Considerations in Migrating Public Folders to Exchange Server 2013

As per the official words from Microsoft, Exchange Public Folders have been designed to collect, store, organize and share information with each other. Public Folders are available in the following Outlook clients Outlook Web App for Exchange 2013, Outlook 2013, Outlook 2010, and Outlook 2007. So, Users can just open their Outlook clients and browse the Public Folder content right from their system. From its launch, Exchange Public Folder has seen a series of updates in features and functionality. However, if you are looking forward to migrate your Exchange Public Folders from an older version to Exchange 2013, you need to check out the limitations and the pre-requisites before starting the migration process.
Limitations in Migration

There are certain limitations in migrating to Exchange Server 2013 from the older versions.

Migrating from Exchange Server 2003

Exchange Server 2003 cannot exist in the same Exchange organization with the Exchange Server 2013. Hence, there is a no direct way to migrate Public Folders from Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2013. To migrate Public Folders from Exchange Server 2003 to 2013, you first need to stage your Public Folders to Exchange 2010 SP3 RU8 or later, or to Exchange 2007 SP3 RU10 or later. Then you can migrate from there to Exchange Server 2013. This is called double-hop migration technique. Otherwise, you can use third-part migration software likeMigrator for Exchange to migrate directly from Exchange 2003 to 2013. This application also offers synchronization feature which can keep source and target Public Folders in sync as long as you have both Exchange 2003 and 2013 co-existing in your organization.

Migrating from Exchange Server 2007 and 2010

If you are looking to migrate to Exchange Server 2013 from Exchange 2007 or 2010, you must have Exchange 2010 SP3 RU8 or later, or to Exchange 2007 SP3 RU10 or later. If you don’t have these Exchange versions, you need to upgrade your Exchange Server to these versions and then do the migration. Otherwise, you can use Serial migration technique to migrate Public Folders to Exchange 2013 from previous versions. Refer this Microsoft TechNet article for more information on this:Use serial migration to migrate public folders to Exchange 2013 from previous versions. However, it is recommended to upgrade your existing system and then migrate instead of using the Serial Migration technique.

Things to consider before you begin Migration

  • If you are migrating from Exchange Server 2010, it needs to be running Exchange 2010 SP3 RU8 or later. 
  • If your are migrating from Exchange Server 2007, it needs to be running Exchange 2007 SP3 RU10 or later. 
  • In Exchange Server 2013, the User need to be a member of Organization Management role group. 
  • In Exchange Server 2010, the User need to a member of Server Management RBAC or Organization Management role groups. 
  • In Exchange Server 2007, the User need to be assigned the Exchange Server Administrator role or the Exchange Organization Administration role. Also, the User needs to be assigned Public Folder Administrator role and local Administrators group for the target server.
  • Apart from this, there are certain other limitations that you need to be concerned about in Exchange Server 2013 like maximum individual Public Folder size is 10 GB, Public Folder Mailbox Size is 100 GB etc.  

After all these things have been factored in, you need to download the migration script from the Microsoft. Prepare for migration by checking out certain parameters and then generate the .CSV file. Then you will have to create Public Folder mailboxes in Exchange 2013 and start the migration request. You also need to note that during the period of migration, Public Folders will be locked down and hence you need to prepare for downtime as well.   To know in detail how to proceed with these steps, follow this Microsoft TechNet link:Use batch migration to migrate public folders to Exchange 2013 from previous versions.