Part 2 Migrate Public Folders Exchange 2010 to Exchange 2013 / 2016

KB ID 0000789

Problem

Continued from Migration From Exchange 2010 to Exchange 2016 / 2013 Part 1

Solution

Exchange 2016 / 2013 Migration Step 7 “Migrate Public Folders”

Note: This article uses the newer ‘Batch Migration’ method. Make sure your exchange server is patched and up to date or the process will not work.

Minimum Patch Levels

Source: Exchange 2010 SP3 RU8 (At Least).
Source: Exchange 2007 SP3 RU15 (At Least).
Destination: Exchange 2013 CU7 (Or Later).
Destination: Exchange 2016 RTM.

The new migration scripts are here PF-Migration-Scripts-v2

1. Make sure the user you will be performing the migration as, is in the right security groups, (Organizational Management and Recipient Management).

2. On the Legacy Exchange server download the PF-Migration-Scripts-v2 Then extract them to the servers C: drive.

3. Launch the Exchange Management Shell > Change to the script directory > Then create a folder name to folder size mapping file by running the Export-PublicFolderStatistics.ps1 script, supply the name of the file you want to create. (Here I use PublicFoldersStats.csv). Then supply the name of the server, (the legacy one, with the source public folders on it).

[box]

cd c:\Scripts
./Export-PublicFolderStatistics.ps1 PublicFoldersStats.csv Mail-Server

[/box]

4. Create a Public Folder to Mailbox mapping file, by running the PublicFolderToMailboxMapGenerator.ps1 script, supply it with the maximum mailbox size (in bytes) Note: The Maximum size is 25GB. You will also need to supply the import file you created in step 3 (PublicFoldersStats.csv). Finally supply the name of the output file you wish to generate i.e. Folder2Mailbox.csv.

[box]

./PublicFolderToMailboxMapGenerator.ps1

[/box]

5. Open the last CSV file you created (Folder2Mailbox.csv) and take note of the TargetMailbox name. By default the first one is called Mailbox1, I’m changing it to Public-Folder-Mailbox and saving the change. Note: You may get more than one! If so take note of them all, or rename them accordingly.

6. Now copy the ‘Scripts’ Directory from your legacy 2010 Exchange server, to the new 2013 / 2016 Server.

7. Whilst still on the new Exchange 2013 / 2016 Server, you need to open a command shell, navigate to the scripts directory and then run the Create-PublicFolderMailboxesForMigration.ps1 script. Reply ‘A’ to run all the scripts, then supply the name of the mapping csv you created above, (Folder2Mailbox.csv). Supply the estimated concurrent users to this mailbox, and enter ‘Y’ to proceed. Now the public folder mailbox will be created.

(Note: Public folders are now in a Mailbox, NOT their own Mailbox database, as in older versions of Exchange).

[box]

cd c:\Scripts
./Create-PublicFolderMailboxesForMigration.ps1

[/box]

8. Next we need to create a ‘batch task’ much the same as when we migrate multiple mailboxes. This first command creates the task, and the second one sets it running. (Change the values in red to match your own).

Update: 05/08/16: Make sure you have a ‘mailbox database’ mounted on the source Exchange server before proceeding, or you may see the following problem.

Public Folder Migration Error hr=0x80040111

[box]

New-MigrationBatch -Name PF-Migration -SourcePublicFolderDatabase (Get-PublicFolderDatabase -Server EX2010) -CSVData (Get-Content C:\Scripts\Folder2Mailbox.csv -Encoding Byte) -NotificationEmails info@petenetlive.com
Start-MigrationBatch PF-Migration

[/box]

9. There are two ways to check its progress,

Check Public Folder Migration Progress Option 1 From Command Shell

[box]

Get-MigrationUser -Batch PF-Migration | Get-MigrationUserStatistics -IncludeReport | fl

[/box]

It might say Queued for quite a while, don’t worry!

Check Public Folder Migration Progress Option 2 From EAC

Open the Exchange Admin Center website and logon. Navigate to recipients > Migration > View Details

10. If you were looking at the progress you will see its stops just before 100%, this is because you need to “Lock” the source public folder and let the migration complete. WARNING this will involve downtime, so warn your users, or do this next step out of hours.

To MAKE SURE you are ready, check either the progress report like so;

Or, re-run the progress command above and look for 95% completion and ‘Automatically suspending job’

DOWNTIME FROM THIS POINT ONWARDS

11. Go to the legacy Exchange 2010 server and ‘lock’ the source public folders for migration, and restart the service.

[box]

Set-OrganizationConfig –PublicFoldersLockedForMigration:$true
Restart-Service MSExchangeIS

[/box]

12. Now access to the legacy Public Folder Database is shut down, but before replication to the new Public Folder Mailbox can be completed you need to return to the new Exchange 2013 / 2016 server and run the following commands;

[box]

Set-OrganizationConfig -PublicFoldersEnabled Remote
Complete-MigrationBatch PF-Migration

[/box]

13. Wait until it completes;

or in the shell

This can take a little time, I would wait least a couple of hours before proceeding (depending on your network topology, if you have a slow network or the Exchange 2010 server is on another network segment it may take longer).

Now to check the migration worked with a test user, and (provide everything is OK, unlock the Public Folders.

[box]Set-Mailbox -Identity {Test-Username} -DefaultPublicFolderMailbox {PF-Mailbox Name}[/box]

Log on as that user, (Outlook 2010 SP3 or Later.) Make sure the public folders are correct, you can expand them, the permissions are correct and you can create and delete entries.

It’s All Gone Wrong!

Don’t panic! You can remove the migration request with the following command;

[box]

Get-PublicFolderMigrationRequest | Remove-PublicFolderMigrationRequest

[/box]

Then complete the migration, with the following two commands;

[box]

Set-PublicFolderMigrationRequest –Identity PublicFolderMigration -PreventCompletion:$false
Resume-PublicFolderMigrationRequest –Identity PublicFolderMigration

[/box]

13. Once you are ready to proceed, issue the following command, and onfirm that, the public folders are now correct and available.

[box]

Get-Mailbox -PublicFolder | Set-Mailbox -PublicFolder -IsExcludedFromServingHierarchy $false

[/box]

Note: As per feedback (from Tobias Gebler) Test mail flow to your public folders, you may need to manually “Mail Enable” them before they function properly, In some cases you need to disable then re-enable them before they work properly.

14. Remember in Outlook Web App 2013 / 2016, public folders are not visible until you add them!

Note: If, (post Migration to Exchange 2016). Your users cannot access the public folders, see the following article.

Users Cannot Access Public Folders Post Migration (Exchange 2016)

Problem

I’ve already written at length about migrating from Exchange 2003 to 2010, I was doing a migration this week and migrating the public folders was proving to be a pain.

If you have multiple public folders within public folders then setting up replication can be a nightmare, as the replication settings don’t get passed down to the child object.

Normally you could use PFDAdmin and this would do it for you, or use the Exchange ExFolder tool, or even the powershell scripts included with Exchange 2010 (like AddReplicatoPFRecursive.ps1). But sadly all these failed for me today.

To use the Exchange 2010 Scripts click here.

In the end, with the aid of third line support at Microsoft, it was fixed using a feature of Exchange 2003 that I NEVER KNEW was there 🙂

Solution

1. The bad news is you still have to add the new Exchange 2010 server as a replica on the top level folder. (Right click > Properties > Replication Tab > Add > Add in the new server > Set the interval to always run > priority to urgent (unless you have a LOT! then choose Normal) > Apply.

Update: Eagle eyed visitor Brian Morphey, mailed me to point out that in my diagram all the folders are under the Exchange 2010 Administrative group, How did they get there? You need to use Exchange system Manager to create a public folder group in the new administrative group then simply DRAG the public folder group from the old admin group to the new one.

2. Right click the folder again > All Tasks > Manage Settings.

3. Select “Modify lists of replica servers” > Next.

4. Add servers > Next.

5. Add in BOTH the 2003 server AND the 2010 server > Next.

6. Finish.

7. It will now run through all the sub folders and apply the same replication settings on all of them, this can take a while depending on the number of folders.

8. Go to the Exchange 2010 Server and open the Public Folder Management console, right click Public Folder {your server name} > Update Hierarchy.

9. Repeat the above, but this time select “Refresh”.

10. Finally to speed things along, you can right click each folder and select “Update Content”.

11. Now wait! It can take a while till replication is complete.

Removing Public Folder Replicas

Once All the data has replicated across you can remove the 2003 replica by doing the reverse.

1. Right click the public folder > All Tasks > Manage Settings > Next > Modify List of replica servers > Next.

2. Remove servers> Next > Tick the server you want to REMOVE the replica from > Next.

3. Finish > Depending on the amount of data it may take a while.

Migrating Public Folders with Exchange 2010 Scripts

Step 1 Set up Public Folder Replication to Exchange 2010

On the Exchange 2010 Server open the Exchange Management Shell and execute the following three commands;

[box]
CD “C:Program FilesMicrosoftExchange ServerV14Scripts”
.AddReplicaToPFRecursive.ps1 -TopPublicFolder “” -ServerToAdd “EX-2010.petenetlive.com”

Update-PublicFolderHierarchy -Server “EX-2010.petenetlive.com”
[/box]

Step 2 Once the Replication Has occurred

Warning: Check that replication is complete before you do this!

Check replication with a “Get-PublicFolderStatistics ” command, once you are happy, run the following two commands;

[box]CD “C:Program FilesMicrosoftExchange ServerV14Scripts”
.MoveAllReplicas.ps1 -Server “EX-2003.petenetlive.com” -NewServer “EX-2010.petenetlive.com”[/box]

PeteNetLive

Technology that 'Just Works'

Tag Archives: migrate public folders

Migrate Exchange 2010 to Exchange 2016 or 2013

Part 2

Migrate Public Folders Exchange 2010 to Exchange 2013 / 2016

Problem

Solution

Exchange 2016 / 2013 Migration Step 7 “Migrate Public Folders”

Check Public Folder Migration Progress Option 1 From Command Shell

Check Public Folder Migration Progress Option 2 From EAC

It’s All Gone Wrong!

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

Public Folder Migration Exchange 2003 to 2010

Problem

Solution

Migrating Public Folders with Exchange 2010 Scripts

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links