Interoperating with and Migrating from Other Non-Exchange Messaging Systems to Exchange Server 2003

 

The topics in this section describe how to deploy Microsoft® Exchange Server 2003 and migrate from a variety of messaging systems, including Microsoft Mail for PC Networks , Lotus cc:Mail, Digital All-in-1, Verimation MEMO, IBM OfficeVision/VM, HP OpenMail, and others, where a direct gateway connector is not available in Exchange Server 2003. Upon completion of these topics, you should have a basic understanding of how to deploy a general messaging connector, how to implement directory synchronization in the absence of a direct messaging connector, how to provide non-Exchange users with access to Exchange 2003 free/busy information without using Microsoft Exchange 2003 Calendar Connector, and how to migrate user data from non-Exchange messaging systems using stand-alone source extractors and the Exchange Migration Wizard.

Before you deploy Exchange 2003 in an environment with a non-Exchange messaging system, you must have a thorough understanding of the existing messaging infrastructure. Furthermore, if you are migrating away from a host-based messaging system, such as Verimation MEMO, IBM OfficeVision/VM, or Fischer Totally Automated Office (TAO), you must also know how to connect the host-based environment with a PC-based environment, and how to run programs such as source extractors in a virtual machine (VM) on the host system. You also must be familiar with Exchange 2003 and Microsoft Windows Server™ 2003 deployment and administration concepts to design the Exchange 2003 organization according to the specific requirements of your company. For more information, see the section "For More Information" in Introduction to the Exchange 2003 Interoperability and Migration Guide.

This section is divided into several main topics, which correspond to the order of steps in a multiphase migration from a non-Exchange messaging system to Exchange 2003, as follows:

  1. Understanding Interoperability Between Exchange Server 2003 and Non-Exchange Messaging Systems, including the messaging connectors that are available and their advantages and disadvantages, as well as tools and programming interfaces that you can use to implement custom solutions for directory synchronization and for access to free/busy information.

  2. Implementing Messaging Connectivity, including the steps to configure an SMTP or X.400 connector for message transfer.

  3. Implementing Directory Synchronization between a non-Exchange Messaging System and Active Directory, including the steps to extract directory information from the non-Exchange messaging system and import the directory information into Active Directory.

  4. Implementing Calendar Interoperability, including providing Exchange 2003 free/busy information to non-Exchange users, and configuring Microsoft Office Outlook® 2003 to publish free/busy information over the Internet or an intranet.

  5. Migrating from a Non-Exchange Messaging System to Exchange Server 2003, including recommendations for how to prepare the existing environment, how to run the Exchange Migration Wizard, and how to migrate local data.

If you plan to migrate to Exchange 2003 in a single step, you can go directly to Migrating from a Non-Exchange Messaging System to Exchange Server 2003.

Note

These topics discuss the X.400 connector and SMTP connector, as well as certain Outlook features, Active Directory tools, and Exchange Migration Wizard configuration tasks at a conceptual level. For detailed instructions about how to configure X.400 or SMTP connectors for messaging interoperability and how to migrate users from a messaging system that supports Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) and Internet Message Access Protocol version 4 (IMAP4), see How to Migrate from a Non-Exchange Messaging Infrastructure to Exchange Server 2003.