MS Office suite has a web-based version for dynamic applications, i.e. MS Office 365. As a part of Office 365 deployment, users can migrate their mailboxes data to Office 365 from source email system. When this is done for more than relevant time, it is known as staged migration. It is mainly recommended when the source mail system is Exchange Server 2003 or 2007. It is even used when user is having more than 2,000 mailboxes. In the following section, we will discuss the method to use Powershell to perform a staged Exchange migration to Office 365.
For the utilization of Exchange Online Powershell cmdlets, there is a need to sign in and import cmdlets on PowerShell session of Windows.
User need fulfill certain prerequisites before starting this migration. Know what you need to know about a staged email migration to Office 365.
There are some steps involved that helps users to perform staged migration by using Powershell as mentioned.
Step 1: Prepare for Migration
Before starting the migration of mailboxes, users first need to have few changes to Exchange environment.
Step 2: Create CSV File
After identifying users for On-Premise Exchange to Exchange Online Migration, they can use CSV file for the creation of batch migration. Each row of CSV file is used to run migration by Office 365 that contains the info related to on-premises mailbox. For the staged migration of CSV file, three attributes are supported, i.e. EmailAddress, Password, and ForceChangePassword.
Note:
1. Unlimited mailboxes can be migrated to Office 365.
2. CSV file contains 2,000 rows, for the migration more than 2,000 mailboxes additional CSV file creation is required and utilizes new batch migration for utilization of each file.
Step 3: Generate Endpoint of Migration
For successful migration to Office 365, proper communication as well as connection is required with email system. To perform this, Office 365 utilizes migration endpoint. It can be created by using Powershell for that firstly; Connection with Exchange Online is required. User can run the mentioned command for the creation of endpoint known as StageEndpoint:
Note: New-MigrationEndpoint cmdlet is utilized for specification of database service for utilization by using an option of TargetDatabase. Otherwise, it will be directed from services of Active Directory Federation, where it is located.
For Verification run the following command:
Step 4: Produce and Begin Batch Stage Migration
User can utilize cmdlet New-MigrationBatch in Exchange Powershell for creation of batch migration for cutover migration. They can make a migration batch and begin it automatically that includes AutoStart parameter. Otherwise, it can be created and started manually after utilizing cmdlet Start-MigrationBatch.
For Verification run the following command:
To verify if the batch has started, you can use the following command:
Step 5: Convert to Mail-Enabled Users
Once there is, a successful batch migration of mailboxes now, users must require some way that helps them in getting their mails. They have their mailbox on both on-premises and Office 365. Users who have mailbox in Office 365 will not receive new email in their mailbox of on-premises due to reason, as they are not done with migration. When they change from mailbox to a mail-enabled, they can direct to Office 365 for their email instead of going to their on-premises mailbox.
Other reason for conversion mailboxes on-premises to mail-enabled users to preserve the proxy addresses from Office 365 mailboxes by creating the replica proxy of addresses for mail-enabled users. It helps in the management of users of cloud –based by using Active Directory.
Step 6: Deletion of Staged Migration
After converting mailboxes of on-premises in batch to mail-enables users, they can delete batch-staged migration. Before that make a confirmation that the mail is being forwarded to Office 365 mailboxes in batch migration. When they delete staged migration in batch, the service clear all the records related to batch migration. They can use the mentioned command on Powershell perform deletion.
It can be verified by running the following command about IMAPBatch1
The cmdlet either will return the status of removing of batch migration or will give an error.
Step 7: Allot License
Assign the licenses to activate user accounts of Office 365 for the migrated accounts. If the license is not permitted then, mailbox is disabled after the thirty days of grace period.
Step 8: Complete task of Post-Migration
It is pretty clear from the above method that the manual process is so lengthy and time-consuming. It can also result in some annoying issues which can increase complexities during the process. Thus, many tech experts suggest the users / organizations to use a third-party application such as this Exchange to Office 365 Migration Tool by SysTools.
This application has made SysTools a migration leader which makes the entire migration task simple and efficient and eliminates complexities of the manual method. The simple to use graphical interface helps users to carry out the task in an effortless way. Additionally, the trial version is free to use which means you can try all the features of the tool before purchasing the licensed version of the software.
Prominent Features of the Tool:
In the above discussion, proper procedure is discussed to use PowerShell to perform a staged Exchange migration to Office 365 in systematic manner. However, if there is any issue faced while performing the procedure, feel free to drop a comment below, and the issue will be looked by experts.