Comments on: Finally, you can remove your last Exchange Server

By: Mark Frederick

Mark Frederick — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 23:46:22 +0000

In reply to Djarin. Good point. Any solution to that so far ? I am seeing that I need to install Microsoft Graph SDK Module to attain compatibility with PS7 and above, for example, to replace the deprecated AzureAD module that will stop working sometime in early 2024 after the deadline was pushed ? Does the same apply to this situation ? If it's not compat with PS7, how to move forward (beyond the obvi answer of supporting old versions of PS)?

By: Mike Brown

Mike Brown — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 21:18:10 +0000

Great article Steven! Did you post the open-source script to solve the PowerShell issue of managing Exchange attributes on-premises without an Exchange server?

By: alan

alan — Sat, 21 Oct 2023 13:37:25 +0000

Hi Steve,
Excellent article!
I have a hypothesis on removing the last exchange server and let me know what you think of it.
First assigning licenses for each user and migrate all mailboxes to exchange online, then:
step 1: Migrate all remaining groups ….. to M365 by re-creating them in the cloud.
step 2: Make sure exchange on-prem database is not associated with mailboxes
step 3: Disable mailboxes on exchange on-prem and verify User accounts are still in AD
step 4: Verify mailboxes still are operational.
step 5: shutdown exchange server.
This way the source of authority will still be AD but have no mailbox in exchange server.
Thank you!

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 15:46:56 +0000

In reply to Brian. Hi Brian, You can use third-party tools like amm365. With this you can manage Exchange AD attributes.

By: David Vernon

David Vernon — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 02:40:33 +0000

Hi Steven

Is it possible to decommission the Exchange Hybrid server without installing the Exchange 2019 straight away? I have a scenario where I have an Exchange 2016 Hybrid I want to get rid of but the Forest and Domain Functional level are 2012 rather than 2012 R2. The customer will have to upgrade their environment in the future and I would like to install the 2019 tools when they upgrade their forest and domain functional level. However I wish to decommission the Hybrid 2016 Exchange before that happens.

Is this possible?

By: Brian

Brian — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 21:24:43 +0000

Hi Steve,
After removing the last Exchange Server through this guide, should we uncheck “Exchange Hybrid Deployment” in Azure AD Connect? We were told to by a support provider, but I’m unsure if this is wise or what the ramifications are. It seems to me that this would remove our ability to manage those attributes that we just installed the management tools to manage. Is this correct?

Thank you!

By: Adam Pristel

Adam Pristel — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 16:41:36 +0000

Hi Steve,

We are currently migrated to o365 and have no need for the relay. Per password sync – can this still be done without having the exchange server on premise? AD Connect?

I understand mailbox creation is via powershell ( or online exhange web? ) Basically, I would like to kill off all the only on premise exchange server and move on with life. Is there an article or “guide” somewhere that you could refer me to?

Would having an Azure DC sync’d with on premise AD DC be an option to better manage users? There is just so much information on removing a hybrid setup that it is difficult to choose the best path forward. If you have any ideas/solutions on how to completely remove exchange on premise and keep a user sync, I’m all ears.

THANKS for your articles.

By: Marco Meier

Marco Meier — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 14:03:30 +0000

In reply to Richard. Same question here...

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 16:57:28 +0000

Is there any way to connect remotely and run the Exchange cmdlets or do you have to be logged into that server with the mgmt tools installed? That will be a deal breaker for us if so. We have provisioning software that connects to our local exchange server PS URL to run commands for newly created AD accounts (enable-remotemailbox). Thats ashame if so, really wanted to shutdown this server.

By: Bogdan Florin

Bogdan Florin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 21:19:10 +0000

I have a rare situation: Win Defender from Hyper-V host .. delete the VM containing Exchange 2019. I undelete the VM file but was unusable. Now I’m fighting to Clean UP AD by any Exchange atributes, in order to reinstall Exchange organization from scratch and can not find any documentation. ANY but ANY advice will be warm welcomed. I’m like this since 2 weeks.
I try to install new VM and Exchange having same OLD server name but I enter to some HUGE errors. Now looking to clean Exchange Organization from AD to be able to start like very first Exchange setup. Please please advice !