I have completed three cut-over migration from online exchange server to Microsoft Exchange Plan 1 during the last three years. In that non-hybrid case, it’s unclear why uninstalling late (as long as, like you say, it’s before the roles transfer) is important. In some cases it makes sense, since people will be running Exchange on the new server (like at the previous link), but SuperGumby (ahem) below is not talking about that case only. That makes sense to me (theoretically, none of the Exchange attributes in AD would migrate, though it’s often said that Exchange 2003 leaves a lot behind when uninstalled), but at least for SBS2003, what I’m finding is advice to do it very late in the process. I know there’s no mention of SBS2003 above, but just in case anyone has that, Step 13 here is the best that I’ve found to do it (it’s completely different):īTW, you’re removing Exchange super-early in the process, even before replication. After Exchange is fully removed, you can proceed with the rest of the decom process, which will be covered in an upcoming post. From an elevated command prompt, navigate to the directory “C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\Bin” or “C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\v14\Bin” and run: /mode:uninstall Now you are ready to run the uninstaller. Get-Mailbox | Disable-Mailbox Uninstall Exchange Get-Mailbox -Arbitration | Disable-Mailbox -Arbitration -DisableLastArbitrationMailboxAllowed #Remove arbitration mailboxes (SBS 2011/Exchange 2010 Only) Get-PublicFolderDatabase | Remove-PublicFolderDatabase #Remove Public Folder database (SBS 2011/Exchange 2010 Only) Get-OfflineAddressBook | Remove-OfflineAddressBook Get-PublicFolder "\Non_Ipm_Subtree" -Recurse -ResultSize:Unlimited | Remove-PublicFolder -Recurse -ErrorAction:Silentl圜ontinue Get-PublicFolder "\" -Recurse -ResultSize:Unlimited | Open the Exchange Management Shell as Administrator, and run the following PoSH snippets in this order for SBS 2008/2011 or Exchange 2007/2010, answering prompts for confirmation in the affirmative for all (A). Warning: this assumes all data has been migrated to Office 365, and you have no further need of Exchange data / services on-premises.
You will need to run several PowerShell commands to help prepare your server for uninstall.
Alternatively, you may consider keeping a free Exchange server on-premises to maintain the hybrid connection. Therefore, only proceed with the below if you are positive that you do not have a hybrid connection, and/or Directory Synchronization in place.
This means they no longer need to keep their on-premises Exchange Server. However, there is a proper way to remove the Exchange services from the SBS server before you dismantle it for good. Most small businesses that were invested in the Small Business Server (SBS) platform are migrating to Office 365.