Migrate Exchange 2013 to 2019

Exchange server 2013 has reached its end of life, and organizations using this outdated platform are now exposed to several risks, including security vulnerabilities, software bugs, and system instability. Migrating to Exchange 2019 brings not only security and support benefits but also significant performance improvements and modernized features. For instance, Exchange 2019 consolidates server roles into just the Mailbox and Edge Transport servers, offering a more efficient architecture. Additionally, the updated Outlook on the Web (OWA) interface and improved integration with SharePoint 2019 enhance collaboration and productivity across teams.

When planning a migration from Exchange 2013 to 2019, careful planning and an understanding of both platforms' capabilities are essential. A smooth transition involves knowing the support lifecycle of Exchange 2019 and considering your organization’s specific migration needs to avoid potential disruptions.

While manual migration can be complex and prone to errors, EdbMails Exchange migration software offers a comprehensive solution. This advanced tool facilitates the secure and efficient transfer of mailboxes, public folders, and archive mailboxes between Exchange servers. EdbMails ensures a hassle-free migration, supporting key features such as incremental transfers to avoid duplicate data, automatic mailbox mapping, and concurrent mailbox migration. Its user-friendly interface and robust security features make it an ideal choice for organizations looking to minimize downtime and risks during the transition.

In the sections ahead, we’ll dive deeper into the Exchange 2013 and Exchange 2019 coexistence scenario, best software for the migration, migration planning, prerequisites, step by step migration process, post migration activities, benefits of EdbMails to ensure a successful migration operation.

1. Exchange 2013 and Exchange 2019 coexistence scenario

   A significant advantage is that Exchange 2013 and 2019 can coexist within the same Active Directory forest, provided that Cumulative Update 21 (CU21) is installed. This setup allows organizations to run both versions of Exchange simultaneously, ensuring that users can access their mailboxes through either platform without interruption.

   To configure between Exchange 2013 and 2019 coexistence, you'll need to undertake a few important steps.

   1. Deploy Exchange 2019 in your existing Exchange 2013 setup.
   2. Set up the Exchange 2013 and Exchange 2019 servers to function collaboratively.
   3. Migrate mailboxes from Exchange 2013 to Exchange 2019.
   4. After all mailboxes have been migrated, remove the Exchange 2013 server from your infrastructure.

   It is crucial to recognize that Exchange 2013 and 2019 coexistence is supported only in specific scenarios, particularly during the upgrade Exchange 2013 to Exchange 2019 migration. Furthermore, it is necessary to utilize Windows Server 2016 domain controllers, which are compatible with both Exchange versions. Operating both versions within a production environment is generally not recommended, as it may introduce complexity and elevate the risk of encountering issues. Ideally, organizations should aim to upgrade all Exchange servers to the same version or execute a complete mailbox migration to ensure optimal performance and stability.

2. What is the best way to migrate Exchange 2013 to 2019?

   When evaluating effective strategies for Exchange 2013 to 2019 upgrade, EdbMails Exchange migration software stands out as a reliable solution. The software is specifically designed to streamline the migration process, offering advanced features such as the ability to migrate multiple mailboxes concurrently, automated throttling management to optimize performance and many more.

   EdbMails ensures secure transfers, preserving all mailbox data—including emails, contacts, calendars, and attachments—without any risk of data loss. Its intuitive interface makes the migration process easy to navigate, even for users with limited technical expertise. Additionally, EdbMails supports various migration scenarios, making it a reliable choice for organizations migrating from Exchange 2013 to Exchange 2019. Overall, it offers a comprehensive solution for users and businesses seeking a smooth migration while optimizing their Exchange environment.

3. Exchange 2013 to 2019 migration planning

   Effective planning is imperative when migrating from Exchange 2013 to 2019 to ensure the successful transfer of all data to the target server. Below is a comprehensive checklist and migration strategy designed to streamline and facilitate the process.

   1. Setup the target Exchange environment and confirm that sufficient bandwidth is available for the migration.
   2. Compile a comprehensive inventory of essential components, including Active Directory associations, operating systems, firewall configurations, network settings, port numbers, installed applications, and a list of users.
   3. Install Exchange 2019 and configure the necessary mailboxes and public folders accordingly.
   4. Conduct a test migration with a limited number of mailboxes to assess readiness for the full migration process.
   5. Execute an Exchange 2013 to Exchange 2019 migration and configure the MX records to ensure proper email delivery.
   6. Create new Outlook profiles for all users and confirm that emails are being received accurately.
   7. Upon successful verification, decommission Exchange 2013 and communicate the changes to all end users effectively.

4. Exchange 2013 to 2019 Migration Prerequisites

   • Step 1: Check that your system meets the Exchange 2019 setup requirements

     Before you migrate your mailbox data to Exchange 2019, ensure that your current environment and hardware is compatible for the transfer. The following links will help you to know about the Exchange 2019 system requirements for hardware, network, .NET framework and operating system.

     1. Network and directory requirement for Exchange 2019
     2. Hardware Requirements for Exchange 2019
     3. Supported operating systems for Exchange 2019
     4. Supported Outlook clients in Exchange 2019
     5. Lync/Skype Business Server integration with Exchange 2019

     Exchange server version	Coexistence scenario	Requirement	Migration
     Exchange 2019	Exchange 2019 can coexist with 2013	You must Install CU21 or later on Exchange 2013	EdbMails Exchange migration software enables direct Exchange 2013 to 2019 migration

     Note: If you have the Domain Controllers (DC) running on Windows Server 2008, ensure that you first transfer the roles to a Domain Controller running Windows 2012 R2 or higher before you decommission any of the earlier DC’s. Exchange 2019 requires Active Directory forest functional level of Windows Server 2012 R2 or higher. See the Exchange 2019 server supportability matrix.

   • Step 2: Prepare your system with the following Exchange server 2019 prerequisites

     Complete the following prerequisites for Active Directory, Windows 2019 Mailbox server, and Windows 2019 Edge Transport servers before installing Exchange server 2019. Ensure you have .NET Framework 4.8 installed along with Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2012.

     1. Prerequisites for preparing Active Directory (AD)
     2. Windows Server prerequisites for Exchange 2019
   • Step 3: Select the Exchange 2013 to 2019 migration approach

     Evaluate staged, cutover, or Hybrid Exchange migration options. EdbMails supports all the migration methods. The software allows uninterrupted mailbox usage, ensuring continuous Exchange server access throughout the migration process.

     Current environment and requirement	Ideal migration approach	Migration flow
     You want to perform a full migration to Exchange 2019 in a single event and in a limited time frame.	Exchange 2013 to 2019 cutover migration	Set up your target Exchange server and migrate everything in a single sitting. Suitable for large mailboxes migration
     You have little time and want to migrate mailboxes in phases or over the weekends	Exchange staged migration	Migrate your mailboxes and mail data in stages and transfer the most recent data first followed by the others.
     You want to migrate Exchange 2013 mailboxes to a Hybrid 2019 and Office 365 environment	Migrate Exchange 2013 to 2019 Hybrid	Migrate from the source server to a Hybrid Exchange and Office 365 environment.

     Note: The migration path depends on the number of mailboxes you want to migrate, size of the data and your organizational requirements. Use the Exchange deployment assistant to help you decide on the path.

   • Step 4: Prepare the destination Exchange server 2019 for migration

     Following are the essential steps for installing and configuring the Exchange 2019 server for migration.

     Note: If Exchange 2019 is already set up in the target environment, proceed to step 4

     1. Prepare the AD and domains
        1. Before installing Exchange server 2019, prepare your Active Directory forest and its domains for the Exchange server.
        2. If you have a separate team to manage the Active Directory schema, must extend the active directory schema, else proceed to the next step to prepare the Active Directory.
        3. If you have multiple domains you need to additionally prepare the Active Directory domains.
     2. Install Exchange server 2019

        Ensure that you meet the server system requirements and prerequisites as outlined previously. Next, install Exchange 2019 mailbox server and edge transport server using the setup wizard. Microsoft recommends installing Exchange 2019 on Windows Server core for best experience.

     3. Prepare a clean Exchange 2019 target environment
        1. Install and upgrade Exchange to the latest cumulative update to keep your server up to date.
        2. Create and configure a Send connector to send mail outside the Exchange organization.
        3. By default, Exchange automatically creates receive connectors for inbound mail flow when the mailbox server is installed. However, if you want to configure custom receive connectors for certain mail flow scenarios, follow the steps in the link.
        4. Add accepted domains to allow recipients to send and receive email from another domain.
        5. Configure the default email address policy to add the accepted domain to every recipient in the organization.
        6. Configure external URLs (domains) on the virtual directories in the Client Access (frontend) services on the Mailbox server to allow clients to connect to your server from the internet (outside the organization’s network).
        7. Configure internal URLs on the virtual directories in the Client Access (frontend) services on the Mailbox server to allow clients to connect to your server from the internal network.
        8. Configure SSL certificates from a third-party certificate authority for services such as Outlook Anywhere and Exchange ActiveSync.
        9. Verify the Exchange server installation by running the command Get-ExchangeServer on the Exchange Management Shell (EMS)
     4. Create mailboxes on the target Exchange server

        You can choose EdbMails to automatically create mailboxes on your target Exchange 2019 server. However, if you prefer to create them manually, refer to the link below:

        1. Steps to create mailboxes in Exchange server

        If you are planning to migrate public folders from Exchange 2013 to Exchange 2019, ensure that you create the public folder on the target server and assign the necessary admin permissions.

     5. Install cumulative updates (CU) on Exchange server 2013

        To migrate Exchange 2013 to 2019, ensure to install the latest cumulative updates (CU) on the source server (2013).

     6. Create trust relationship between forests (Optional)

        A forest trust is an authentication between two domains within the same Active Directory forest which creates a trust between two root domains for exchanging information. By creating a trust in advance, it is possible to address the trust issues during or after the migration.

        Note: This step applies to Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012. Creating a trust relationship is not required for SBS based environments.

     7. Assign management roles to the admin account

        Ensure that you have set the following permissions to the admin account on the source (2013) and target server (2019)

        1. On the source server:
           1. ApplicationImpersonation
           2. View-Only Configuration - Run the cmdlet New-ManagementRoleAssignment using the Exchange Management Shell to assign the View-Only Configuration role to the admin.
           3. Organization Management role group. It is an elevated permission that is required to migrate Public folders.
        2. On the target server:
           1. ApplicationImpersonation
           2. View-Only Recipients
           3. View-Only Configuration
     8. Verify the mailbox of the admin account

        Check to see if the admin account that has been assigned management roles has a valid and non-hidden mailbox on the Exchange 2013 server. This property also applies to all the other user mailboxes.

     9. Configure the throttling and message-size limits

        You can manually change the EWS throttling and message size limits on the target Exchange 2019 server by following the steps outlined in the links below.

        1. Change the EWS throttling settings on Exchange server
        2. Change message size limits on target Exchange 2019

5. Steps to migrate Exchange 2013 to 2019

   Upon completion of the pre-migration preparations, proceed with the Exchange 2013 to 2019 migration using EdbMails.

   • Step 1: Download and install EdbMails software setup

     • Download and install EdbMails on a Windows OS computer that has connectivity to both your Exchange 2013 and Exchange 2019 servers.
     • Once the installation is complete, launch the application and select either 'Login' or 'Start Your Free Trial.'
     • System requirements for Exchange 2013 to 2019 migration.

       

   • Step 2: Choose Exchange migration operation

     • Choose 'Live Exchange Migration' from the dropdown list.

       

   • Step 3: Connect to Exchange server 2013

     • In the 'Connect to Exchange Server (Source)' window, choose your desired connection method.

        Different options to connect to the Exchange server.

     • EdbMails allows you to migrate mailboxes, archive mailboxes, and public folders from Exchange 2013 to 2019.

       

     • Enter your source Exchange server details and click the ‘Login’ button

       

     • After successfully logging in, you will be prompted to load mailboxes. EdbMails automates this process. Also, you have the option to load the mailboxes using a CSV file if you prefer.

       

   • Step 4: Select Exchange 2013 mailboxes

     • Select the source Exchange 2013 mailboxes in the left pane of the main migration window.
     • Click ‘Migrate to Live Exchange’

       

   • Step 5: Connect to target Exchange server 2019

     • In the 'Connect to Exchange server (Destination)' window, choose the required connection option and click ‘Next’

       

     • Enter your target Exchange 2019 server details and click the ‘Login’ button

       

     • Once you've successfully logged in, select the required option for loading the target Exchange 2019 server mailboxes.

   • Step 6: Exchange 2013 to 2019 migration mailbox mapping

     • Select the required mapping option

       

     • If EdbMails is installed on your target Exchange server, you can opt to automatically create mailboxes on the target Exchange server

        Click here to know more about automatic mailbox creation.

     • EdbMails automatically maps mailboxes between the source and target Exchange servers. This feature is particularly helpful when migrating numerous mailboxes, as it reduces manual effort and saves time during the overall migration process.

       

   • Step 7: Start Exchange 2013 to 2019 migration

     • After mapping the mailboxes, click the ‘Continue’ button, enter a job name, and proceed. Once the migration is successfully completed, EdbMails will display a migration completion message. You can click the 'View Log' button to view the migration report. Additionally, log in to your target server to verify the migrated items.

       

6. Exchange 2013 to 2019 post-migration tasks

   The following post-migration activities help you with the proper mail flow so that your users correctly receive emails.

   • Step 1: Update the MX records to point to Exchange 2019 server

     To receive messages on Exchange Server 2019, update the MX records to ensure email functionality with the new server you have migrated to. Additionally, configure the Autodiscover record to enable Outlook to connect to the migrated mailboxes.

   • Step 2: Create a new Outlook profile for users in the new domain

     Exchange 2019 is compatible with Outlook 2013 and later. Uninstall any earlier versions and ensure that you have the latest client installed to prevent conflicts. Next, configure the Outlook profile for each user in your domain if Outlook has problems connecting to the new Exchange server.

   • Step 3: Test email connectivity and monitor the server performance

     Test email connectivity from various clients and devices to ensure that all users can send and receive email. Monitor the performance of the new servers and make sure that they are running smoothly.

   • Step 4: Decommission Exchange 2013 after the 2019 migration
     1. Remove the Exchange server from the organization: Remove the Exchange server from the organization by using the Exchange Management Console or PowerShell.
     2. Uninstall Exchange 2013: After the server has been removed from the organization, uninstall Exchange from the computer.
        • Open the Control Panel and select 'Uninstall a program'.
        • Find 'Microsoft Exchange Server 2013' in the list of installed programs
        • Select 'Uninstall'.
     3. Remove the server from Active Directory: Finally, remove the server from Active Directory. To do this, open the Active Directory Users and Computers console, locate the server in the list of computers, and delete it.

   Note: Before you start the decommission, it is important to ensure that all Exchange services have been stopped and that there are no active connections to the server. This will prevent any data loss or disruption to your organization during the decommission process. Follow the instructions provided on Microsoft's website to learn how to decommission Exchange Server 2013

7. Troubleshooting guide for Exchange 2013 to 2019 migration

   Refer to the Exchange migration troubleshooting guide for potential solutions to any migration errors you may encounter. For additional information about EdbMails Exchange migration, please check the frequently asked questions (FAQs).

8. Exchange 2013 to 2019 migration best practices

   1. Begin with a detailed migration plan that outlines the scope, timeline, and objectives of your Exchange migration. Identify key stakeholders and allocate resources appropriately.
   2. Before migrating, assess your existing data. Identify and eliminate unnecessary data, such as redundant emails or obsolete files, to streamline the migration process.
   3. Set up a test environment to validate the migration process. Test the migration with a subset of data to identify and address any potential issues or bottlenecks.
   4. If you are using a Global admin account for connecting to the Exchange server, make sure to establish impersonation rights for the Global admin account on both the source and target servers.

       Click here to set impersonation rights for the Exchange server Global admin account

   5. EdbMails allows migrating multiple mailboxes concurrently with default 10 mailboxes at once. To speed up the process, you can increase this to a maximum of 20 mailboxes simultaneously. This improvement significantly boosts the speed. Additionally, installing EdbMails on multiple computers can further optimize performance and hasten migration tasks.
   6. Utilize EdbMails incremental migration feature to migrate only new or modified source data during subsequent migration operations
   7. To avoid duplicate items during migrations while using EdbMails Incremental migration, refer to the following link: https://www.edbmails.com/pages/general-faqs.html#incmigrationdup
   8. Ensure proper mapping of source and target mailboxes to prevent data loss or misplacement. Review and verify mailbox mappings before starting the migration.
   9. After completing the migration, thoroughly test the functionality of Exchange in the new environment. Verify email delivery, calendar synchronization, and other critical features.
   10. Once the migration is successful, clean up any remnants of the old Exchange environment to optimize performance and security.