Procedure to Migrate from Exchange Server 2010 to 2013

When it comes to upgrade the existing Exchange Server 2010 to Exchange Server 2013. Migration of MS Exchange system mailbox to a mailbox database on the Exchange Server version 2013 is performed. In this write up, we will discuss the entire process to migrate from Exchange Server 2010 to 2013.

Instant Solution: You can use Exchange to Exchange migration tool to quickly perform the migration of offline/dismounted Exchange 2010 mailboxes to Exchange 2013 mailboxes. This utility provides Quick & Advance scan mode option that recover Exchange mailbox and EDB file from corruption without any data loss. After recovery, users can export the recovered and healthy mailboxes directly to the Live Exchange Server 2016 / 2013 / 2010 / 2007 / 2003 mailboxes, Office 365, and various file formats in a simplified manner.

How to Migrate from Exchange Server 2010 to 2013? 

In Exchange 2010, a system mailbox is known as an arbitration mailbox. This arbitrary mailbox stores the entire organizational data as audit logs, eDiscovery metadata, unified messaging data, dial plans, etc. This system mailbox is referred as SystemMailbox{e0dc1c29-89c3-4934-b678-e6c29d823ed9} with the display name as Microsoft Exchange.

It is to be noted that this mailbox should be migrated only when Exchange 2013 has been installed and verified. However, in case the user does not opt for migrating the system mailbox, the following issues can be encountered since both Exchange 2010 and 2013 versions will coexist in the organization:

1. The first issue that will occur is that the Exchange 2013 tasks will not be saved to the audit logs of the administrator. When the Search-AdminAuditLog cmdlet is run or the administrator audit logs are exported to EAC, an error is encountered.
2. The eDiscovery searches cannot be run using the Shell or EAC. The searches can be created as well as queued but cannot be started. An error stating Start-Mailbox Search cmdlet failed is generated when the search is done.

Pre-Requisites for Mailbox Migration

Some of the pre-requisites that need to be understood by the user before starting the migration process are:

• The total time invested during the mailbox migration depends on the size of the arbitration or the system mailbox.
• The users need to have the Recipient’s Permissions before the migration procedure is performed.
• Get the identity and version of the Exchange server and the mailbox databases, which contain the system mailboxes. For doing this run the following command: Get-Mailbox –Arbitration | FL Name, DisplayName, ServerName, Database, AdminDisplayVersion The value version 14.x means Exchange 2010 and the value 15.x means Exchange 2013.
  

Steps to Migrate from Exchange Server 2010 to 2013 Via EAC

With the help of the below-mentioned steps, the users can migrate the system mailbox by using Exchange Administration Center:

1. In the EAC, click on Recipients option and select Migration.
2. Click on New + and select the Move to a different database option.
3. In New local mailbox move page, click on Select the users that you want to move option.
4. Click on Add + option.
5. In Select Mailbox page add the mailbox with below-mentioned properties:
   • Display Name: Microsoft Exchange
   • Alias Mailbox Email Address: SystemMailbox{e0dc1c29-89c3-4934-b678-e6c29d823ed9}
6. Click on OK and then click on Next.
7. In Move Configuration page, enter the name of the migration batch.
8. Next to Target database, box click on Browse option.
9. In the Select Mailbox Database Page enter the name of the mailbox to which the system mailbox is migrated.
10. Select OK and click on Next option.
11. In the Start the batch page, click on the option for automatically starting the migration request.
12. Click on New.

Steps to Migrate from Exchange Server 2010 to 2013 Via Powershell

The procedure to migrate system mailbox from Exchange 2010 to Exchange 2013 is a two-step process, when done with Powershell. The first step is to obtain the name and version of Exchange mailboxes. This has been already done in the Pre-requisites section in the last step. Once the name and the version are known, the next step is to run the following command in Exchange 2013 for migrating the mailbox to Exchange 2013 database:

Get-Mailbox –Arbitration –Identity “SystemMailbox{e0dc1c29-89c3-4934-b678-e6c29d823ed9}” | New-MoveRequest –TargetDatabase [name of Exchange 2013 database]

Conclusion

With the help of the above-mentioned procedures, one can easily migrate from Exchange Server 2010 to 2013. For an alternate method of migration, you can use the automated wizard described here and move the dismounted or offline Exchange database mailboxes of Exchange 2010 to the Live Exchange Server 2013 mailboxes in a simplified way or users can also export exchange mailboxes to PST and then import PST to exchange using PowerShell Commands.