Migrate Exchange 2010 to 2016 & Upgrade the Exchange Server

Exchange 2010 played a critical role in the last decade for organizations that chose to use it. However, ‌Exchange 2010 has reached the end of its extended support in April of the year 2023. This prompted many of those same organizations to migrate Exchange 2010 to 2016 at the earliest. This upgrade of the Exchange server is not easy but worry not as we are here to assist you every step of the way. Without further ado let’s get started with the task.

Reasons to Migrate Exchange Server 2010 to 2016

The majority of the time reasons are organizational specific. Meaning your own scenario might be unique in itself. However, here we aim to cover some of the generalized situations 

• Improved Security: One of the most valid reasons for an upgrade is the guarantee of a more secure environment. Exchange version 2016 is still covered under Microsoft’s protective eye. Whereas the ‌2010 version just lost its official support.
• Enhanced Collaboration: In Exchange 2016 users get the ability to directly link the Server to ‌attachments present in OneDrive. This feature is not there in Exchange 2010 users instead have to send a mail with the attachment.
• Prevent Data Loss: Exchange 2016 builds upon the DLP feature introduced in Exchange 2013 with 80 new notification types to choose from. This gives the user a better understanding of situations where something has gone wrong.

Many other features and updates come along with the Exchange 2016 version so let’s learn about the prerequisites for the data transfer.

Prerequisites to Migrate Exchange 2010 to 2016 Without Downtime

Here is the list of things any admin must ensure before transferring data from one exchange version to another. 

• First up be sure that your hardware meets the minimum specifications required by Exchange 2016. Then install and set up the Exchange 2016 on your local server.
• Take a complete backup of all the data currently present in the source exchange server version 2010. It acts as a safety net in case anything goes wrong during migration.
• If you plan on maintaining a co-existence of both Exchange 2010 and 2016 then make sure that Exchange Server 2010 is updated to at least SP3 with UR11.
• Update the namespace configuration, review SSL certification for your existing Exchange Server, and proceed towards the Exchange 2010 to 2016 migration.
• Configure the Active Directory to work alongside the new  2016. Here make any and all changes required towards the schema, attributes, etc.

Also Read: What to do After Microsoft Exchange 2013 End of Life Declared 

With the prerequisites all completed we are ready for the main task of data migration. 

Migrate Exchange 2010 to 2016 Step by Step and Automated Manner

To complete the migration in a quick and hassle-free way we have the one and only SysTools Exchange to Exchange migrator. This tool has thoroughly established its name in every migration scenario that involves Exchange Servers. With a user-friendly design its place, it utilizes state-of-the-art algorithms to move emails, contacts, tasks, and calendars with ease.

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Use the steps provided below and migrate Exchange Server 2010 to 2016.

Step 1. Download, install, and start the utility then choose Exchange as both the Source and Destination.

Step 2. Scroll to the Workload Section and pick all the data items you want to move from emails, contacts, calendars, and tasks.

Step 3. Move on to the Source tab Select Exchange version as 2010, fill in all the required info, Validate, and Press Next.

Step 4. Similarly, in the Target Tab pick the Exchange version as 2016, type all other details validate, and hit Next.

Step 5. Either fetch the Users directly, upload the premade CSV file with all user data, or download the template present in the tool update it, and re-upload it.

Step 6. Preview all users select the ones required to validate them and begin the migration by hitting Start Migration.

Advanced Features of the Tool

• Multiple filters for selecting Workload, applying Datefilter, and assigning priority for users.
• Three different ways to attach users for easier migration between exchange servers.
• Migrate up to 20 users at the same time for faster and safer ‌data transfer.
• Set up an SMTP notification to get real-time details of the migration. 
• Get an on-time and error-free Exchange 2010 to 2016 Migration.
• Receive 24×7 support for any tool-related queries.
• Track the progress of the migration via the dashboard itself.
• Evaluate migration via two types of reports Summarized and Detailed. 
• Separate criteria for visualizing the current status  Pending, In Process, Completed.
• Advanced options to move data include re-run, retry, and delta migration for any situation.

Post Migration Steps for an Error-Free Migration

Once the migration is all set and done a bit more work is still remaining. These are the steps that need to be done to ensure a seamless experience in the new Exchange Server.

• Outlook profiles must be reconfigured within the new domain. This step must be done for all users individually if automatic configuration fails.
• Change the MX records so that they point toward the new server location.
• Mail Exchange records are the set of rules within DNS documents that identify and route emails coming towards a particular server.
• Updating these records is essential as it allows Outlook email clients to link with the correct mailboxes. This is an important step in Exchange 2010 to 2016 migration.
• To verify the changes in the MX record a user is recommended to send out a dummy mail. If the IT admin confirms that the mail has reached the correct location on the Exchange 2016 that re-routing was successful. Otherwise, the entire process must be repeated. 
• Lastly, decommission the previous Exchange Server to avoid unnecessary expenses. This uninstallation process must be done a few days after the data migration to check for any issues. 

Conclusion

In this article, we covered everything needed to migrate Exchange 2010 to 2016. From the prerequisites, a robust Migration tool and the post-migration steps as well. With this knowledge, users can transfer their data between Exchange servers without worrying about data loss.