Exchange Server experts and admirers have mixed up reactions for the launch of the newest Exchange 2019 version. Some like this version as it comes with more security and stability than its previous versions along with some additional features while some are taking as the mere upgrade from its previous versions without much helpful attributes. Those who didn’t get impressed with new version are migrating or have migrated to the cloud platform.
Other kind of Exchange users do not wish to leave this platform even yet and seeks to pursue the better version with the time. Those users now want to migrate to Exchange 2019 version need to be well prepare before pursuing the migration as there are some crucial changes which happened in this latest version. This blog contains those important pre-required steps which Exchange administrators or users should know and implement prior to performing the actual migration from your current Exchange Server version.
Let us proceed with the latest features that you are going to take advantage of in the new Exchange 2019 version.
What does Exchange 2019 offers?
Before moving to Exchange 2019 version from your current Exchange version, know about the new features which you can enjoy while working with this version.
- Supporting memory about 256GB along with 48 CPU cores
- Supporting Windows Server Core 2019 for installation
- MetaCache Database functionality to speed up logins, response time and reducing latency
- Dynamic Database Cache to increase cache memory for active databases while reducing cache memory for passive databases
- Enhanced control of out-of-office settings and meeting request forwarding feature
- Introducing Search Index new location in the mailbox itself which it is using and help in increasing search architecture speed further with easy administration.
- Enhancing Calendar feature with new updates improving its performance and management
- Still supports Edge Server Role
- Internationalizing email addresses with introduction of non-English characters, alphabets and facility to add an EAI proxy to the accepted domains
- High level security and stability so far provided by this version
If you are attracted by these latest features and facilities offered by the brand new Exchange Server 2019 version and not willing to move to Cloud platform yet, we still want you to be aware about the pre-requisites before planning and executing the Exchange 2019 version. One should be well prepared before performing the complex migration process and for the latest updated Exchange 2019 version, some necessary things must be known for a good migration. Let us learn it further.
How to prepare for the Exchange 2019 migration?
Some crucial pre-installations for the Exchange Server 2019 migration are –
- .Net Framework 4.8 Setup on source server
- Microsoft Unified Communications API 4.0
- Microsoft Visual C++
It is quite important to know some information and aspects if you are going for the Exchange 2019 migration. Let us read about it.
No more Unified Messaging
The latest Exchange 2019 version has eliminated the feature of Unified Messaging completely. Users will not be able to continue with this service in this new version. The users should need to pay attention if they currently have the UM-enabled mailboxes in their current version. If they are going to migrate or export these UM-enabled mailboxes to the new Exchange 2019, there is high possibility to lose the beneficial voicemail feature and other related facilities after the migration.
We suggest the users with UM-enabled mailboxes in their current version to perform these mailboxes migration by setting up a hybrid to access to cloud voicemail or migration to Skype for Business Server 2019 via professional third-party voice mail software.
Unsupported Exchange 2010 Co-Existence
If you are currently using the Exchange 2010 version for your organization and seeking a migration to the latest Exchange 2019 version, then we must tell you it is not possible directly. In fact, the co-existence of Exchange 2010 and Exchange 2019 is not compatible on the same system. The manual solution does not support one way migration from Exchange 2010 to Exchange 2019 due to this confliction.
The only option here for the users is to first upgrade their current Exchange 2010 version to either Exchange 2013 or Exchange 2016. After the upgrade or migration, decommission the Exchange 2010 completely and then follow the migration from Exchange 2013 Server to Exchange 2019 Server using the native method.
Note: Exchange Server 2013 (with CU21 update or later) and Exchange Server 2016 (with CU11 update or later) can co-exist with Exchange Server 2019.
No Free Hybrid License
Unlike previous Exchange Server versions, the latest Exchange 2019 version does not get or support the free hybrid license for the hybrid deployment of the other Exchange Server versions. In fact, this Hybrid License is a requirement for the older Exchange Server versions – Exchange 2010 and Exchange 2007. For the current most popular Exchange 2013 and 2016 versions, hybrid deployment is possible even without the license.
If you want to have the hybrid deployment and still want the migration to the latest Exchange Server version, then consider migrating to the Exchange Server 2016 version.
Windows Server Upgrade
The Exchange Server 2019 version supports only Windows Server 2012 R2, 2016 2019 (Standard or Enterprise version) and does not work on other Windows Server versions.
One who is seeking the migration to the Exchange 2019 version must be aware of the need to upgrade his Windows Server version to 2019 and then start the migration preparations.
Note: To run the Exchange Server 2019, the supported network provider is IPV6 as otherwise Exchange could not be run.
Supported Email Client
As it is mentioned earlier also, the mailboxes migration is feasible from either Exchange 2013 or Exchange 2016 to Exchange 2019 only using the native migration method, you need to think about the email client as well along with the Exchange Server upgrade from the Exchange 2010 version. The latest Exchange 2019 version does not shows compatibility with the Microsoft Outlook 2010 version.
Users are suggested to install minimum the Microsoft Outlook 2013 version along with the upgrade from Microsoft Exchange 2010 version to follow the final migration to the Exchange 2019 version.
Now that we have studied the most crucial aspects which needs to be followed before starting the migration to the Exchange 2019 version, users are expected to follow them strictly to get a pain-free Exchange 2019 version.
Preferred way for Exchange 2019 migration
After getting well prepared for the Exchange 2019 migrating implementing the all above conditions and situations, you need to install the software requirements for the deployment of the new Exchange Server, install certificates, DNS records, licenses, etc. You can take help from an Exchange professional in this regard.
For the migration method, we want to recommend you the effortless and secured way which is using the advanced Exchange Migration tool. The tool performs automatic migration from any Exchange Server version to another directly. It migrates everything including mailboxes, public folders and also allows selective migration as per the user’s requirement. You would get all information about this tool and a trial version on its website. So, be well prepared for a worry-less Exchange 2019 migration keeping in mind the above mentioned points and this robust tool.
When I was first installed Exchange 2019 in my system, then I am seeking for some kind of technical help, which guide me and give me some knowledge about preparing an environment for it. And it really helped me.
When I thought using Exchange 2019, then I have to prepare my system as according to this server. With this I understand what are basics requirement and set ups for working with Exchange 2019.