How to Migrate from Exchange Server 2019 to SE?

Microsoft has recently released the Subscription Edition (SE) – the newest edition of Exchange Server. It has introduced a number of changes in the latest Exchange Server version. This will be more of a live system with updates and no versioning. This will help reduce the cost of licensing as well as there will be no more migration headaches and long-term support. 

The Exchange Server 2016 and 2019 versions have already reached the end of life and support. This generates the need to upgrade to the latest Exchange version. As coexistence option with Exchange Server 2019 is available right now (before the first Cumulative Update is out for Exchange Server SE), this is the suitable time to migrate. In this article, we will explain how to migrate from Exchange Server 2019 to Exchange Server SE. 

Stepwise Process to Migrate from Exchange 2019 to Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE)

Let’s see how to migrate to the Exchange Server SE from your existing Exchange Server 2019.

1. Choose the Migration Path 

Microsoft provides two migration paths for migrating to Exchange Server SE from Exchange 2019. Let’s discuss these paths:

• In-Place Upgrade: This is the recommended approach from Microsoft. The new Exchange Server allows the in-place upgrade from Exchange Sever 2019 to ease and facilitate the migration process with minimal disruption and no drastic changes to the infrastructure. Basically, for now, the Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE) is just Exchange Server 2019 rebranded with some few tweaks. This is to reduce the migration effort and facilitate the migration process for the admins and for the business.
• Coexistence and Data Migration: This method is ideal for organizations which would be migrating to a newer operating system as well as new infrastructure while also wanting a staged migration rather than an in-place upgrade. After a new Exchange Server is installed in the same Active Directory domain/forest, one can start the move of mailboxes, setting up of network routing, and certificates and connectors. Once this is done, one will decommission the Exchange Server 2019. It is to be noted that coexistence is only supported until the release of Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE) Cumulative Update (CU) 1. 

Suggested Read: How to Migrate from Exchange Server 2016 to Exchange Server SE?

2. Pre-installation and Considerations

There are a number of considerations you should take into account before migration. These are:

• Setup a maintenance window with the business. Preferably during public holidays or company shutdown to ensure minimal disruption.
• Make sure that the server is fully-updated, including the latest Cumulative Update (CU) 15 for the Exchange Server 2019.
• Documentation is fully-updated with all the customizations and configuration.
• Passwords for all the certificates used in the Exchange Server.
• Full backup is highly recommended before initiating the upgrade process.
• Always consult with your vendor to ensure that the operating system, antimalware software, and backup solutions are compatible with the Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE).

3. Start the Migration

Below, we will be discussing the in-place upgrade migration path.

First, mount or insert the media for the Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE).

Open the disk or open the setup.exe to start the copying of files.

After this is complete, it will initialize the changes.

Click on Next on the welcome screen to start the in-place upgrade.

Accept the agreement for sharing the diagnostic data and click Next.

This will start the Readiness Checks. Once complete, click on Install.

This will start the installation process of the Exchange Server. 
 

Once the setup is complete, it is suggested to reboot the server to finish the installation.

After the restart, confirm that the Exchange Control Panel (ECP) can be accessed and all the databases are online. 

Open the server from the Exchange Control Panel (ECP) and check the version/build.

In this case, the version is the Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE) RTM.

Post restart, you should do a full check of the server, which would include the following:

• All services are up and running.
• Check that all databases are accounted for and mounted.
• Certificates are in place and working
• Test the incoming and outgoing emails.
• Test that multi-function devices can relay email messages to the Exchange Server.
• Confirm that all the users can access their resources.
• Check the performance of the server and storage.
• Test backup and antimalware software.
• Check event logs for any warning or critical errors.

Challenges and Data Migration Alternative

Microsoft have tried to make the shift to Subscription Edition (SE) as smooth as possible, but there are some things that you cannot foresee. These include misconfigurations and issues in the current infrastructure that would stop you from affecting the upgrade. There could be human errors, loss of power, hardware/software issues, or incompatibility with antimalware and backup software that would interrupt the upgrade. With the above method, you can migrate mailboxes and public folder data from the same Active Directory domain/forest. If you have an Active Directory from a merger or another company, this would not be possible.

Here is where the tools such as Stellar Migrator for Exchange can come to your assistance. With this tool, you can seamlessly migrate mailboxes across Exchange Servers without the need of complex PowerShell scripts. It also supports migration from the same and cross domain. 

It offers features, such as filtering and selective folder migration, public folder migration, automated mailbox matching from source to destination, priority migrations, delta (incremental) migration, and real-time reporting and analysis. It facilitates the following:

• Exchange Server to Exchange Server migration.
• Exchange Server to Microsoft 365 migration.
• Microsoft 365 to Microsoft 365 (tenant to tenant) migration.
• Microsoft 365 to Exchange Server migration. 

With this tool, the process to migrate data is pretty simply. Once you install of the software, create the migration job and then select the source and destination.

Next, choose if you want to migrating mailboxes, archives, public folders, or all of them.

After this, you need to connect to the source to select the mailboxes and resources to move. Alternatively, you can make use of a CSV file for predefined bulk migration.

Next, connect to the target. You can select the target mailboxes or use a CSV file. This is ideal when you would need to merge mailboxes and move mailboxes to shared or other mailboxes. 

On the next screen, you will be allowed to map the source to destination.

Before the migration of data, you can also apply filters based on folder types, specific date, or date ranges.

The next step is to setup the concurrency (maximum 10 mailboxes) of the resource migration, which depends on the performance of the server and network capabilities.

During the migration process, you will be presented with a real-time detailed report which can be exported at the end. 

Conclusion

As we have seen, the Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE) will be a considerable change to the way we use and work with Exchange Server as it will be subscription based and future proof as well. This will reduce the headaches of end of life and end of support systems. When opting to move to the latest Exchange Server SE, it is critical to follow the correct procedure and path. Moreover, you should keep the right migration tools in hand, like Stellar Migrator for Exchange that can assist you in migrating the data smoothly and with complete integrity.