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Not supported to rename an Exchange Server, sorry :)
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/310410/rename-exchange-2016-server.html
Can I name my 2019 exchange server at any time?
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BCL
831
Reputation points
So I am migrating from Exchange 2013to Exchange 2019.
Can I run through the install and all migrations and then name my new exchange 2019 the same as the previous exchange 2013 device name?
So mail1 = 2013, while new exchange is default name...do the install, migration and then rename new exchange mail1.
Can that be done?
Or do I have to pick a new mail server name and stick with it?
We just have a bunch of references to the mail1 name and I'd like to skip finding all the references.
Thanks in advance.
Exchange | Exchange Server | Management
Accepted answer
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Andy David - MVP 157.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator2021-05-05T20:43:02.657+00:00 -
BCL 831 Reputation points
2021-05-05T21:06:40.2+00:00 So I basically need to name the 2019 exchange server before starting the exchange install.
Is that about right?I can always change the IP at a later time though...right??
Thanks. B -
Andy David - MVP 157.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2021-05-05T21:25:07.657+00:00 Correct, name it now - anything but an existing server -
and you are good.You can change the IP address of the server anytime later, yes. Just make its updated in DNS as well to reflect the correct IP to NAME
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BCL 831 Reputation points
2021-05-06T00:49:05.093+00:00 Ok, looks like we already installed exchange 2019.
What are my options? If was left with the default name...
Can I uninstall exchange , rename the device, then reinstall exchange?
Looks like we haven't done anything except install the new exchange on the new server.Will uninstalling it have any adverse affects on the AD changes that were made?
Thanks again. -
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Kael Yao 37,746 Reputation points Moderator2021-05-06T02:05:24.233+00:00 Hi,
Yes, you may first uninstall Exchange from the server, then rename the server and reinstall Exchange.
Will uninstalling it have any adverse affects on the AD changes that were made?
Uninstall Exchange 2019 would just remove the information of the newly installed Exchange server from AD.
Once the AD schema is extended (during the prepareSchema process), it won't be withdrawn if you later uninstall the Exchange server.
If you haven't done other changes,you don't need to worry about it.To confirm if Exchange 2019 is uninstalled successfully,you may run this command via Exchange Management Shell on Exchange 2013:
Get-ExchangeServerIf the server name is not returned in the results, you may have uninstalled it successfully.
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Andy David - MVP 157.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2021-05-06T11:44:19.813+00:00 If you uninstall Exchange, you should rebuild the server O/S before reinstalling to ensure its clean. Once you install Exchange it will tattoo the registry and IIS metadata, so dont just remove Exchange, rename it and reinstall Exchange. Rebuild the entire server.
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BCL 831 Reputation points
2021-05-06T15:26:41.487+00:00 Tried to uninstall the exchange and received the following error:
Uninstall can't continue. Errors:
This mailbox database contains one or more mailboxes, mailbox plans, archive mailboxes, public folder mailboxes or arbitration mailboxes, Audit mailboxes. To get a list of all mailboxes in this database, run the command Get-Mailbox -Database <Database ID>. To get a list of all mailbox plans in this database, run the command Get-MailboxPlan. To get a list of archive mailboxes in this database, run the command Get-Mailbox -Database <Database ID> -Archive.It goes on, but the error exceeds the limit of the reply box....
When I installed, I did indicate there were shared folders on the 2013 exchange.
The error never says anything about the 2013 exchange database or server. So should i proceed with the suggestions in the error ?
Not sure how to post the entire error message. Thanks again.
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2 additional answers
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Andy David - MVP 157.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2021-05-06T15:31:13.22+00:00 If this was the first 2019 server, that is expected. Do you really need to reinstall?
Otherwise, I would bring up a new 2019 server instead with the name you want and move the 2019 arbitration mailboxes to it, then you can remove the first 2019 serverget-mailbox -arbitration | new-moverequest -targetDB <New2019DB>
I would not move the 2019 arbitration mailboxes to the 2013 server.
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BCL 831 Reputation points
2021-05-06T15:40:54.88+00:00 This is the only 2019 exchange server.
what are the arbitration mailboxes? Can I just ignore them (or remove them) uninstall exchange, redo the os, rename the server and reinstall exchange2019?
Wouldn't those arbitration mailboxes reappear in the new exchange as well? -
Andy David - MVP 157.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2021-05-06T15:55:35.173+00:00 They are the system mailboxes.
They can be recreated, yes, but you could also break something if you remove.
I would not mess with them and bring a new 2019 server instead, then move them to the new server, then remove the first 2019 server - that is the cleanest and safest way to handle this.
If you decide to remove them, you can recreate following:More about these system mailboxes:
https://blog.rmilne.ca/2018/03/19/arbitration-mailboxes-lay-of-the-land/
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BCL 831 Reputation points
2021-05-06T16:03:55.193+00:00 Crap, nothing is easy...
So if I were to just wipe out the existing 2019 server, and start over I could possible break the working 2013 exchange... -
Andy David - MVP 157.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2021-05-06T16:06:33.477+00:00 It shouldnt affect the 2013 server, no. You can do this, but my point is that when you mess with things, it raises the possibility of something breaking :)
I dont like the idea the moving 2019 mailboxes to a 2013 server, but you could do that as well and uninstall 2019 - or just leave it be, the name of the server doesnt mean much. Why the need to rename it?
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BCL 831 Reputation points
2021-05-06T16:26:56.237+00:00 Other than existing naming conventions...nothing.
Now my concern is I started the uninstall but received the error...However that was just on the readiness check.
If I were to just leave the server name as is and move forward with the install, I assume I need to do a repair of some sort, would things magically be ok or would I just be adding more issues to my existing headache? -
Andy David - MVP 157.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2021-05-06T16:33:55.077+00:00 You havent done any damage, that was a check to ensure you wouldnt do any :)
If the 2019 server is installed, you are good to go!
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BCL 831 Reputation points
2021-05-06T16:41:49.957+00:00 haha...lets hope...
so I haven't done anything yet, so lest say I will be leaving the name as is...
I just tried a few cmds and they don't return anything...
Get-Mailbox -server New server
Get Mailbox - database new server databaseJust returns me to the next line, no data at all...is that to be expected?
I assumed there would be something due to the error....Oh, and to get out of the precheck, can I just click teh X in the upper right corner and I'm good?
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Andy David - MVP 157.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2021-05-06T16:59:11.743+00:00 You wont see anything with that command till you create user mailboxes
get-mailbox -arbitration -database <new server database>will show the system mailboxes
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BCL 831 Reputation points
2021-05-06T18:16:15.953+00:00 so if I run that against the exchange2019, that I tried to uninstall it'll show me teh system mailboxes?
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Andy David - MVP 157.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2021-05-06T19:15:37.043+00:00 yes, it should
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BCL 831 Reputation points
2021-05-06T19:29:49.4+00:00 So I ran that cmdlet and it came back with 2 systemmailbox lines. Not sure what I am actually looking at...
But we're thinking things should be ok? -
Andy David - MVP 157.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2021-05-06T19:48:35.857+00:00 Yep, thats exactly what you should see!
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BCL 831 Reputation points
2021-05-06T20:05:42.38+00:00 Ok, so my current plan...unless I'm told I need to change it ...will be to just keep the server name as is...and press on with the 2019 migration.
I'll create some aliases if needed... :-) -
Andy David - MVP 157.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2021-05-06T20:26:37.967+00:00 That should work!
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BCL 831 Reputation points
2021-05-06T21:15:38.19+00:00 Ok, so I just clicked the X to close out of the screen for uninstalling and received a "Program Compatibility Assistant" notice telling me the program may not have uninstalled correctly.
uninstall using compatibility...
this program uninstalled correctly...Those are the only 2 options.
Other than close...
I'll hit close and then try the cmdlet to see if exchange is still installed. -
BCL 831 Reputation points
2021-05-07T15:40:54.703+00:00 I ran the Get-ExchangeServer -identity |format-list,
Looks like all is well.
Is there some sort of Healthy cmd I can run to check and see if the exchange server is running as it should?Thanks.
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Andy David - MVP 157.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2021-05-07T17:13:46.973+00:00 Sure:
https://microsoft.github.io/CSS-Exchange/Diagnostics/HealthChecker/
If you could, please make an answer as accepted if we can close this. Thanks!
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BCL 831 Reputation points
2021-05-07T17:46:06.63+00:00 Thanks, other than a few security updates all looked good
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