In a domain with a single Exchange 2003 Server running SP2, if after making a second storage group that contains all of the user and system mailboxes as well as a public folder store with a replicated copy of all of the public folders on the server, would it be possible to remove the first storage group? In other words, is it possible to completely remove the First Storage Group (AKA the Default Storage Group) once all of the data is safely in another storage group? I believe the answer to this question is no, but I need to verify this before I proceed to an alternate plan. Any and all information is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Dear customer: We can delete first storage group, however you must perform the following steps before do that. 1. First move all the mailboxes in the first storage group to another storage group, 2. Then need to move System Attendant Mailbox. For more information about how to do that, refer to the following steps. Moving the Exchange System Attendant Mailbox The System Attendant mailbox on an Exchange server is used by the system for passing messages such as Server Monitor notifications. This account is created in the First Storage Group\Mailbox Store server name database when Exchange is installed. You cannot delete this database until the System Attendant mailbox has been moved to a different database on the same server. You may not need to move the System Attendant mailbox to accomplish your purpose. If you simply want to rename storage groups and databases, right-click the names in Exchange System Manager and then click rename. If you want to move the database that contains the System Attendant mailbox to another server or storage group, you must move the mailbox. If you do not move the mailbox, notifications and other messages handled by the System Attendant are not sent, although most other server functions will not be affected. After you move the System Attendant mailbox, you cannot move it back to the original database unless you physically delete and then re-create the original database. Before you move the mailbox, make a backup of the current database. To move the System Attendant mailbox: 1. Change the homeMDB attribute of the Microsoft System Attendant object for the server to reflect the new database. For example, if the homeMDB value is CN=Mailbox Store (SERVER1),CN=First Storage Group,CN=InformationStore,CN=SERVER1,CN=Servers,CN=First Administrative Group,CN=Administrative Groups,CN=First Organization,CN=Microsoft Exchange,CN=Services,CN=Configuration,DC=mycompany,DC=com and you want to move the System Attendant mailbox to a database called DB2 in storage group Second, change the homeMDB value to CN=DB2,CN=Second,CN=InformationStore,CN=SERVER1,CN=Servers,CN=First Administrative Group,CN=Administrative Groups,CN=First Organization,CN=Microsoft Exchange,CN=Services,CN=Configuration,DC=mycompany,DC=com The System Attendant object for each Exchange server is located in the Configuration container of your Active Directory forest. The path to it is: CN=Microsoft System Attendant,CN=[server name],CN=Servers,CN=[administrative group name],CN=Administrative Groups,CN=[organization name],CN=Microsoft Exchange,CN=Services,CN=Configuration 2. Stop and restart all Exchange services. 3. Run the Mailbox Cleanup Agent against the original database. To access the Cleanup Agent, right-click the Mailboxes object for the database. After you run the Cleanup Agent, the original System Attendant mailbox should have a red X next to it, indicating that it is no longer connected to an Active Directory object. 4. Right-click the disconnected System Attendant mailbox, and then permanently delete the mailbox. Warning After you complete this step, you cannot move the mailbox back to the original database. To move it back, you must delete the physical database files, and allow a fresh database to be re-created. 5. From a client workstation, send a mail message to the System Attendant mailbox, requesting a delivery receipt. Address the message in the following format, including use of the square brackets: [SMTPERVERNAME-SA@domain.com] 6. Monitor the Application Log carefully for errors relating to the System Attendant mailbox. 3. Replicate any public folders in the first storage group to another server. Hope it helps. If anything is unclear, please feel free to let me know. Rock Wang - MSFT

Is the same process to be used for exchange 2007?

Hi Justin,Yes same processes we also use for 2007. From Exchange 2010 System Attendant mailbox removed. Below is the link for the same System Attendate Mailbox for 200Xhttp://blogs.technet.com/evand/archive/2004/12/21/329172.aspx