Question : Replace SBS2003 - moving Exchange

Dear experts,

Hav a quick question regarding moving Exchange from one SBS to another. I know there are different ways to achieve such but want to know which is the best one to me.

I am going to replace an SBS2003 server with another SBS2003. After careful consideration I have decided NOT to do any migration or swing - I am going to build from scratch. Since there are only a handful of users, and all they are using is Exchange and file share, a rebuild shouldn't be much of a challenge.

So what do you think the best method to move the mailbox?

1. Backup and Restore using RSG?
2. Exmerge?
3. PSTs from user Outlook?

I am not familiar with RSG so I would like to avoid it if I could. There are 7 or 8 users, a couple of them do have large mailbox (of about 3-4Gb) but the rest should have less than 1Gb. So would you recommend Exmerge or individual PSTs? Or is there some other way I can use?

I want to keep the new server with the same name so I don't think I can plug it into the network with the old one still up and running.

Thanks for your advice.

Answer : Replace SBS2003 - moving Exchange

If you use Exmerge you will also need a service account that has full access to all mailboxes: http://www.petri.co.il/grant_full_mailbox_rights_on_exchange_2000_2003.htm
As Simon says it can be filtered by date.

if your only talking 1 or 2 mailboxes though you might find it easier to use Outlook.