Exchange 2010 datacenter switchover tool now available

Hello Tim

Thanks for the troubleshooter. I've used it to develop a process for a datacenter switchover for our team.

However, I do have a few questions regarding the switchback steps:

Assuming the primary datacenter comes back online and all the existing hardware is functional, your slide deck sugestions all Active Directory and DNS services need to be up and running. As well as witness, CAS and HUB servers.

Our CAS servers sit behind a hardware load balancer, would we have to switch services back over to the primary datacenter before activating the DAGs in the primary datacenter?

On the DAGs, if I understand your instructions correctly, the cluster services should not be running and set to disabled. If the cluster service is running, then would we have to run cluster node /forcecleanup?

Thanks in advance

Thanks, Tim! I'm sorry I missed your session at MEC . . . I was focused on the Exchange 2013 sessions.  Anyway, can you explain why the datacenter switchover troubleshooter seems to indicate a much simpler process for Restoring Service to the Primary Datacenter

and doing Mailbox Server Role Switchback than does

technet.microsoft.com/.../dd351049.aspx  Is the process of dismounting the databases in the second data center before moving them back to the Primary not actually necessary?  

Exchange datacenter switchover went off without hitch.  All databases came online and serviced clients with no delays or disconnects.  Followed the troubleshooter and it was step-by-step correct and just worked.  Exchange has come a long way since the days of 5.0 (where I started) because of people like you at MS.

Thanks again Tim,

@jclaude8

@John C:

Excellent - post some feedback with your results!

TIMMCMIC

Thx Tim!

Was at MEC and was waiting on the final presentation.  It made it just in time for our DR test this weekend!  Thx again

@Michel de Rooij...

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

When I first started this project it originated as a series of flow charts.  Attempting to keep the level of detail I wanted, the flow charts became fairly large and in my opinion not easily usable.  This is where the idea for using power point came from.  (Interestingly enough...when we were tech reviewing this project the feedback from both internal and external reviewers indicated the power point was a preferred delivery mechanism).  I can always revisit incorporating the final changes into the flow charts and publishing them also.

As you have pointed out the command referenced are almost directly from TechNet.  The attempts with this project though were to compliment the information in TechNet.  Specifically I wanted to accomplish the following items...

1)  Address what command need to be run when the primary data center is not fully in-accessible.

2)  Provide steps on how to verify that the commands completed successfully.

3)  Provide feedback on how to handle errors that may be encountered during this process.

These are items that are not addressed within the TechNet documentation <and> reflect experiences that have been seen though support cases raised.

Again - thanks for the feedback and feel free to contact me directly with any other ideas.

TIMMCMIC

@MIkeC

@Imrul Emon

@Rmaldon626

@Sushantgharpure

Thanks for taking the time to comment.  I hope this helps with some of your decision making.

TIMMCMIC

@Mohamed:

I'm glad this was able to help.

TIMMCMIC

@Oliver R:

Thanks for the comments.

TIMMCMIC

Hi Tim,

While I applaud any effort to reduce the human error factor in stressful situations like switchovers, a few things:

- This isn't a tool, it's an interactive decision maker or guide;

- A PDF flowchart would be a more appropriate format (can be printed, not always PowerPoint available);

- Contents almost 1:1 taken from Technet, why not read environment and tailor questions using that information?

Regards,

Michel de Rooij