we are trying to replace our current exchange server with a new one. The old one is bad hardware that isn't configured properly. We would like to add a second Exchange Server to the network and slowly migrate the needed items to it.
Right now we have about 150 clients using outlook 2007 to connect to the Exchange Server with the Exchange connection. They are all configured to point to the old server's hostname. Is the any way to change the name of the server that they point to via the registry or a group policy?
I downloaded some new group policy templates for office 2007 but I can't change that setting in there.
I have been googling and can't find any way less than manualy changing it on every computer.
Best Answer
If you're moving to Exchange 2007, this is painfully simple.
If you add the new server to AD properly, when you move the mailboxes to the new server afterhours, the clients will connect to their relocated mailboxes seamlessly. They'll never know it happened (though OWA users will need to be given a new link).
If you move a user's mailbox while they're connected to it, Outlook 07 will pop up an OK dialog telling them that Outlook needs to restart. When it launches, it'll be connected to the new server.
I can't say if the same holds true on exchange 2003 - but there's no risk adding the 2nd Exchange server to your domain, setting up the connectors, and moving a test mailbox.