From the Windows 2003 Cluster Administrator, I evicted my passive CCR mailbox cluster node and then powered it down (leaving the Exchange install intact). I've powered it back up but the EDB files aren't copying. I can't remember if the EDB file is supposed to be present on both the active and passive nodes, or only on the active node. There are no Active Groups or Active Resources on the passive node right now. I'm concerned about trying a failover in case I can't fail back. Does anybody have any suggestions for what a correct CCR passive node should have on it? Thanks, Shrimp (I was previously trying to uncluster the CCR and keep a standalone mailbox, but that's not possible. See my other threads: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/exchangesvrmigration/thread/ffa766fe-07db-472c-8014-96fe8fad8732 and http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/exchangesvrmigration/thread/ce56156f-9e53-4710-a01a-82a309ec734b. I'd like to fix this cluster and avoid building a standalone mailbox server, if possible.)

How did you evict the node? I don't believe that is normal procedure. Yes, the passive node should have a copy of the database and all necessary log files. Powering back up the server wouldn't add it back to the cluster. You must add it to the cluster. While you can't have a standalone box, you can have a single-copy cluster, i.e., a cluster with a single node. If that is still what you want, then I recommend you run setup.com /mode:uninstall on the passive node. If you want to restore your CCR cluster, you will need to add the node back to the cluster and reseed the databases. However, the easiest path might be to remove Exchange the same way, add the node back to the cluster, and then reinstall Exchange on the passive node. Ed Crowley MVP "There are seldom good technological solutions to behavioral problems."

After powering the node back up, I added the node in the Cluster Administrator. Should I use the seeding instructions at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124706(EXCHG.80).aspx, or am I better off uninstalling Exchange completely from the passive node and reinstalling? PS. I'm at Exchange SP1. All of this is being driven by my requirement to go to SP2 before I can migrate to Exchange 2010.

I don't see any reason not to try that. If it succeeds, you should be good. If not, you can just uninstall the passive node and upgrade to Exchange 2010.Ed Crowley MVP "There are seldom good technological solutions to behavioral problems."

I'm halfway through reseeding the databases via the Exchange Management Console (after I added the nodes in the preferred owner dialog boxes in Cluster Administrator). Thanks for the suggestion!