How to Migrate Easily from Microsoft Exchange to IBM Notes?

Messaging and collaboration systems have become unavoidable parts of enterprises. They help organizations in collaborating effectively to improve efficiency, and to increase productivity. Today, organizations have choices like MS Exchange Server, IBM Domino, and Novell GroupWise for messaging and collaboration systems. The choice of a messaging and collaboration system by an organization usually depends on the requirements of the organization, its infrastructure, and cost considerations.

Is it necessary to migrate from one platform to another?

Yes, sometimes it is. Usually investment on the infrastructure messaging and collaboration platforms is considered for long term. But when there are mergers or acquisitions between firms that are using different platforms, or when a company is in need of a more suitable platform than the present one, migration from one platform to another becomes essential.

Exchange to Domino migration – what are the advantages?

Exchange Server, from Microsoft, is the most popular of all messaging and collaborations platforms. But Domino/Notes form IBM has its own advantages. Exchange Server is designed for Windows environment. But IBM Domino supports Windows, OS X, Linux, AIX and Solaris. Also, IBM domino supports hardware and software virtualization, and offers some complementary products along with it. With its application level clustering, it is more flexible and dependable. Also, many organizations choose Domino considering its low operational costs.

File formats used by Exchange Server, Outlook and Domino

Exchange Server stores its data in Exchange Database (EDB) files and Streaming Database (STM) Files. These two files together from Exchange store repository. The EDB file tables mainly contain metadata of email messages, MAPI messages and attachments. At the same time, MS Outlook, the client of Exchange Server, stores its email messages, calendar, tasks, and other items on your system as Outlook Data file (PST).

IBM Notes database uses Notes Storage Facility (NSF), an IBM proprietary file format, for storing its Notes information such as data, metadata and design information. Notes mail stored on Domino Server, and address book database stored on user system are in NSF format. The NSF files are read both by the Domino Server and the Notes client.

Exchange to Domino Migration Tools – Domino upgrade service (DUS) and Notes upgrade service (Nupgrade)

While migrating from MS Exchange to IBM Domino, one has to move directory information, mailboxes, mail, and addresses from Exchange to Domino to change them to Domino /Notes format. There are two methods for the migration from Exchange to Domino:

• Exchange Server to Domino server migration using Domino upgrade service (DUS), and
• MS Outlook to Notes migration using Notes upgrade service (Nupgrade)

How to perform Exchange Server to Domino Server Migration Using Domino Upgrade Service (DUS)

Domino upgrade server (DUS), installed in the Domino Administrator client, helps to migrate Exchange and Active Directory information to the Domino database. First you import Exchange users, register them as Notes users and then convert Exchange mails to Domino mail database. You can migrate all/selected users from Exchange to Domino. Here is the complete list of what you can migrate:

• Users and user’s mail box store
• Group documents
• Public folders
• Shared public folder, mail box store and data

The main steps involved (without detailing) are:

1. Enable Microsoft Exchange Migration tool in IBM Notes.
   
2. Log into Domino Administrator client with Domino Admin ID.
3. Migrate users and their mailbox stores.
   
4. Convert the addresses of migrated Exchange users.
5. Migrate group documents, public folders, shared mailbox stores, and shared data to Domino.

How to perform MS Outlook to Notes migration using Notes upgrade service (Nupgrade)

Notes upgrade service (Nupgrade) works only in the client level and servers are not accessed at all. It migrates Outlook PST files to NSF files. For migration, you should have the migration tools features, ‘Exchange Migration’ and ‘Outlook Express Migration’ enabled in the Notes client.

The main steps involved (without detailing) are:

1. Open the Nupgrade migration wizard from the command prompt.
   
2. Select Administrator as Exchange profile name.
3. Select the required upgrade method- Express/Custom.
4. Choose the required upgrade options.
5. Select MAIL.NTF AS the template name; select the destination directory.
6. Click Finish; enter the user-password when prompted.
7. Go to Notes\data\MAIL\a_PersonalFolders.nsf to view the migrated documents.

You can perform migration from MS Exchange Server to IBM Domino in two ways: Exchange Server to Domino server migration using Domino upgrade service (DUS) and MS Outlook to Notes migration using Notes upgrade service (Nupgrade). If you find these methods complex, you can try professional third-party tools for easy migration, visit here : http://www.exchangetonotes.com/