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Public Folder Replication

During installation of the Mailbox Server a new Exchange Server 2010 Mailbox Database will be automatically created. After installation its best to make sure that this database is moved from the default location to an alternate location for recovery and performance reasons.

A new Public Folder database will also be automatically created on the new Mailbox Server. The hierarchy, which is the structure of all Public Folders will be automatically replicated between all Public Folder Databases in the entire organization. The content replication of the Public Folders will have to be configured manually though.

To replicate the Offline Address Book and Free/Busy folders from Exchange Server 2003 to Exchange Server 2010 open the Exchange System Manager on the Exchange Server 2003 server and navigate to the System Folders in the ‘Folders’ folder in the First Administrative Group Navigate to the first Offline Address Book folder, right click it and select “All Tasks…”. The next is to select “Manage Settings”.

If you want to toggle between the System Folders and the normal Public Folders, navigate to the Public Folders, right click the Public Folders and select “View System Folders” or “View Public Folders”.

Public folder replication

The “Manage Public Folder Settings wizard” will appear. Click Next on the Welcome page and select the “Modify lists of replica servers”. Follow the wizard and add the Exchange Server 2010 Mailbox Server role as a new replica. When finished, the folder and all its subfolders will be replicated to the Exchange Server 2010 Public Folder database. Repeat this step for the second Offline Address Book folder and the Schedule+ Free Busy folder.

Note: When the “Manage Settings” option is not available you can select “Properties” and select the replication tab to add the Exchange Server 2010 Public Folder Database.

The (default) Public Folder that are located on the Exchange Server 2010 Mailbox Server should be replicated to the Exchange Server 2003 Mailbox Server. To accomplish this logon to the Exchange Server 2010 Mailbox Server, open the Exchange Management Console and navigate to the Tools node. Under the Tools node open the Public Folder Management Console.

Right click the Offline Address Book in the results pane, select Properties and click the Replication tab.

Add the Exchange Server 2003 Mailbox Server to the replica list, the contents will now be replicated to the Exchange Server 2003 Mailbox Server. Be aware that Public Folder replication is a low priority mechanism, so it takes some time before both Public Folder databases are in sync.

Repeat these steps for the Schedule+ Free/Busy folder.

Offline Address Book generation

Changing the Offline Address Book generation isn’t the most difficult part of a migration. Logon to the new Exchange 2010 Server and open the Exchange Management Console. In the navigation pane, navigate to the Organization Configuration and select the Mailbox option. In the results pane, select the Offline Address Book tab. Right here you’ll see that the ‘old’ 2003 Mailbox Server is the Offline Address Book generation server. Right click this server and select ‘Move…’. The Move Offline Address Book wizard will appear, use the Browse button to select the Exchange 2010 Mailbox Server Role as the new generation server. Click the Move button to finish the wizard. When finished click the Finish button.

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Categorised as: Exchange, Microsoft