I have few dismounted SGs which have about 300 disconnected mailboxes within them. I want to blow away these SGs. But I have feeling some of those users will come back in future so I cannot delete the Dismounted SGs. What is the best approach in this scenario? Should I back the SGs up and ditch them and in future if anybody returns simply restore the SG to RSG and recover the mailboxes? Thanks!

On Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:31:32 +0000, WildPacket wrote: >I have few dismounted SGs which have about 300 disconnected mailboxes within them. I want to blow away these SGs. But I have feeling some of those users will come back in future so I cannot delete the Dismounted SGs. Why not? If they return they get a new mailbox. >What is the best approach in this scenario? Remove the database from Exchange (you don't say what release of Exchange though). Next, remove the databases from the directory, and remove the *.log files from the directory (assuming there are no other databases associated with the SG. Then remove the SG. >Should I back the SGs up and ditch them and in future if anybody returns simply restore the SG to RSG and recover the mailboxes? Why are you concerned with anyone returning? Unless you've disabled the automated removal of disconnected mailboxes from the database they've been remove 30 days after you disconnection them (or removed the user form the AD). --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP

Thanks Rich. We keep disconnected mailboxes for 3 years as per company policy. And if the same users return we have to provide them with their existing/old mails. :o( I am in the phase of migration from Exc2007 SCC to Exchange 2010 DAG. 2000MBXs So what do I do with those dismounted SGs again?????

On Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:19:44 +0000, WildPacket wrote: >We keep disconnected mailboxes for 3 years as per company policy. And if the same users return we have to provide them with their existing/old mails. :o( > >I am in the phase of migration from Exc2007 SCC to Exchange 2010 DAG. 2000MBXs > >So what do I do with those dismounted SGs again????? Nothing. Leave them alone. It sounds like you keep the AD users for three years, too? If so, you might consider moving their mailboxes to a SG dedicated to maintaining departed users. --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP

Thanks Rich. Leaving the SGs dismounted is creating a long queue of messages on the HT Servers as follows: MicrosoftExchange3202..... Retry 432 4.3.2 mailbox database offline Receipients MAILBOXSERVER-SA@domain.com

This could be due to the Database which is set as HomeMDB for the "Microsoft system Attendant" Object under your Servers Container on the ADSIEDIT, would have been dismounted. In most cases the rehoming and recreation procedures work without issues More information, description & Source of the above information. http://blogs.technet.com/timmcmic/archive/2009/04/12/exchange-2007-renaming-the-default-storage-group-mailbox-database-or-deleting-and-recreating.aspxM.P.K ~ ( Exchange | 2003/2007/2010/E15(2013)) ~~ This Information is provided is "AS IS" and confers NO Rights!!~~ Please remember to click Vote As Helpful" if it really helps and "Mark as Answer if it answers your question, Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question.

On Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:39:05 +0000, WildPacket wrote: >Leaving the SGs dismounted is creating a long queue of messages on the HT Servers as follows: Why are the databases dismounted? >MicrosoftExchange3202..... Retry 432 4.3.2 mailbox database offline Receipients MAILBOXSERVER-SA@domain.com That looks to me as if you have disabled users still receiving e-mail. Is that true? Is it your intention that people that have left your employ should continue receiving e-mail??? --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP

Thanks Rich. We are the in the midst of migration from ex2007 SCC to ex2010 2 membe DAG. We have moved all the mailboxes from these SGs to Ex2010 DB and dismounted them. But there are lots of disconnected mailboxes in these SGs thats why we cannot delete these SGs because if we do, we will loose the disconnected mailboxes/mail which we need to keep. Is there a way we can migrate these disconnected mailboxes to a new SG called "Departed SG" to Ex2010(Sounds like a silly question)? Or we have to join them to users accounts first and then migrate which is not feasible???? Hmm... the users are disjoined from these mailboxes and should not be receiving or receive email. I think its the SA mailbox and I think this issue will be resolved once we delete these SGs and restart the SA service, I believe. But again at this point we cannot delete those SGs until we pull out those disconnected mailboxes. We are stuck!!!!

On Fri, 26 Oct 2012 12:36:32 +0000, WildPacket wrote: >We are the in the midst of migration from ex2007 SCC to ex2010 2 membe DAG. We have moved all the mailboxes from these SGs to Ex2010 DB and dismounted them. But there are lots of disconnected mailboxes in these SGs thats why we cannot delete these SGs because if we do, we will loose the disconnected mailboxes/mail which we need to keep. So the disconnected mailboxes you're concerned about are on Exchange 2007? You realize that you can't get rid of the 2007 server(s) if you intend to reuse those mailboxes, right? You can't recover a 2007 database on a 2010 server. >Is there a way we can migrate these disconnected mailboxes to a new SG called "Departed SG" to Ex2010(Sounds like a silly question)? Or we have to join them to users accounts first and then migrate which is not feasible???? To move those mailboxes you must connect them to a user. >Hmm... the users are disjoined from these mailboxes and should not be receiving or receive email. No, not if they're no longer associated with a user. >I think its the SA mailbox and I think this issue will be resolved once we delete these SGs and restart the SA service, I believe. But again at this point we cannot delete those SGs until we pull out those disconnected mailboxes. We are stuck!!!! For what reason is it necessary to have old e-mail restored to a re-hired user? That policy sounds impractical beyond some reasonable (i.e. shorter) period of time. You could connect the mailbox to a user and export to a PST. Keep the PST on a file server and use it to place the old mail into a NEW mailbox if they return. --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP

Thanks Rich. yes, disconnected mbxs are on Exc2007. We have to get rid of those disconnected mbxs to decommission ex2007. I am working with higher management now as to how we are going to ditch those users and make some policy changes.