Upgrade of Exchange Server 2016

Question

Dear team,

I have the following scenario: 3 Exchange 2016 servers, with DAG configured. There is a plan to upgrade to Exchange 2019. Is it recommended to create new servers with 2019 version, migrate the mailboxes and then decommission the 2016 servers? Or an in-place upgrade is possible directly on the 2016 servers?

Regards,

Answer 1

Hi @Micheal Mallo ,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A platform!

Based on your description, if you want to upgrade from Exchange 2016 to Exchange 2019, the recommended approach is to create a new Exchange 2019 server, migrate mailboxes, and then decommission the Exchange 2016 server12. This approach ensures a smoother transition and minimizes disruption to service.

Refer to:

1. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/exchange-team-blog/upgrading-your-organization-from-current-versions-to-exchange/ba-p/4241305
2. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/exchange-team-blog/upgrading-your-organization-from-current-versions-to-exchange/ba-p/4241305

Microsoft does not support in-place upgrades from Exchange 2016 to Exchange 2019. This process involves setting up a new Exchange 2019 server to coexist with the existing Exchange 2016 environment, migrating mailboxes and other data, and then gradually decommissioning the old server.

Refer to: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/exchange-team-blog/end-of-support-for-exchange-server-2016-and-exchange-server-2019/ba-p/4268516

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Please feel free to contact me for any updates. And if this helps, don't forget to mark it as an answer.

Best,

Jake Zhang

Answer 2

In-place is not possible. You have build new servers and move the mailboxes to the new ones.

You can follow:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/exchange-deployment-assistant?view=exchserver-2019

Answer 3

In-Place can be riskier because it might affect your entire setup, if something goes wrong during the upgrade.

Side-by-Side migration is generally the safer and more reliable approach. Follow the steps to do-

1.       Firstly, setup the new servers with Exchange 2019.

2.       By using the mailbox migration feature, move the mailboxes from the Exchange 2016 server to the new Exchange 2019 servers.

3.       Check the mail flow and client access.

4.       After this you can decommission the old Exchange 2016 servers.

Let me know if you any query in above steps.