Migrating from a poorly designed, messy Windows+Exchange Server setup

i have interesting , unique situation here i'd hear opinion on.

first, background information:

i run small business focuses on building custom computers, workstations , servers. not provide business/enterprise software related services , instead focus on hardware, though have server/networking related knowledge , experience, limited deployment of simple, smaller scaled , non mission critical setups.

the challenge:

a small business owner approached me after purchasing 2 office computers replace aging slow ones. told me office server in urgent need of replacement because hardware dying , problematic, , software buggy , possibly malware-infected. told him sure can build one, wanted all-in-one solution includes both server , software migration since apparently unhappy guy , want fresh restart. took deeper current setup , here's found:

• he has 2 computers (employee workstations) plus 1 server in office. 
• his employees' job involves exchanging emails clients , accessing/managing client information through proprietary crm system (locally hosted, data driven access database).
• now here's kicker: such small scaled setup, 3 users total (including him), apparently convinced him purchase serious xeon server 5 years ago along full blown versions of windows server 2008 , exchange server 2010. server running ad domain controller, exchange server hosts emails 3 people, small crm server, , finally, remote desktop uses access stuff away office.
• apparently, exchange server installed on top of dc itself, highly discouraged variety reasons.
• all , employees' email clients (including workstations, personal laptops , smart phones) apparently outlook, has grown used , cannot live without.

solutions:

my initial response him don't need server @ all. consider nice cloud/hosted solution runs $5-$10 per user, save so money , without headaches of running server. note i'm honest person , tell truth, though in case means may lose potentially lucrative sale. surprisingly, *likes* idea of having own server, including reason cannot argue against: being financial adviser highly sensitive information nature, likes data, including emails, stored privately , locally, uncle sam , 3 letter agencies cannot sniff around or without knowledge (of course can call him paranoid, that's different topic altogether).

so here are, small might be, want exchange server running in office. , yet budget-conscious time around–it's not can bring myself recommend two servers (one exchange , 1 dc) him.

so given scenario, what think best way him migrate new server? we'll using new server runs windows server 2012 r2, , re-use old exchange license. going put exchange on top of dc again? , if go down route, there clean way transfer dc? understanding if set new server , promote dc, old server cannot demoted because has exchange on (which 1 of reason *not* in first place), going problem? feel there no reason have domain in first place setup, yet exchange server apparently must run in domain.

your advice on appreciated!

hello,as cloud based solution best approach him , denied use 1 hardware server , work virtual machines on top.

so install hyper-v role on hardware box , run @ least 3 vms on server. not install else on host machine hyper-v role.

so can run 2 dc/dns/gc , 1 exchange member server vms. require @ least 2 windows server 2012 r2 standard edition licenses or 1 datacenter edition.

or save second standard license work single dc , exchange member server.

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/about-licensing/briefs/win2008-virtual.aspx

but if run single dc/dns/gc assure ad aware backup used in case of problems vm or hardware, restore machine new hardware.

as exchange requires domain prior installing, add first new dc existing domain , wait until ad/dns replicated , checked. install second vm domain member server , transfer exchange new server. or exchange make easy 3 single mailboxes. export them .pst file , import them new installed exchange server later on.

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best regards

meinolf weber

mvp, mcp, mcts

microsoft mvp - directory services

my blog: http://blogs.msmvps.com/mweber

disclaimer: posting provided no warranties or guarantees , confers no rights.

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