KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q177776: XADM: How to Use the Mailbox Migration Utility

Article: Q177776
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): WINDOWS:4.0,5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 22-MAR-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0 
- MSPRESS Microsoft BackOffice Resource Kit Part 2 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

When using the Mailbox Migration Utility (Migrate.exe) from the BackOffice
Resource Kit Part 2, certain steps must be performed to achieve the desired
results.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Procedure to Migrate Users
--------------------------

1. Create mailboxes and profiles on the destination server for the recipients
  you are moving.

2. Verify that your workstation is logged on using an account with at least
  Administrator permissions at the Site, Organization, and Configuration levels
  in the Exchange Administrator program.

3. Create a profile on the workstation that can be modified by the Mailbox
  Migration tool.

4. On the Start menu, click Run.

5. Click Browser to locate the Migrate.exe file and double-click the file name.

6. In the Control File box, type the path name and file name of the recipient's
  list file (.csv file) that contains the recipient's name and server. This is
  the structure of the recipient's file:

  <Display Name>,<Alias Name>,<Pilot Server
  Name>,<Production Server Name><CRLF>

  An example:

  John Doe,JohnD,GW-PILOT1,GW-PROD1 Mary Smith,MarySm,GW-PILOT1,GW-PROD1

  The file can contain any number of recipients and any combination of servers.

7. Click Start.

When the file is found, the Mailbox Migration tool begins processing the first
recipient in the file.

Functions
---------

For each recipient in the .csv file, the Mailbox Migration tool performs the
following functions:

- Modifies the migration profile so it can open your mailbox and create a new
  .pst file on the workstation, and then logs on to this profile.

- Copies all the messages and all subfolder trees in the mailbox Inbox folder
  to the .pst Inbox folder.

- Copies all the messages in the mailbox Sent Items folder to the .pst Sent
  Items folder. You can ignore any subfolders, unless it is easier to copy
  everything.

- Copies all the other folders, subfolders, and messages that you have created
  from the mailbox to the .pst file. Note that Custom Views, Filters, Rules,
  and Permissions are not copied.

- Logs off the profile.

- Copies the folders and messages from the .pst to your mailbox on the
  production server. Note that the Inbox of the new server is checked. If there
  are any messages in this folder, the mailbox is not migrated and an error
  message is generated. The Inbox is always the first folder migrated.

- Deletes the .pst file.

- If you click Stop, the Mailbox Migration tool continues to process the
  current mailbox and then stops processing after the mailbox has been
  migrated, or after the mailbox migration attempt fails because of errors.

- Any errors that are generated in the process are written to an error log.
  This error log is specified through the Mailbox Migration user interface.

- When all mailboxes in the recipient list have been migrated, a message
  appears stating that the system has completed the migration.

The .csv file will look similar to this at the completion of the process:

  SUCCESS,John Doe,JohnD,GW-PILOT1,GW-PROD1,Migrated No
  Errors,5/10/96 10:05:00

  -or-

  FAILURE,Mary Smith,MarySm,GW-PILOT1,GW-PROD1,Error Copying
  Messages,5/10/96 10:09:10

If the Migration Mailbox tool fails for any reason, you can restart the tool from
the same point by using the same recipient list. Each successful migration
causes the entry to be deleted, therefore no duplication will occur.

To migrate single users or groups of users that were not migrated because of
errors, you can create recipient list files (.csv) and run the Mailbox Migration
tool again.

The purpose of the tool is to make a complete copy of the mailbox content from
one server to another when these servers are in different sites and/or
organizations. The utility does not assume that there is direct network
connectivity between any two servers and its basic mechanism is to create a
personal folder file (.pst) which contains the structure and messages of the
mailbox to be copied. In addition, this tool is used to re-create rules and
directory information.

The Exchange Administrator Move Mailbox command allows you to move a mailbox only
between servers within the same site, whereas the Mailbox Migration tool allows
you to move mailboxes between sites and between recipient containers.

For more information about using the Exchange Mailbox Migration tool, refer to
the Microsoft Exchange Tools Help file (Exchtool.hlp), included with the
Microsoft BackOffice Resource Kit Part 2.

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSPressSearch kbExchangeSearch kbExchange500 kbExchange400 kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : WINDOWS:4.0,5.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.