Exchange 2010: How to Remove Default Database in a Recommended Way

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Most of the Administrators want to have a new database created and remove the Default Databases in Exchange 2010.

So Let's Start how we can remove the default Mailbox Databases in Exchange 2010.

We got to consider 4 things in order to Remove the Default database in Exchange 2010:

  1. Moving Arbitration Mailboxes (How to recreate System Mailbox, FederatedEmail)
  2. Moving Discovery Mailbox (DiscoverySearchMailbox)
  3. Moving User Mailboxes
  4. Moving Archive Mailboxes

Troubleshooting

If we miss out anything and if we try to remove the Default Database we might face a popup with an Error

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Microsoft Exchange Error

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The mailbox database ‘Mailbox Database 0089743213′ cannot be deleted.

Mailbox Database 0089743213

Failed

Error:

This mailbox database contains one or more mailboxes, mailbox plans, archive mailboxes, or arbitration mailboxes. 

To get a list of all mailboxes in this database, run the command Get-Mailbox -Database <Database ID>. 

To get a list of all mailbox plans in this database, run the command Get-MailboxPlan. 

To get a list of archive mailboxes in this database, run the command Get-Mailbox -Database <Database ID> -Archive. 

To get a list of all arbitration mailboxes in this database, run the command Get-Mailbox -Database <Database ID> -Arbitration. 

To disable a non-arbitration mailbox so that we can delete the mailbox database, run the command Disable-Mailbox <Mailbox ID>. 

To disable an archive mailbox so we can delete the mailbox database, run the command Disable-Mailbox <Mailbox ID> -Archive. 

Arbitration mailboxes should be moved to another server; to do this, run the command New-MoveRequest <parameters>. 

If this is the last server in the organization, run the command Disable-Mailbox <Mailbox ID> -Arbitration -DisableLastArbitrationMailboxAllowed to disable the arbitration mailbox. 

Mailbox plans should be moved to another server; to do this, run the command Set-MailboxPlan <MailboxPlan ID> -Database <Database ID>.

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OK

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1. Moving Arbitration Mailboxes (System Mailboxes, FederatedEmail) & Discovery mailbox

If we run (Specify the Default Database name, Number Differs)

Get-Mailbox -Arbitration -Database “Mailbox Database 0089743213″

Now moving my Arbitration Mailboxes to the new Mailbox Database.

In this case moving the Arbitration Mailboxes (From:”Mailbox Database 0089743213″) to “Mailbox Database”

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Hence Running this Command – Modify the Default Database name if you're going to use it

Get-Mailbox -Arbitration -Database “Mailbox Database 0089743213” | New-MoveRequest -TargetDatabase “Mailbox Database”

Moving Discovery Mailbox

We can Use Exchange Management Console

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Now once it is completed we got to Remove the Move Request once Completed.

We can view that using the Exchange Management Console and once it is completed, we can remove it.

Recipient Configuration – Move Request

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3. Moving User Mailboxes

Moving User Mailboxes going to be real simple. Use Exchange Management Console

For Fresh People – we can create a Filter for the database and Move Everything to the New Database

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One last thing: In newer Versions of Exchange archive mailboxes can be placed in any database

So most of them miss out on that, For Example when we move a mailbox which has an Archive mailbox as well

It would give us three options:

  1. Move only the user mailbox,
  2. Move only the archive mailbox,
  3. Move both the mailbox and archive

So we got to move the archive mailbox as well

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If people miss out moving the archive mailboxes

4. Moving Archive Mailboxes

We can view the archive mailboxes

Get-mailbox -archive

but if we need to find where they are residing

Get-mailbox -archive | fl identity,database

Moving archive mailboxes We can use Exchange management Console like above or Using Shell am moving all the archive mailboxes to the new database

Get-Mailbox -Archive | New-MoveRequest -ArchiveTargetDatabase ‘Mailbox Database’ -ArchiveOnly

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Now Go ahead and remove the default database

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