Know How to Migrate from Lotus Domino to Exchange 2007 in Simple Steps

Lotus Domino & Exchange both are the commonly used email collaboration software which is widely used nowadays. Which client is the best in performance, we cannot easily conclude that. Each has its own capabilities & flaws. So, according to the user’s need & preferences, it is decided which one among two is to be used. 

Sometimes the user needs to migrate Notes to Exchange Server or vice versa. Also, there are various reasons for users to move from Domino to Exchange 2007. The reasons being: change in the job location, advancement in the technology, cost factors, etc. 

If you are planning to migrate from Lotus Notes to Exchange then you will be required a proper planning strategy before implementing the actual migration process. 

A Quick Tip: For easy & simple way, try SysTools Mail Migration Wizard tool to convert Lotus Notes to Exchange.

Converting Domino to Exchange 2007

The migration process varies for different Domino & Exchange versions. 

Talking about Exchange 2003, there are several tools which allow coexistence between MS Exchange & Notes. 

These tools are: 

1. Microsoft Connector for Lotus Notes
2. Microsoft Exchange Calendar Connector 
3. SysTools Mail Migration Wizard 

The “MS connector for Lotus Notes” lets you transfer messages between the Lotus Notes & Exchange, it maintains track of all messages transfer process & gets the directories synchronized for both the systems. 

While the “MS Exchange Calendar Connector” keeps the track of all the calendar in Lotus Notes & Exchange free/busy information, its location & other related information. 

The “Mail Migration wizard” performs the operation to convert Domino Server mailboxes to Live Exchange Server.

Manual Steps to Migrate from Lotus Domino to Exchange

Download & Install the Transport Suite Synchronize the directory

Download & Install the Transport Suite

1. Download Transport Suite. If you are using the 32-bit system, then download transporter32.msi, otherwise, Go to file named as transporter.msi 
2. After that, install the suite. Run .msi file, this will open welcome screen. Accept the terms & conditions followed on licensed agreement screen & continue. 
3. In MS Transporter Suite for Lotus Domino, the next screen which appears is for to select components & install location screen. Now, select the option for MS transporter tools & also de-select the option for the free busy Add-In task for Lotus Domino. 
4. Browse & select the desired location where you need to install transporter suite 
5. Click Next. The ready to install screen will get opened; now, click install to proceed further. 

After the completion of the whole process, a program folder named “Microsoft Transporter Suite for Domino” will be created. 

Note: The Global Address List (GAL) should be synchronized properly between the two systems so that Domino, as well as Exchange users, can view all system users from both the platforms. 

The very first step in the following process is to create directory connector. So, there are two ways to create the directory connector either you can use Transporter Command Shell or the Transporter Management Console so as to fasten up the process to convert Domino to Exchange.

Using Transporter Management Shell

• From the console tree, Select “connect under tools for Lotus Domino” 
• Now, Right click & select the option to create directory connector 
• Create directory connector wizard will get opened. Click Next to continue 
• Now, click create & then finish once the process gets completed.

Using Transporter Command Shell

Following are the pre-requisites for configuring the Domino permissions while converting Domino to Exchange Server: 

1. Will require Default Domino Administrator account or another account with the following permissions: 

• Manager access or least editor access to the Domino directory (names.nsf file) 
• Should have access to UserCreator & UserModifier roles 
• Permissions to delete documents

Steps to Configure the Directory Connector

• Select the newly created directory connector. Right click on it to open Properties. Or go to Action menu, choose properties option from there. 
• After opening properties option, four tabs will be displayed & needs to be configured: General tab, Sync to active directory tab, Sync to Domino tab & advance tab.

Know How to Synchronize the Directories

• While setting up the directory connector, choose to synchronize option 
• Now, select the Directory connector & right click on it 
• Go to context menu/ action pane; select ‘synchronize now’ option 
• A synchronize directory wizard will get opened. Here choose ‘update’ synchronizations or ‘full’ synchronization 
• The update synchronization is used when you run the synchronization for updated or modified options. 
• Now, select the desired type of synchronization & then click synchronize option. Once the synchronization process is completed, click Finish to end the process. 

Note: If you are not sure if the directory synchronization has been done properly or not, then go to Domino users OU & see if you are able to view Domino users, groups, contacts etc. Also check this for Domino directory for Exchange users, groups & contacts.

Automated Solution

The above manual solutions suggested are very lengthy & time-consuming. So, if you have technical knowledge then you can easily use SysTools Mail Migration Wizard. The software migrates Lotus Notes / Domino to Exchange Server without any data loss.

Pre-requisites of the Software

1. Lotus Notes Client must be installed & configured. It should be in offline mode with Domino Server. 
2. To export the data to Exchange Server – Exchange 2003, 2007, 2010 & 2013 versions are supported 
3. If you are a user of Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, or vista, then launch the tool as “Run as Administrator”

Conclusion

To migrate from Lotus Domino to Exchange 2007 various methods has been discussed, both manual, as well as an automated solution, has been discussed. As the manual method is lengthy & time-consuming, the user can go for SysTools Mail Migration Wizard to overcome the problems encountered.