How To Perform Public Folder Migration?

Move Public Folders From Legacy Exchange Server version into the latest version:

Exchange Server supports public folder database migration from 2007 / 2010 /2013 Exchange editions easily.

To move folders from Exchange 2003 version you need to, first migrate the whole database into Exchange Server 2007 and then from there migrate to later versions. The migration process succeeds only when there exists, no replica of the database or any backup in the Exchange 2003 Server while you’ve already upgraded to latest versions.

Before initiating the process we need to make sure of the following things for a successful migration: 

1.  While migrating to Exchange Server 2013, 2010, 2007 you must be a part of the Organization Management role group or Server management role group. 
2.  If you are using Exchange Server 2007 then upgrade to “Windows Power Shell 2.0”. 
3.  If you are using one of the legacy Exchange Servers then, you should have a snapshot of the following:
   o   Permissions
   o   Old public folder owner information item size, count etc.
4. There should be no present log for a successful migration, if present purge it right away.

Public Folders should not be present in the Exchange Server 2013. If you tend to have one , here’s how you delete it:

 Now you are ready for Public Folder migration, just follow the upcoming steps: 
1) Download Migration scripts from Microsoft link here - Migration scripts 
2) Public folder synchronization need to first synchronize the directories and the public folders on the later stage, follow the link to download directory synchronization scripts from here:Directory synchronization scripts 

Selectively download the following scripts:

3) Ensure all of the scripts are stored in an easily accessible path e.g. f:\PbflScripts.
4) To create the new public folders you need to mention the details about the public folders like size and attributes in a CSV File by following the steps: 

Folder Size Attributes- 
Run the command:

To export the folder statistics of all the folders in proper format like Folder name-Folder size e.g. \PublicFolder04,2700 . 
*the folder size is displayed in bytes

Note: If you mention just the name then the file would be stored in the default location. 

Map The Number Of Mails To The Correct Public Folders 
In this step the command maps the correct folder maximum mailbox size, name and path in the CSV file. 

Note: The name of the target mailbox should match the public folder name in the mapping csv file.

 5) Create Public Folder Mailbox On The New Server 
Public folder mailbox contains set of public folders and the public folders contain the main data .The first public folder that we are going to create will be the root directory and the folders created onwards would be the sub directory. We recently created the mapping file; the next step is to create new folders at Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 .Just run the following commands in “Hold for Migration Mode”.

 If you need to create several public mailboxes folders then you need to execute the following command:

Where ‘n’ is the number of mailboxes to be created e.g. for two mailboxes n=2 and would produce Mailbox1, Mailbox2.

6) Request for Migration: 
At Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 we have provided mailboxes; but to synchronize the contents inside the folders, you need to send in request for migration .Execute the following command from Exchange 2013 server.

*It is recommended to verify the request status, check the request status following the commands here:

7) Speeding up the process and lock the changes: 
The amount of downtime or the time required for making changes in the new Server is solely dependent on the size of the data .The server automatically reaches auto suspended state so we need to finalize the changes .To speed up the process execute the command :

To lock the old server folders for finalization execute:

*By default the process of migration won’t complete automatically until the flag

“Prevent Completion” gets removed. To remove the flag:

8) Log onto old Outlook version and check if the functionalities are taking place or not like:

• Creation for new folder in public folders
•   Hierarchy folder preview is visible
•  Creation and deletion of folders etc.

9) To finalize the Public Folder migration is complete execute the command, which completes the process: 
                If the process faces any type of failure roll back the changes and recover all the data.