[AlanM]

Well, my nightmare has come true. I support two AD Domains with Exchange 2003, ~2000 users/AD, 2 BES/AD, ~700 BBs/AD, and no trust. We (my group) have been coordially invited to participate (by that I mean directed) in a migration to a single AD (which we will not have domain admin) and single Exchange organization. We will also be consolidating our 4 BES down to 2. BTW did I mention that there was no trust with the new AD? AD accounts will probably be exported and imported into the new AD and new Exchange mailboxes will most likely be created (our users have too much email to migrate it effectively). The question I have is can I move all the users from each domain to just one of the BES servers on that domain and then export the user list from the single BES servers. Then install the two BES in the new domain using the same BES names and then import the user list into the new BES. Will that process prevent me from having to rekey every handheld?

The icing on the cake for this party is that it all has to be completed by March 31, 2008.

WooHoo.

[DarkWater]

So.....

Your user mailboxes are moving from one Exchange organization... to a completely different, brand new Exchange organization?

[AlanM]

yep. John Doe in Domain A will move to Domain C and Jane Doe in Domain B will move to Domain C. No trusts between A and B, or A and C, B and C. Reprovisioning ~1400 BBs is not high on my list of "want tos", on top of everything else we have to do.

[DarkWater]

Well, since it is an entirely separate Exchange organization that you are moving to, you have absolutely no choice in the matter.

You must install a new BES. New database, new everything in the new environment.

All your handhelds will have to be security wiped to be able to activate and receive policy information from the new database.

[DarthBBerry]

Originally Posted by DarkWater

Well, since it is an entirely separate Exchange organization that you are moving to, you have absolutely no choice in the matter.

You must install a new BES. New database, new everything in the new environment.

All your handhelds will have to be security wiped to be able to activate and receive policy information from the new database.

OMG Alan, it sucks to be you right about now. I know your environment and the users you serve and their locations.... Oh man.....
Your first round at WES '08 is on me. No doubt.

[AlanM]

Originally Posted by DarthBBerry

OMG Alan, it sucks to be you right about now. I know your environment and the users you serve and their locations.... Oh man.....
Your first round at WES '08 is on me. No doubt.

this excursion into the Deep should, no doubt produce stories that urban legends are made of.

[DarkWater]

Originally Posted by AlanM

this excursion into the Deep should, no doubt produce stories that urban legends are made of.

I expect to be named as the wise sage with unfortunate yet timely advise.

[AlanM]

Originally Posted by DarkWater

I expect to be named as the wise sage with unfortunate yet timely advise.

I, unfortunately, had been planning on a mass re-provisioning (after I woke from a deep sleep remembering the all the BBs and what to do with them), however I was hoping for a ray of light. I will, DarkWater, pass on to management the fact that you are unwilling to assist the users in making this migration as painless as possible. Keep this up and you'll find yourself fired from this migration. (oh, that I could be so lucky)

Another little nugget of fun from this is that I have to get HW in to make this migration go. While ordering HW has never been a problem for my organization it is still a long shot to get the order thru purchasing and to the vendor, so they can deliver (all before Jan 7th). MUuuuhhhaaaaahhaaaaaa! (Sorry I blacked out there for a minute).

[DarkWater]

Pain is unfortunately unavoidable in this situation.

[AlanM]

Originally Posted by DarkWater

Pain is unfortunately unavoidable in this situation.

Pain, suffering, death, I feel.

[hdawg]

Why don't you just migrate to Domino at the same time? ...

[DarthBBerry]

Originally Posted by hdawg

Why don't you just migrate to Domino at the same time? ...

HA HA! Me and x14 were trying to convince him of that. Didn't work then; prolly ain't gonna work now! LOL

[AlanM]

I installed Notes and Domino, once. Cursed it the whole time. Installation procedures were lacking info and always referred to "ask your administrator". Well, I was the administrator and had no idea what the heck it was talking about. Cursed application. I'd rather be running GroupWise.

**mumbles to himself and retreats back into his cave**

[SoUnCool]

sorry to hear your story man, but just for kicks why dont you move everything to AD 2003 and Exchange 2007 ?