessing it for a short period of time. Also, after the old mailbox is deleted, any AutoForward and AutoReply rules set by the user will not be in effect in the new mailbox.

1. In Microsoft Outlook, choose the Inbox Assistant to set up an AutoForward rule that forwards all mail to the new mailbox.
2. Set up an AutoReply message stating that the mailbox has moved.
3. In the Administrator window, choose a recipient, select the Advanced tab, and then select Hide from address book.
4. If the user has server-based messages, you must notify the user to move all mail messages to a personal folder file, or you can log on as the user and move all messages to a temporary .pst file.
5. From the Tools menu in the Administrator window, use the Directory Export command to export all the user's directory information (such as phone number, title, or distribution list membership). For more information, see Microsoft Exchange Server Maintenance and Troubleshooting.
6. If the mailbox will be moved to a different recipient container, modify the export file to specify the new recipient container and use the directory import to create the user. If the user is moving to a new site, use directory import on the new site.