Steps to shut down all exchange servers in DAG and then bring them back without losing the quorum

Question

_{Wednesday, July 8, 2020 9:12 AM}

We are going to migrate Data Center. Hence need to shut down all exchange servers in DAG.

What are the steps to perform to shut down 2 exchange server DAG and then bring them back without losing the quorum

All replies (10)

_{Friday, July 10, 2020 12:06 PM ✅Answered}

Hi Lucas,

Our datacenter consists of multiple Capsule rooms as it is a shared datacenter. Each room is assigned to one company (Only our people can access that room). Now we need to move our servers from 1 room to the other. It is something like relocating home. We need to pack our servers and set them up in the new allocated room/capsule room.

In the process we need to shutdown all servers and then move them. Hence need the steps for exchange shut down.

I hope I am able to make myself clear now.

Also I planned for the below steps:

Shut down:

1-Put secondary Exchange server in Maintenance and shut down

2-Dismount the databases on primary exchange server, Put the server in maintenance, shut down the server

3-Shut down file share witness server, then AD servers

Bringing online:

1-Switch ON AD and wait for replication and health checks.

2-Switch ON File share witness server

3-Switch ON primary Exchange server, Exit Maintenance, Mount the databases

4-Switch ON secondary exchange server, exit maintenance.Balance the databases.

Let me know your input.

Thanks.

_{Monday, July 13, 2020 8:48 AM ✅Answered}

Hi Abhigoon,

According to the information you provided, please follow the steps to shut down and start the servers:

1. Shut down servers:

1) Shutdown CAS servers except CAS server which is configured as FSW server.

2) Dismount the databases to prevent switchover to the second node when shutting down.

3) Shutdown the passive Mailbox servers first then shutdown active Mailbox servers.

4) Shutdown the File Share Witness, then shut down AD.

2. Start up the servers:

1) Switch on AD and make sure it is running normally in your site.

2) Switch on File share witness server.

3) Start the CAS servers.

4) Start the passive mailbox servers, then start the active mailbox servers.

5) Finally, start reset one by one and mount the database

There is a similar case you could refer to:Safe shutdown Exchange 2013 DAG.

In addition, I agree with Ashokm_14. Please do the backup job before taking action.

Regards,

Lucas Liu

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_{Tuesday, July 14, 2020 2:07 AM ✅Answered}

Thank you Lucas. Activity was completed last Saturday. It was successful. 

Below steps performed:

Shut down:

Backup of server completed successfully previous night.

1-Put passive Exchange server in Maintenance and shut down

2-Dismount the databases on primary exchange server, Put the server in maintenance, shut down the server

3-Shut down file share witness server, then AD servers

Online Steps:

1-Switch ON AD and wait for replication and health checks.

2-Switch ON File share witness server

3-Switch ON primary Exchange server, Exit Maintenance, Check cluster status, Mount the databases,

4-Switch ON secondary exchange server, exit maintenance.

Thanks

_{Wednesday, July 8, 2020 1:33 PM}

Could you please provide more information,

What is the detailed version of your exchange server?

How many exchange servers are in DAG?

Is DAG stretched across data centers?

Is Data center Activation Mode enabled?

You can refer the below article on data center switchover

Datacenter switchovers

Thanks,
Ashok M My blog
________________________________________________________________
Please mark the reply as an answer if you find it is helpful :-)
________________________________________________________________

_{Thursday, July 9, 2020 7:40 AM}

Hi Abhigoon,

In order to better solve your problem, I want to confirm with you what you mean by "migrate Data Center". Do you want to migrate to another data center or Datacenter switchovers?

Based on my knowledge, if you shut down the Exchange server, you will losing the quorum.

Regards,

Lucas Liu

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they helped. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

_{Thursday, July 9, 2020 12:49 PM}

Please find the below details:

It is exchange 2013

It is 2 exchange server DAG with 2 edge servers

Servers are hosted in 1 DC

Thanks

_{Thursday, July 9, 2020 12:58 PM}

Hi Lucas,

We are migrating to different server chamber/capsule within the same data center. Public IP's will change. A record will be modified accordingly. Before moving the servers all servers will be shut down, AD, exchange, backup etc.

We have 2 exchange 2013 servers in DAG. Hence need to understand how to proceed with server shut down and after bring them back online.

Thanks

_{Friday, July 10, 2020 10:25 AM}

Hi Abhigoon,

Based on my experience and research, chamber/capsule does not seem to be related to Exchange. This concept is too broad to know exactly what you want to express.

To have a better understanding of what your issue is, could you mind clarify the meaning of chamber/capsule? And let us know what specific assistance can we provide from Exchange side?

Regards,

Lucas Liu

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they helped. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

_{Friday, July 10, 2020 12:53 PM}

Hi Lucas,

Our datacenter consists of multiple Capsule rooms as it is a shared datacenter. Each room is assigned to one company (Only our people can access that room). Now we need to move our servers from 1 room to the other. It is something like relocating home. We need to pack our servers and set them up in the new allocated room/capsule room.

In the process we need to shutdown all servers and then move them. Hence need the steps for exchange shut down.

I hope I am able to make myself clear now.

Also I planned for the below steps:

Shut down:

1-Put secondary Exchange server in Maintenance and shut down

2-Dismount the databases on primary exchange server, Put the server in maintenance, shut down the server

3-Shut down file share witness server, then AD servers

Bringing online:

1-Switch ON AD and wait for replication and health checks.

2-Switch ON File share witness server

3-Switch ON primary Exchange server, Exit Maintenance, Mount the databases

4-Switch ON secondary exchange server, exit maintenance.Balance the databases.

Let me know your input.

Thanks.

Yes, based on my knowledge but make sure the host name and the IP doesn't change. Also, once the server is up, it should have the connectivity between the exchange servers and to the AD and witness server. 

Its recommended to take the backup before the activity - AD, File share and exchange databases.

Thanks,
Ashok M My blog
________________________________________________________________
Please mark the reply as an answer if you find it is helpful :-)
________________________________________________________________

_{Friday, July 17, 2020 9:47 AM}

Hi Abhigoon,

I’m pleased to know that the information is helpful to you.

Here I will provide a brief summary of this post so that other forum members could easily find useful information here:

Expectation:

How to shut down all exchange servers in DAG and then bring them back.

Solution Summary:

Shut down:

1. Put passive Exchange server in Maintenance and shut down

2. Dismount the databases on primary exchange server, Put the server in maintenance, shut down the server

3. Shut down file share witness server, then AD servers

Online Steps:

1. Switch ON AD and wait for replication and health checks.

2. Switch ON File share witness server.

3. Switch ON primary Exchange server, Exit Maintenance, Check cluster status, Mount the databases.

4. Switch ON secondary exchange server, exit maintenance.

Reference Links:

Safe shutdown Exchange 2013 DAG

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Regards,

Lucas Liu

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