I've been managing a hybrid setup since we migrated to Office 365 about a decade ago, where we still have Domain Controllers on-premises. Users are created in Active Directory Users and Computers and are synced without any issues. However, I'm in a situation where we can't remove the last Exchange server. I just keep it patched without actually logging into it or using any control panels. So, I'm really wondering if it's necessary to keep this VM powered on, and I'm eager to hear what others have done in similar situations. Thanks!
2 Answers
Yeah, you can get rid of it if you're comfortable managing everything with PowerShell. The only thing the local Exchange server is really doing is simplifying the process of changing Active Directory attributes, but if all your mailboxes are in M365, you're good. Plus, you might still be eligible to get a free Exchange server license to keep it locally just for ease if you'd prefer that route.
You actually don’t need to keep it powered on anymore. There were updates a while back that explained how to manage things without relying on the last Exchange server. Check out Microsoft’s guidance for more details.
Also, there are some third-party tools available that can help manage users directly from ADUC, so you might not miss having the Exchange server at all.
Thanks for the link! I definitely need to look into that further.