Exchange 2013 and 2019 migration software

Exchange Server 2013 has reached its end of life, meaning Microsoft will no longer provide support for it after this date. Continuing to use Exchange 2013 exposes your data to vulnerabilities such as threats, server crashes, bugs, and sluggish behavior. Exchange 2019 offers improved features and is considered more stable than 2013. In Exchange 2019, the number of server roles is reduced to two: the Mailbox and the Edge Transport server roles. Additionally, Outlook on the web (OWA) is updated and optimized in Exchange 2019. Moreover, Exchange 2019, in conjunction with SharePoint Server 2019, facilitates file sharing collaboration among teams. If you plan to migrate all your mailbox data to Exchange 2019, it's essential to carefully plan and prepare for the migration, considering the support dates for 2019 in advance.

Manual migration to Exchange 2019 can be complex and prone to errors. Yet, EdbMails, an advanced Exchange migration tool, presents an automated solution. EdbMails securely transfers mailboxes, public folders, and archive mailboxes from Exchange 2013 to Exchange 2019 servers.

The upcoming sections cover Exchange 2013 and 2019 coexistence scenarios, migration prerequisites, different migration methods, and best practices for a smooth migration of mailbox data from Exchange 2013 to 2019.

Exchange 2013 and Exchange 2019 coexistence scenario

The good news is that, Exchange 2013 and 2019 can coexist in the same Active Directory forest if you have installed the Cumulative Update 21 (CU21). You can have both versions of Exchange installed and running in your organization at the same time, and users can access their mailbox using either version of Exchange.

To set up coexistence between Exchange 2013 and Exchange 2019, you will need to perform a few steps:

1. Install Exchange 2019 into your existing Exchange 2013 environment.
2. Configure the Exchange 2013 and Exchange 2019 servers to work together.
3. Migrate mailboxes from Exchange 2013 to Exchange 2019.
4. Remove Exchange 2013 from your environment once all mailboxes have been migrated.

It's important to note that coexistence between Exchange 2013 and Exchange 2019 is supported only in a few specific scenarios, such as when you are in the process of upgrading from Exchange 2013 to Exchange 2019. In addition, you must have Windows Server 2016 domain controllers, which works with both versions of Exchange. It is not generally recommended to run both versions of Exchange in a production environment, as it can create complexity and increase the risk of issues. If possible, it is usually best to upgrade all of your Exchange servers to the same version or perform a complete mailbox migration.

What is the best way to migrate Exchange server 2013 to 2019?

When exploring optimal methods for migrating from Exchange 2013 to 2019, EdbMails Exchange migration software emerges as a reliable solution. Advanced features such as simultaneous migration of multiple mailboxes, automated throttling management, incremental migration, and automatic mailbox mapping, contribute to a smoother migration experience without any complexities commonly associated with manual methods and making it a preferred choice for Exchange migration tasks.

1. How to plan Microsoft Exchange migration 2013 to 2019?

   Planning Exchange 2013 to 2019 migration is one of the prime requirements to ensure that you migrate all the data to the target server safely. Here is a general checklist of points and migration strategy that you can follow.

   1. Prepare the target Exchange environment and ensure you have the required bandwidth to migrate.
   2. Make a note of the inventory of items such as Active Directory association, operating system, firewall, network configuration, port numbers installed programs, and list of users.
   3. Install Exchange 2019 and create suitable mailboxes and Public folders
   4. Perform a test migration to a few mailboxes and check if you are ready for a full migration.
   5. Migrate Exchange server 2013 to 2019 and configure the MX records to receive emails.
   6. Create a new Outlook profile for all users and test if you are receiving emails correctly.
   7. Decommission Exchange 2013 after you verify and inform the changes to all the end users.

2. 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 mailbox 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 new version of Exchange.
        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 and Public folder on the target Exchange

        You must create mailboxes and mail enabled Public folders on the target for the migration. Also, assign suitable licenses to them.

        1. Steps to create mailboxes in Exchange server
        2. Steps to create Public folder in Exchange server
     5. Install cumulative updates (CU) on Exchange server 2013

        For migrating Exchange server 2013 to Exchange 2019, it is required that you have installed 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
           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
           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

3. Migrate Exchange 2013 to 2019

   Once you've finished the pre-migration activities, initiate the migration of mailbox data from Exchange 2013 to Exchange 2019 using EdbMails. The following methods describe Exchange server 2013 to 2019 migration step by step instructions using EdbMails.

    Tip: One of the benefits of using EdbMails is that you can perform direct migrations to the target server without requiring PowerShell scripts or technical knowledge.

   • Method 1: Direct Exchange 2013 to 2019 migration

     • Step 1: Download and install EdbMails Exchange server migration software setup
       • Download EdbMails and install the application on your computer having Windows OS that you can connect to your Exchange 2013 and Exchange 2019 servers.
       • Launch the application and click 'Login' or 'Start Your Free Trial'.

        See a detailed list of EdbMails system requirements for Exchange migration.

       

       Note: During the migration of standard folders such as Inbox, Calendar, and Contacts from Exchange 2016 mailboxes set in various languages (e.g., 'French' where 'Inbox' is labeled 'Boîte d réception'), automatic mapping to the correct folders on the target Exchange 2019 server might not occur. Click here to ensure accurate mapping of source Exchange 2013 mailbox folders to their respective folders on the Exchange 2019 server.

     • Step 2: Choose the Exchange to Exchange migration method

       Pick 'Live Exchange Migration' from the dropdown options to migrate from Exchange 2013 to Exchange 2019.

       

     • Step 3: Connect to Exchange server 2013

       In the 'Connect to Exchange server (Source)' window, select your preferred connection option.

       Click here for detailed information on various supported Exchange server connection methods by EdbMails,.

       With EdbMails, you can migrate mailboxes, archive mailboxes and Public folders from 2013 to 2019.

       Tip: You can connect to your Exchange server via the 'Default Connection', providing the Exchange server name and version along with login credentials. Alternatively, choose the 'Autodiscover Email option' to log in directly using user details.

       Once logged in successfully, you'll be prompted to load mailboxes. EdbMails automates mailbox loading. If preferred, manually load mailboxes using a CSV file.

       See the steps if you want to perform cross forest mailbox migration from 2013 to 2019.

       

     • Step 4: Select the mailboxes and connect to Exchange 2019

       Choose the mailboxes and folders from Exchange 2013 for migration to the Exchange 2019 server.

        Tip: Initial migration with EdbMails is a full migration. Subsequent migrations from the same source to the target are incremental. To eliminate duplicate emails and mail items in your source mailboxes, EdbMails provides options to remove duplicates within the Exchange server.

       Click 'Migrate to Live Exchange' to establish the connection with the target server.

       

     • Step 5: Connect to target Exchange server 2019

       Select the appropriate connection options in the 'Connect to Exchange server (Destination)' window. Once logged in successfully, choose your preferred mailbox loading method or utilize the CSV file for loading mailboxes.

       

       Next, choose the option to load mailboxes. EdbMails automatically maps the mailboxes and folders between the source and target Exchange servers. Alternatively, you can manually map the mailboxes as well.

       Tip: EdbMails automatically maps the mailboxes and folders between the source and the target Exchange servers and saves time when you’re migrating a large number of mailboxes..

       

     • Step 6: Customize the mailbox migration from Exchange 2013 to 2019 (Optional)

       EdbMails offers additional options for customizing your migration task. You can utilize the folder and email filter options to selectively migrate specific items to the target server.

       1. Additional Include and Exclude Filter Options
       2. Filter emails by Date: Migrate selected emails to Exchange 2019 by applying the Date filter
       3. Filter emails by Size: Exclude emails from migration larger than a specified size.
     • Step 7: Start Exchange 2013 to 2019 migration

       Initiate and monitor the migration process after completing mailbox mapping. Verify the count of migrated emails, folders, and mailbox items using EdbMails text-based log report.

   • Method 2: Exchange 2013 to 2019 Hybrid migration

     The Hybrid migration involves migrating your mailboxes from Exchange 2013 to a Hybrid 2019 and Office 365 environment. See the prerequisites for a Hybrid deployment and ensure that you meet the following requirements.

     1. Install the latest cumulative updates (CU) on the source Exchange
     2. Set up and configure the target Office 365 tenant
     3. Install at least one instance of Mailbox and Client Access server roles for Exchange 2013
     4. Update any Edge Transport servers to the latest CU.
     5. Register any custom domains you want to use in the Hybrid with Office 365
     6. Deploy the Azure Active Directory Connect to enable Azure AD synchronization.

     After you have completed the necessary prerequisites, use the Hybrid Configuration Wizard (HCW) to configure the hybrid deployment.

       See steps for Hybrid Exchange migration to Office 365 with EdbMails. If your Exchange 2013 is in a Hybrid environment, you can simply perform Exchange to Office 365 hybrid migration by setting up the respective target server.

     Note: If you want to migrate Public folders within the Hybrid environment, it is not possible to migrate the Public folders directly to Office 365. See this workaround solution for migrating Exchange hybrid public folders on premises

   • Method 3: Migration from Exchange 2013 to 2019 with an EDB file

     If you have an EDB file from Exchange 2013, EdbMails allows you to migrate EDB to Exchange server. This feature facilitates the Exchange 2013 to 2019 migration directly from a corrupted or offline EDB file.

     • Step 1: Select the migration option as EDB to Exchange

       After downloading and installing EdbMails, select 'EDB to Exchange' from the dropdown list.

       

     • Step 2: Select the Exchange 2013 offline EDB file for migration

       Select the EDB file from your computer. If the file is corrupted, EdbMails can repair the Exchange 2013 database after a Dirty Shutdown, ensuring complete recovery of all your mailbox data and Public folders without any loss of data.

       

     • Step 3: Select the mailboxes from Exchange 2013 to migrate to Exchange 2019

       After the EDB file repair operation, EdbMails enables you to preview specific emails, tasks, notes, calendar items in the preview pane. Select the mailboxes for migration and click 'Migrate to Live Exchange' to define the target server connection.

       

     • Step 4: Connect to target Exchange server 2019

       Select the required connection method and proceed to connect with your target Exchange server. Select the option to load the mailboxes and pick the option to load the mailboxes.

       

     • Step 5: Start the migration from EDB to Exchange 2019 server

       Match the folders and verify the mapping operation between the source and the target. EdbMails can handle the mapping automatically, saving time especially when migrating large mailboxes. Once completed, initiate the Exchange migration and cross-check the migrated items using the log report for verification.

   • Method 4: Migrate Exchange 2013 to 2019 with PST files

     If you have your Exchange 2013 mailboxes exported as PST, you can directly bulk migrate the PST files to Exchange 2019 with EdbMails. The following steps outline the migration from PST to Exchange.

     • Step 1: Download and set up EdbMails Exchange migration software

       Download EdbMails and follow the on-screen steps for installing it on your computer. Start the application and select the migration technique as ‘Exchange migration’.

     • Step 2: Add the PST files to migrate mailboxes to Exchange 2019

       To add the PST files in bulk, close the ‘Connect to Exchange (Source) connection’ window and click ‘PST to Exchange’ as shown in the screenshot below. Continue with the operation after adding the PST files.

       

     • Step 3: Connect to Exchange 2019 server

       Select the suitable connection options in the ‘Connect to Exchange Server’ window. If you are connecting to the Exchange 2019 server with a global admin account, ensure to set impersonation rights. You can also connect to a specific user account or migrate to a Hosted Exchange server. Once you successfully login to the target server, select the option to load the mailboxes.

       

     • Step 4: Perform mailbox mapping and start the Exchange 2019 migration

       In this step, you can map the folders and mailboxes between the PST file and the target Exchange server. You can also allow the application to automatically map the mailboxes for you. Finally verify the mapping and start the mailbox migration to Exchange 2019. After the migration is complete, you can verify the count of emails, folders and mail items in the target with the log report.

       Note: It is highly recommended to create the mailboxes and Public folders on the target server in advance. Ensure that you are able to send and receive emails and that the Public folders are mail enabled.

4. Exchange 2013 to Exchange 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 the Exchange server 2019, change the DNS records known as MX records to enable email to work with the new server you have migrated to. In addition, configure the Autodiscover record to allow 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: Update the documentation and create a backup of the mailboxes

     Make sure to update any internal documentation to reflect the changes made during the migration. This can include updating server names, IP addresses, and other details. After the migration, it's a good idea to review and update your backup and disaster recovery plans to ensure that they are up to date and reflect the new Exchange 2019 environment.

   • Step 5: 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

Troubleshooting guide for Exchange 2013 to 2019 migration

 See Exchange migration troubleshooting guide for possible solutions related to migration errors. For more information on EdbMails Exchange migration see frequently asked questions (FAQs)