Hi,

I have two exchange clusters (both two nodes A/P) (one hosting all
mailbox store and one hosting public folders). I would like to build two
single node standby cluster and move both exchange cluster to these
single node (e.g. exc-mbox-vs1 move to exc-mbox-stdby and exc-pf-vs2
move to exc-pf-stdby). I have read the MS exchange deployment guide
about the procedures but I am still confuse. Therefore, I'm hoping to
get some help here. Thanks.

Would anyone verify my procedures below, please?

- On standby, install Win 2003 Enterprise with same patches as in
production cluster (if possible)
- Connect the standby to same network and join to the same domain as
member server
- On standby, Start the cluster admin and "Add" as a cluster node to the
existing production cluster (This is where I am not sure)
- On standby, Create windows cluster's IP (new), network name (new) and
Disk resources (all local disk but matching drive letters as in exchange
production cluster).
- On standby, Install Exchange 2003 and Exchange 2003 SP2 (same in
production)

- Take all Production Exchange Virtual server off line (i.e. all
production clusters should be still running but Exchange VS off line) -
not sure this?
- On standby, create Exchange IP resources (IP address must be the same
as in production exchange cluster)
- On standby, create Exchange Network name resources (Network name must
be the same as in production exchange cluster and "DNS Registration must
succeed" and "Enable Kerberos" check boxes selected)
- On standby, bring "Network name" online
- On standby, create "Exchange System Attendant" resource. Select only
the standby node as possible owner (not sure this?) and all resources
- On standby, bring all resources online
- Copy all database from Production cluster to the standby cluster and
restart all exchange resources to mount the data stores. (I am planning
to direct copy all database from the existing server instead of restore
from backup). Will direct copy work?

In addition, I have another question about the patches:
- I am trying to not to touch my production at all but the Windows OS
patches on the productions are not up-to-date but I can't find all the
patches to install to my standby (maybe some old patches replacement by
others but not installed to my production). If I just install the latest
patches to standby, will this work? (Exchange patches are in SP2 +DST
only and I should be able to make this the same)

Unfortuately, I must complete this on coming weekend, therefore, I have
not way to build anything to test. Please help

Thanks very much,
Aldous