Upgrading Exchange 2007 CCR To SP2…

The steps for upgrading an Exchange 2007 CCR to SP2 is different from the procedure that we follow for non clustered servers. Check my article for upgrading non clustered exchange servers to SP2.

Note: The procedure to upgrade Exchange 2007 CCR is the same whether you have a CCR without any service pack, with SP1 or with SP1 and any update rollups.

You can only upgrade CCR nodes by using the shell. The command to be run is Setup.com /mode:upgrade (Setup /M:Upgrade in short). You cannot upgrade CCR nodes by using the GUI.

The process in a nutshell is to upgrade the passive node first, restart, move CMS to the passive node, upgrade the CMS which makes the node the active one & then upgrade the initial active node and restart.

My lab has two CCR nodes, CCR2 (active) and CCR1 (passive). The CMS name is MBX and windows cluster is CCRCLUSTER. Both nodes have SP1 installed with Update Rollup 9. You don’t have to delete the update rollups manually.

1. Upgrade The Passive CCR Node:

Log into the passive node (CCR1 in my case) with an admin account. Make sure to stop any monitoring services which are running on the server like MOM agents. You can also put the server in maintenance mode for 30 minutes so that email alerts doesn’t fill your inbox. This is very important in a large organization as you will have a dedicated monitoring team.

Launch a command prompt window and navigate to the exchange 2007 sp2 installation directory / dvd drive. Run the command Setup.com /Mode:Upgrade

CCR1

Setup runs the exchange pre-requisites check for the mailbox role.

CCR2

Once the checks are completed, the following happens in order.

  • Preparing the SP2 setup
  • Removing the exchange files on the system
  • Starts copying files from the dvd / installation folder.
  • Installs the mailbox server role.
  • Installs management tools
  • And finalize the setup.

CCR3

Restart the server once the command completes successfully.

2. Upgrade the Clustered Mailbox Server

Once the passive server gets restarted and is back online, it will be running Exchange 2007 SP2. Do note that the active node is still online and serving the users. We need to upgrade the Clustered Mailbox Server (CMS) now, before we upgrade the present active node.

Before upgrading the CMS, we need to stop the CMS that is running on the active node and then move it to the passive node (upgraded server). This step will result in exchange server becoming unavailable for CMS users and hence has to be done out of hours.

Log into the passive node, launch the exchange shell and run the following command to stop the CMS. You can also do it from the console if you prefer to do so.

Stop-ClusteredMailboxServer MBX –StopReason “SP2 Upgrade”

CCR4

Confirm the step by pressing “Y”.

CCR5

Make sure that the cluster status is Offline.

CCR6

Once the cluster is stopped, move the CMS to the passive node from the console or by running the following command from the shell.

Move-ClusteredMailboxServer MBX –TargetMachine CCR2 –MoveComment “SP2 Upgrade”

Confirm the step as well.

CCR7

Navigate to the exchange 2007 sp2 installation folder /dvd and upgrade the CMS by running the following command. You can’t use the console for this step.

Setup.com /UpgradeCMS

Setup runs a pre-requisite check before upgrading the CMS.

CCR8

Once the setup was completely successfully, it brought the stopped cluster online & now we have an upgraded CCR running on one node. You can check the status of the cluster using Failover Cluster Management tool. Users can start connecting to the cluster from now on.

CCR9

3. Upgrade The Initial Active Node (Now Passive)

Login to the present passive node (initial active node) with an admin account. Launch a command prompt window and navigate to the exchange 2007 sp2 installation directory / dvd drive. Run the command Setup.com /Mode:Upgrade 

CCR1

Setup runs the pre-requisite check and installs the service pack.

CCR3

Restart the server and now you have an Exchange 2007 SP2 CCR.

97 thoughts on “Upgrading Exchange 2007 CCR To SP2…”

  1. Hi,

    Is it possible to use the same articular (SP1 to SP2) for upgrading the exchange 2007 SP1 to SP3?
    I have 2Nos CAS and 2Nos MBX nodes (CAS1, CAS2 and CCR1, CCR2).
    Hub is installed on CAS server.
    If required any domain preparation, and how to upgrade the CAS servers.

    Thanks
    Fasil

    Reply
  2. Do we need to run upgradecms switch when we are doing just the rollup upgrade ?? also can yo tell me what exatly the upgradecms switch does in background …

    Reply
  3. Thank you very much Rajith for this post. it helped us to upgrade our Exchange 2007 but we had a problem.
    we upgrade the passive nod (Ex02) normally but when we tried to upgrade CMS it fail on with below message:

    Clustered Mailbox Server ……………………. FAILED
    Clustered mailbox server ‘EXCHANGE2K7’ is not in an started (online) state
    (PartialOnline). The cluster resource ‘First Storage Group/Mailbox Database (EXC
    HANGE2K7)’ is in state (Offline).

    please suggest how we proceed the upgrade .

    Reply
  4. Great posts everyone. I am ready to upgrade to SP3. Do I run Setup.com /Mode:Upgrade on my Hub Transport, the same as for my Passive and Active nodes? Thanks so much!

    Reply
  5. Cool super thanks a lot for your support will execute this and let you know.
    before doing CMS upgrade we are moving CMS to DB2 (passive) and upgrade later can we move back to DB1 active server ?

    Reply
  6. Cool thanks a lot Rajith for your valuable support
    after upgrading DB1 setup.com /mode:upgrade at end after reboot do i need to upgrade CMS in DB1 also ?

    Reply
  7. Gopi,

    Upgrade your CAS1 and CAS2 as normal, from DVD/ISO. No order.

    Then,upgrade DB2 from cmd setup.com /mode:upgrade, restart server.

    Then stop CMS and move CMS to DB2. Run setup.com /upgradecms, no restart.

    Finally upgrade DB1 by running setup.com /mode:upgrade.

    That's all.

    Reply
  8. Thanks a lot Rajith ,
    will do SP3 upgrade CAS1, CAS2 and mailDB1,MailDB2 later will upgrade CMS on mailDB1,MailDB2.

    First stop CMS and move CMS to DB2 and then upgrade DB2 ? or upgrade DB2 and move CMS to DB2 and upgrade DB1 ?
    or or upgrade CMS have to done only on one server that is DB2 server ( passive )
    sorry i think i am disturbing lot just to know the correct process

    Reply
  9. Hi Gopi,

    CAS1 and CAS2 – just put the DVD/ISO and run the SP2/SP3 setup and restart, that's all.

    DB1 and DB2 – follow my post exactly, upgrading DB2 first and then move CMS to DB2, upgrade CMS and then upgrade DB1. Upgrade CMS is only done once, on the current passive node.

    Reply
  10. Hi Rajith , Thanks for the quick update…

    CAS, HUB, Edge, UM this will upgrade by doing first part of SP2 upgrade this i have to do in all the servers (CAS1,CAS2 and DB1,DB2) , later CMS upgrade i need to do first in DB2 and DB1 right ?

    Thanks for you support

    Reply
  11. Hi Gopi,

    The order of installing service packs in both 2010 & 2007 is as follows. Upgrade the CAS, HUB, Edge, UM and finally the mailbox servers.

    So, in your case, upgrade order will be CAS2, CAS1, DB2 and DB1. The post only shows how to upgrade your clustered mailbox servers (CMS), which is your DB1 and DB2.

    So, upgrade CAS2 and CAS1 normally, running the stup, one at a time. Then follow my post to upgrade DB2 and then DB1.

    Hope it is clear.

    Reply
  12. Rajith sorry i didn't get you ,,,

    We have (wcmail1cas1 active, wcmail1cas2 passive) and our mails DB servers are (maildb1 active and maildb2 passive) we used to create users in cas1 servers , our db drivers are in maildb1 and maildb 2 , but your document how we proceed the upgrade ?
    — upgrade cas2 and CMS upgrade should be done in Maildb 2 ?
    or Upgrade Cas2 and upgrade CMS in Cas2 only ?
    or upgrade Cas2 and cas1 and do upgrade CMS on MailDB 2 and MailDB1
    please suggest how we proceed the upgrade in our env thanks a lot for your support.

    Reply
  13. Hi Gopi,

    You need to upgrade both CAS servers first. CAS servers are not clustered, they are just load balanced. So, upgrade CAS1 and CAS2, then upgrade your current passive CCR server and finally the current active CCR.

    Reply
  14. Hi Rajith,

    In your case CCR1 is passive and you have stop the cluster mailbox service and move(from or to) CCR1 which shows in above 2 part 4th shell screen shot and start the upgrade CMS.

    so in my exchange env first part (Exchange SP2)
    upgrade in CAS2 and second part (Clustered mailbox upgrade) in MailDB2 server ? and later same process in cas1 and MailDb1 servers ? right please suggest waiting for your valuable reply.

    Reply
  15. Hi Gopi,

    Upgrading the clustered mailbox server section is to be run on mailbox servers only. First upgrade the passive mailbox server, move all the databases to the upgraded server and then upgrade the other mailbox server.

    Reply
  16. Thanks a lot Rajith for the update…

    We have Cas1(Active) and Cas2(Passive) Exchange server and we have mailDb1(Active) and mailDb2(Passive) mail DB servers.

    by your document i have done with first part upgrade in Cas2(Passive) successfully upgraded
    for part 2. "Upgrade the Clustered Mailbox Server" Stop and move "ClusteredMailboxServer" to passive is this i need to run in mailDB2 server or CAS2 server only ? please suggest waiting for your reply.

    Reply
  17. Hi Gopi,

    Is the Schema Master and other DCs online? Is the account you are using a member of Enterprise Admin, Org Admin and Schema Admin?

    Reply
  18. Below is the error…

    C:ExchangeSp3>Setup.com /Mode:Upgrade

    Welcome to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Unattended Setup

    Preparing Exchange Setup

    The following server roles will be upgraded
    Management Tools

    Performing Microsoft Exchange Server Prerequisite C heck

    Setup encountered a problem while validating the state of Active Directory: Domain fiberlink.local cannot be contacted or does not exist.

    Exchange Server setup encountered an error.

    Reply
  19. """Setup encountered a problem while validating the state of Active Directory: Domain fiberlink.local cannot""""

    What is the full error message? Remaining of the sentence above.

    Reply
  20. Thanks for the update Ranjith,
    below is the error i am seeing …

    C:ExchangeSp3>Setup.com /Mode:Upgrade

    Welcome to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Unattended Setup

    Preparing Exchange Setup

    The following server roles will be upgraded
    Management Tools

    Performing Microsoft Exchange Server Prerequisite Check

    Setup encountered a problem while validating the state of Active Directory: Domain fiberlink.local cannot

    Exchange Server setup encountered an error.

    Please help me on this what could be the issue.

    Reply
  21. Hi Gopi,

    You can run the 2007 SP3 setup and it will do all the schema updates for you, provided your account has rights. You don't have to do anything on DC. As long as they are running 2003 SP1+, things will be fine.

    Reply
  22. Hi,

    we have Exhange 2007 SP1 Rollup 10 , we are planning to upgrade to 2007 SP3.
    Our AD primary and secondary servers are on 2003 standard.
    CAS servers installed on 2008 R2 64bit.
    For SP3 Upgrade do we need to upgrade our Root Domains to 2008 R2 ? do we need to upgrade anything in 2003 server?
    can we directly upgrade sp3 on cas servers so then it will update the schema.

    please help me with solutions, we are stuck on upgrade process.
    Regards,
    Gopi

    Reply
  23. Hi Reji,

    You don't have to upgrade all servers on the same day. Upgrade CAS/HUB first, then Edge and last mailbox. You don't have to wait for a week to upgrade to SP2 as you have redundant servers and can be upgraded during working hours.

    Reply
  24. Hi Rajith

    Thank you for this post.

    I have 6 Exchange servers. 2 Mailbox 2 Edge,2 Hub-Cas.Hub and Cas are on same machine. All are windows 2008 servers with Exchange SP1 installed.I am planning to upgrade to SP2

    Should i upgrade all the servers to SP2 on the same day or can i upgrade Hub-Cas first, then edge after a week, then Mailbox after a week.
    Does this affect the exchange organizaton anyway?

    Reji

    Reply
  25. Hi Rajith

    Thank you for this post.

    I have 6 Exchange servers. 2 Mailbox 2 Edge,2 Hub-Cas.Hub and Cas are on same machine. All are windows 2008 servers with Exchange SP1 installed.I am planning to upgrade to SP2

    Should i upgrade all the servers to SP2 on the same day or can i upgrade Hub-Cas first, then edge after a week, then Mailbox after a week.
    Does this affect the exchange organizaton anyway?

    Reji

    Reply
  26. Hi.

    Thanks for an easy-understable article on upgrading Exchange 2007 CCR.

    I've tried to install SP2 on one of my CASHUB's. It gives me this error:
    ————————————-
    D:sp2>setup /m:upgrade

    Welcome to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Unattended Setup

    Preparing Exchange Setup

    The following server roles will be upgraded
    Hub Transport Role
    Client Access Role

    Performing Microsoft Exchange Server Prerequisite Check

    Hub Transport Role Checks ……………………. FAILED
    Setup cannot continue with upgrade because 'D:Program FilesMicrosoftExch
    ange ServerbinExchHelp.chm' is open. Close the file and restart setup.

    Client Access Role Checks ……………………. FAILED
    Setup cannot continue with upgrade because 'D:Program FilesMicrosoftExch
    ange ServerbinExchHelp.chm' is open. Close the file and restart setup.

    The Exchange Server Setup operation did not complete. For more information, visi
    t http://support.microsoft.com and enter the Error ID.

    Exchange Server setup encountered an error.

    D:sp2>

    —————————————-

    The file 'ExchHelp.chm' doesn't exist anymore… What can I do to help this?

    Hope very much you can help :-)

    BR. Jennifer

    Reply
  27. A little late to the game here, but could you do an article on upgrading a SCC from SP1 to SP2. I have had a very stable Exchange 2007 SP1 UR9 4 node cluster for (3a/1p) for about a year and a half, and have not bothered with SP2 at all, but it's getting to the point where I will need to do this so I am in support tolerances.

    Reply
  28. Hi,

    Thanks for the article. Unfortunatnly things have not worked for me. The HT upgraded with no problems, and so I moved onto the CCR Cluster. I have been following these instructions: http://www.theucguy.net/2009/08/upgrading-exchange-2007-ccr-to-sp2.html

    Unfortunatly the upgrade failed part way through. Here is the output:

    F:APPSExSP2>Setup.com /Mode:Upgrade

    Welcome to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Unattended Setup
    Preparing Exchange Setup

    The following server roles will be upgraded
    Mailbox Role
    Management Tools
    Performing Microsoft Exchange Server Prerequisite Check
    Mailbox Role Checks ……………………. COMPLETED
    Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server
    Preparing Setup ……………………. COMPLETED
    Removing Exchange Files ……………………. COMPLETED
    Preparing Files ……………………. COMPLETED
    Copying Exchange files ……………………. FAILED
    Installing product F:APPSExSP2exchangeserver.msi failed. The system cann
    ot find the file specified. Error code is 2.

    Any ideas on how I could fix ths?

    Reply
  29. Hi Stephen,

    Make sure that the account you are using has local admin rights on this passive node. Check the "Local users and groups" on this server and see the "Administrators" group. Is this account you are using listed there?

    Reply
  30. Hi Rajith, thanks for getting back to me. I'm using the administrator account and I checked it is a member of the groups above, SP2 installed without any issues on my CAS & HUB servers. The server has 5Gb free and no AV running.

    Thanks.

    Reply
  31. Hi Stephen,

    Does the account you are using have Domain admin and Exchange Org Admin rights? Have you successfully updated your CAS and HUB to SP2?

    Do you have enough space on the server? Any AV locking the files?

    Reply
  32. Hi, great article and well described, when I try to apply SP2 on my CCR cluster I receive an error at the point of "Removing Exchange Files", the full error is as follows:

    Unable to remove product with code 24b2c164-de66-44fe-b468-a46d9d5e6b31. Fatal error during installation. Error code is 1603. Last error reported by the .msi package is "Could not open key:UNKNOWNComponents6f949e36cb3004c50af18c3b9b1a1ee8461c2b42ggedef444b864ad6d9e5b613. Verify that you have sufficient access to that key, or contact your support personnel.

    The 2 nodes are running Windows Server 2008 SP2, have you ever seen anybody with this error before? I have the DOS screen shot of the error if you need to take a look.

    Many thanks.

    Reply
  33. Thanks for this great post. I'm just wondering about rolling back a failed upgrade. I understand that SP2 cannot be removed. Let's say the node 1 upgrade has been successful and the CMS upgrade fails. No upgrade has been started on node 2 at this point. Do you know what will be upgraded during the CMS upgrade and what we would do if this fails?

    Reply
  34. Hi Anonymous,

    You upgrade the passive node first & restart. Then move the cluster to the restarted passive node and stop the cluster.And continue…

    You don't have to manually stop the log shipping.

    Reply
  35. before you upgrade, do you have to stop the shipping of log files from the active to the passive? or do you just let it stop on its own and let the cluster figure out that the other node is down?

    thanks,
    markB

    Reply
  36. Now, a real stinker here is that the SP2 install CAN, in some cases, be too much downtime for your CCR to handle. In one cluster I've upgraded recently, there were 2 days of backed up logfiles (yes, someone hadn't checked the backup server) and between that and the various downtimes the CCR decided that the databases were too far out of sync, and I had to do a complete reseed of 500GB of mail. Not fun.

    Reply
  37. In regards to downtime, the downtime is not huge – it's probably been on the order of 15 minutes tops for every server I've done.

    It goes like:

    Passive Node: Down 15 minutes then reboot.
    CMS: Down 5 minutes, tops. (This is a complete downtime though, no service during this time!)
    Former Active Node: Down 15 minutes then reboot.

    Reply
  38. Namestay Rajith,

    Thanks for the info. I am getting an error on the Mailbox check due to the account NOT being an enterprise admin OR Org admin. I have an environment where the Exchange 2007 servers have been delegated for installation. I have had no problem installing Sp2 on non-ccr servers that were provisioned in the same manner.

    Please advise why this happens with command-line version and CCR upgrade.

    Reply
  39. Can anyone confirm estimated downtime when upgrading to SP2? Is it the number of mailboxes or the size/number of the mailboxstores that determin the downtime? What are you guys experiencing? :)

    Reply
  40. Hi
    We have Exchange 2007 CCR with Sp1, 2 Hub Server , One Edge all with Sp1. can anyone suggest which server we should update first with Sp1. Step to install sP1 is same for Sp2.

    Thanks in advance

    Reply
  41. The Exchange 2007 SP2 Setup program does not pass prerequisites if the computer is running the RTM version of Forefront Security for Exchange Server.

    So, run and see if you are not sure about the version of Forefront.

    Reply
  42. Hi Rajith Jose,

    Thanks for the quick response. the DTCS service is not running on our mailbox servers. it has been disabled. we are running Forefront version 10.1.0746.12. I hope we don't have to remove it before upgrade to SP2.

    Reply
  43. Hi Anonymous,

    Answers below.
    1. True. It can only be done using shell.
    2. DTCS service will be running as normal. Doesn't have to pay much attention to it.

    3. The original release (RTM) version of Forefront Security for Exchange Server is incompatible with Exchange 2007 SP2.

    You must either remove Forefront Security for Exchange Server or upgrade it to a later version before you can upgrade to Exchange 2007 SP2. The Exchange 2007 SP2 Setup program does not pass prerequisites if the computer is running the RTM version of Forefront Security for Exchange Server.

    If you are running the latest version of Forefront Security for Exchange Server, you must stop all Forefront services before you run the Exchange 2007 SP2 Setup program.

    Reply
  44. Great post, very helpful… got a few questions,
    1. CMS upgrade should be done via Exchange Shell.
    2. The Distributed Transaction Coordinator serivce must be started before setup can continue
    3. Forefront should be disabled prior to upgrade.
    Please clarify…

    Reply
  45. This was a great post, thanks for the hand. Just one change you may want to consider is to run the following on CCR2 (Previously passive now active node): Navigate to the exchange 2007 sp2 installation folder /dvd and upgrade the CMS by running the following command. You can’t use the console for this step.

    Setup.com /UpgradeCMS

    Thanks again!

    -Aaron

    15 October 2009 13:52
    Rajith Jose Enchiparambil said…
    Thanks Aaron.

    23 October 2009 15:20
    Ravinder said…
    Its good post but we are facing a problem below:

    [PS] E:Exchange SP2E2K7SP2EN64>.setup /prepareschema

    Welcome to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Unattended Setup

    Preparing Exchange Setup

    No server roles will be installed

    Performing Microsoft Exchange Server Prerequisite Check

    Organization Checks ……………………. COMPLETED

    Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server

    Extending Active Directory schema
    Progress ……………………. FAILED
    Active Directory server XXXXXX.DOMAIN.com is not available. Error message:
    The LDAP server returned an unknown error.

    The Exchange Server Setup operation did not complete. For more information, visi
    t http://support.microsoft.com and enter the Error ID.

    Exchange Server setup encountered an error.

    Help me too to resolve thi problem.

    Reply
  46. giasone said…
    My /upgradecms was against a CCR cluster with 400 users and took about 20 minutes. My nodes are quad-core with 12GB of RAM each – not sure if that changes the timing or not.

    06 October 2009 20:42
    Rajith Jose Enchiparambil said…
    Hi,

    The upgrade process shouldn't take that long, like long hours. I would suggest to do the work in the weekend (friday evening being the best) rather than coming early on a weekday and finding out that the upgrade is still running while your staff starts to come in.

    Thanks Giasone for your input.

    07 October 2009 08:44
    Aaron said…
    Rajith,

    This was a great post, thanks for the hand. Just one change you may want to consider is to run the following on CCR2 (Previously passive now active node): Navigate to the exchange 2007 sp2 installation folder /dvd and upgrade the CMS by running the following command. You can’t use the console for this step.

    Setup.com /UpgradeCMS

    Thanks again!

    -Aaron

    15 October 2009 13:52
    Rajith Jose Enchiparambil said…
    Thanks Aaron.

    23 October 2009 15:20
    Ravinder said…
    Its good post but we are facing a problem below:

    [PS] E:Exchange SP2E2K7SP2EN64>.setup /prepareschema

    Welcome to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Unattended Setup

    Preparing Exchange Setup

    No server roles will be installed

    Performing Microsoft Exchange Server Prerequisite Check

    Organization Checks ……………………. COMPLETED

    Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server

    Extending Active Directory schema
    Progress ……………………. FAILED
    Active Directory server XXXXXX.DOMAIN.com is not available. Error message:
    The LDAP server returned an unknown error.

    The Exchange Server Setup operation did not complete. For more information, visi
    t http://support.microsoft.com and enter the Error ID.

    Exchange Server setup encountered an error.

    Help me too to resolve thi problem.

    Reply
  47. Deepak Khandelwal said…
    Good post.. very helpful..

    02 September 2009 15:40
    Rajith Jose Enchiparambil said…
    Thanks Deepak.

    03 September 2009 19:43
    Anonymous said…
    Great post, very helpful… got a few questions….

    We are running Exch 2007 sp1 in a CCR

    Reply
  48. Its good post but we are facing a problem below:

    [PS] E:Exchange SP2E2K7SP2EN64>.setup /prepareschema

    Welcome to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Unattended Setup

    Preparing Exchange Setup

    No server roles will be installed

    Performing Microsoft Exchange Server Prerequisite Check

    Organization Checks ……………………. COMPLETED

    Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server

    Extending Active Directory schema
    Progress ……………………. FAILED
    Active Directory server CCRMBQSI.exqsi.com is not available. Error message:
    The LDAP server returned an unknown error.

    The Exchange Server Setup operation did not complete. For more information, visi
    t http://support.microsoft.com and enter the Error ID.

    Exchange Server setup encountered an error.

    Help me too to resolve thi problem.

    Reply
  49. Rajith,

    This was a great post, thanks for the hand. Just one change you may want to consider is to run the following on CCR2 (Previously passive now active node): Navigate to the exchange 2007 sp2 installation folder /dvd and upgrade the CMS by running the following command. You can’t use the console for this step.

    Setup.com /UpgradeCMS

    Thanks again!

    -Aaron

    Reply
  50. Hi,

    The upgrade process shouldn't take that long, like long hours. I would suggest to do the work in the weekend (friday evening being the best) rather than coming early on a weekday and finding out that the upgrade is still running while your staff starts to come in.

    Thanks Giasone for your input.

    Reply
  51. My /upgradecms was against a CCR cluster with 400 users and took about 20 minutes. My nodes are quad-core with 12GB of RAM each – not sure if that changes the timing or not.

    Reply
  52. Couple of questions…
    First, approx how long did it take for the /upgradecms step? I know the time will vary depending on size and number of mailboxes but I'm just looking for a ballpark so I know how early I need to come in ;)

    Second, we run both CCR and SCR. CCR is in our server room with the SCR configured with a D/R site. If I run all of these steps in the CCR, do I need to run /upgradecms for the SCR also or would /upgradecms during the CCR install take care of that?

    Thanks for any advice you can offer!

    Reply
  53. Hi Rajith,

    Is there any specfic steps that needs to be followed for upgrading forefront for exchange SP2 in a CCR environment.

    Regards
    Birju Ashramath

    Reply
  54. Got the fix – strangely enough powershell was the issue. Running the setup.com /m:upgrade froma command prompt made it all work.

    Reply
  55. My 2003 64bit SP2 CCR cluster worked fine in the SP2 upgrade at first. Passive node went fine, upgradecms went fine and the mail server is happy on Node B. However every time I try to run setup /m:upgrade on Node A it fails with the error:

    Welcome to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Unattended Setup

    Preparing Exchange Setup

    Exchange Server setup encountered an error.

    Nothing in the logs. Any ideas?

    Reply
  56. Good to know that you are following my blog Liam. Let me know if you want me to write about a specific topic.

    Thanks,
    Rajith.

    Reply
  57. Hi Liam,

    The procedure is the same whether you have an exchange 2007 ccr without any service packs, with SP1 or with SP1 and any update rollups.

    Thanks,
    Rajith.

    Reply
  58. Rajith, One more question.. I just discovered that we were still on UR5, do we need to update to UR9 before installing SP2 or does sp2 contain all necessary updates.

    Thanks
    Liam

    Reply
  59. Hi Peter,

    SP2 is for Exchange servers only. So, if you have your exchange running on a DC (single server environment), then you need to install exchange SP2 on the DC, otherwise NO!

    Exchange SP2 extends the AD schema, but the setup will take care of it and hence doesn't have to be run seperately (although you can). But, that process is different to running the actual SP2 setup.

    Rajith.

    Reply
  60. Hi,
    is it necessary to run the sp2 on the domain controllers too? If yes, which is the preferred order, before or after upgrading the exchange environment?

    Great site!

    Thanks,

    Peter

    Reply
  61. Rajith, thank you so much for these great responces, I apprecate your help, keep up posting these great blog. I have learned a deal from your blog over the past 2 days. Thank you.

    Reply
  62. Hi Liam,

    In case you want the path to manage CMS from EMC, navigate to Server Config -> Mailbox -> Select your CMS Server, right click & select "Manage Clustered Mailbox Server". It will open a wizard and give you options to start/stop/move cluster.

    Reply
  63. Hi Liam,

    1. Yes. You can move the clusteted mailbox server from one node to another from the console.

    2. The order of SP2 installation is as follows. CAS – UM – HUB – EDGE – MAILBOX. So, install SP2 on your CAS and HUB servers & CCR at the end.

    Rajith.

    Reply
  64. Great post, very helpful… got a few questions….

    We are running Exch 2007 sp1 in a CCR envirnoment.

    We have 6 Exch servers in total (2 cas, 2, hub and 2 mailbox) One of each server type in located in our "active datacenter" and the other in our DR site.

    1. Can we move the cluster from active to passive using the GUI wizard in SP1 ?

    2. we have our CAS and hub roles on different servers, what is the process for upgrading these servers in a CCR envirnoment ?

    Great site, keep up these great blogs.

    Thanks
    Liam

    Reply

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