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What can I remove from Exchage 2016 server keeping only smtp relay service and object management?
Hi,
I'm wondering what can I do to minimize the 2 Exch 2016 server hybrid environment now that there are no mailboxes but I still want to keep them for smtp relay and user attribute management.
To my understanding I should be able to completely remove the databases and DAG but need the confirmation from someone that nothing breaks in the smtp relay functionality doing so. In connection to this it sounds like I should not remove the default local database because that might cause issues in the server functions.
Or is there a reason to leave the DAG be? With or without databases?
Another question is about getting rid of the excess hybrid settings such as free busy feature no longer needed - I read that to keep the smtp relay I need to first create new send connector from onprem to EOP and after that I should be able to run the command to remove the hybrid setup but then do I need to worry about the exchange license that was once gotten from the hybrid setup?
Em.
I would remove the DAG (how many servers are you retaining on-prem?). In theory you can remove the last mailbox DB, but you'll have to remove all the system mailboxes prior to that, which can be problematic, so I'd generally recommend keeping one mailbox DB. You can remove the hybrid configuration as well (some steps are in this blog from Microsoft). Just retain the connectors that route messages to/from EXO (they won't be automatically removed if you remove the hybrid). The hybrid license won't be removed, and you should be fine with any audit as long as you aren't hosting mailboxes on the server with the hybrid license.
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I would remove the DAG (how many servers are you retaining on-prem?). In theory you can remove the last mailbox DB, but you'll have to remove all the system mailboxes prior to that, which can be problematic, so I'd generally recommend keeping one mailbox DB. You can remove the hybrid configuration as well (some steps are in this blog from Microsoft). Just retain the connectors that route messages to/from EXO (they won't be automatically removed if you remove the hybrid). The hybrid license won't be removed, and you should be fine with any audit as long as you aren't hosting mailboxes on the server with the hybrid license.
Hi Dan,
Thank you for your response! Much appreciated!
I have 2 servers and while those currently are both in DAG and have 1active + 1inacive database, both servers also have the native DB which has been created during the exchange server installation and those are not part of the DAG so is it enough to leave those be and just get rid of the databases in the DAG and the DAG itself? - That's how I thought it should go...
I will look into the hybrid removal steps again.And I plan on keeping 2 servers for HA reasons - I have separate load balancer guiding the needed app smtp traffic to both equally.
Em.EmMabel Yes you can remove native DB, keep the DAG, both server will be functional
