Exchange 2k3 to O365 migration

Exchange 2003 to O365 migration steps:

Ø  Open Exchange Server Deployment Assistant.

Once the site is launched, you are presented three options. Since I am doing a simple cutover migration from Exchange Server 2003, I am going to use the Cloud Only option

            Click Cloud Only

Ø  You are now asked a series of questions on end state goals and existing setup

1.     Answer all the questions

2.     Click the next arrow

3.     The Exchange Deployment Assistant will generate a step by step guide for you to follow. Make sure to read and understand what you are doing.

  

Step 2: Testing the Existing Setup

Using our guide from the Exchange Deployment Assistant, we need to make sure that our Exchange 2003 infrastructure supports RPC over HTTP and Outlook Anywhere. Use the guide to verify the Exchange 2003 setup. Once the setup is verified to be correct, use the Microsoft Remote Connectivity Analyzer to verify RPC over HTTP and Outlook Anywhere.

Ø  Open the Microsoft Remote Connectivity Analyzer site

Ø  Select the Outlook Anywhere (RPC over HTTP) test 

 Ø  Click Next

 Enter all the information that is requested. Keep in mind that with Exchange 2003, using autodiscover to detect the settings will not work. Exchange 2003 doesn't support autodiscover. These values will have to be entered manually

Ø  Enter the Verification code

Ø  Click Perform Test

Ø  The test will start

Once the test is successful, you can continue to the next step. If it's successful with warnings, review the warnings and correct them if needed. I get a warning here, because I am using a multi-name UCC certificate. If the test fails, use the report generated and the guide (Exchange Deployment Assistant) to resolve the issues.

Step 3: Configure Cutover Migration

Ø  Login to the Office 365 Admin Center

Ø  Open Exchange Admin Center

Ø  Click Migration

Ø  Click the + drop down menu and select Migrate to Exchange Online

Ø  Select Cutover migration (supported by Exchange Server 2003 and later versions

Ø  Click Next

Ø  Enter on-premises account credentials 

Ø  Click Next

Ø  Enter the on-premise Exchange Server

Ø  Enter the RPC Proxy Server

Ø  Click Next

Ø  Enter a name for the New Migration Batch 

Ø  Click Next

Ø  Select a user from Office 365 to get a report once the migration is completed. You can choose to automatically start the batch or manually start the batch later.

Ø  Click New

The new migration batch is created and the status is set to syncing

 This is where we wait for the migration to happen. Depending on the number of accounts and the amount of data, this can take some time. You can view the migration details, by clicking View Details under the Mailbox Status.

You will see the accounts provisioning on the Office 365 account and then start to sync from Exchange 2003 to Office 365.

Provisioning

 Syncing

 Step 4: Complete The Migration 

When all the accounts are provisioned and the sync from Exchange 2003 to Office 365 is completed, you will get a report emailed to you. Once you get the report, you can complete the migration process.

Migrate Public Folders – Microsoft has released a whitepaper for the companies that have public folders to migrate to Office 365. Migrate from Exchange Public Folders to Microsoft Office 365

Once you are comfortable that all the email is migrated to Office 365 and the MX record DNS replication is completed, you can stop the migration batch job.