Want to Migrate Lotus Domino to Exchange Server – Here is the Trick

Summary: This blog describes the result-oriented approach to seamlessly implement Lotus Domino to Exchange Server 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, etc. migration. This article covers all possible techniques to migrate Lotus Notes files to Exchange Online.

IBM Notes is one of the versatile email application providing innumerable features. However, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of Notes users who are switching to other email applications. One of the major reasons is because of the complicated interface making it difficult for the users to perform their daily activities. As a result, work performance gets hampered severely.

When it comes to migration Lotus Domino to Exchange, a majority of the users fail to follow the perfect solution. This blog will focus on the manual and automated lotus notes migration tool to transfer Lotus Notes to Exchange Server 2019 in a comprehensive manner.

A Real-Life User Query for Migrating Lotus Domino to Exchange Server

Expert Solution for Lotus Domino to Exchange Online Migration

Though users can make use of the manual method using MS Transport Suite. However, it is quite time-taking and tedious approach. Hence, we recommend you to avail the most trusted software by the experts i.e., Mail Migration Wizard. It is integrated with the best set of features, which let users to migrate Lotus Domino to Exchange Server 2013 at ease.

It is not only designed to export Lotus Domino mailboxes to Exchange but also allows to migrate into Outlook and Office 365 accounts. Considering the organization’s perspective, the tool is deployed to bulk migrate NSF files to the destination Exchange Server without any data loss or data inconsistency issues. What is more interesting is that it also enables to export of complete NSF data items i.e., emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, notes, etc. One can also perform selective export of mailbox items as per the requirement. Therefore, in the case to convert Lotus Notes email to Exchange Server, one needs to choose “Mails” from the Select Categories feature.

Lotus Domino to Exchange Migration Using Manual Workaround

In Exchange 2007, a new Transporter Suite is being introduced for Lotus Domino which provides new and updated software in a convenient manner. Similarly, Exchange 2007 comes with Microsoft Exchange Management Console, the transporter suite comes with Transporter Management Console. This will ensure that administrators are available with a well-known interface so that they can easily adapt to utilize. Further to this, the Exchange 2007 server is equipped with Exchange Management Shell. The transporter suite renders its own Transporter Command Shell so that an admin can take complete advantage of a powerful shell command to perform migration Lotus Domino to Exchange 2007 mailbox.

Major Components of Transporter Suite

There are five different components which is offered by the transporter suite. Let us have a look:

• Directory Connector: It will synchronize objects between these two directories i.e., Domino Directory and Active Directory. In the same way, the Microsoft Connector for IBM Notes does in Microsoft Exchange 2003.
• Free/Busy Connector: Like Exchange 2003 counterpart, this will provide running MS Outlook and Lotus Domino client through which the ability to perform calendar free or busy queries across two or more systems.
• Directory Migration: The component of directory migration allows you to create a new Active Directory user account for each use of the Domino Directory to migrate Lotus Domino to Exchange Server.
• Mailbox Migration: This can perform the actual conversion of user data from Domino server database to Exchange 2007 mailboxes.
• Application Migration: The application migration component enables to perform conversion from Lotus Domino to Microsoft SharePoint.

Some Prerequisites for Lotus Domino to Exchange Migration

In many coexistence and conversion scenarios, the specific version of a messaging system that can be supported by data migration tools is always the main concern. First, to built the transporter suite, in that case, Lotus Notes 6.x or 7.x mail client is installed on the server that can run the Directory Connector. There are few things to notice about Microsoft’s support for the editions of Lotus Domino. It can support only Lotus Domino 6.x and the 7.x version for interoperability.

Note: You cannot utilize Lotus Domino v5 for directory synchronization, free or busy lookups or email message routing using SMTP.

Coexistence and Migration Scenario

In an organization, many times users want to move from one platform to another i.e., Lotus Domino to Microsoft Exchange. However, it becomes very difficult for all end users as it is not simple to execute. Thus, there are four major steps that will help to accomplish the process of coexistence and migration from Lotus Domino to Exchange 2007. Some of them are discussed below:

• Directory synchronization: This means where you have to share the address books across the two computer systems.

• Free/Busy lookups: Configuration of free or busy connector permits a user on either computer system to confirm the availability of end users on the opposite system.

• Move users to Active Directory: This entire process ensures that Domino users’ mail address is represented in Exchange Global Address List (GAL)

• Migrate email to MS Exchange: When transferring users from Lotus Domino to Exchange Server 2010, this process can migrate users’ mailbox items from one system to another system.

Here Comes the Procedure for Installation of Transporter Suite

Before getting on directory synchronization followed by data migration, we should install the transporter suite on MS Exchange Online. Make sure that Lotus Notes must be installed on Exchange server as well. Here, the process of installing transporter suite is described below:

• To begin with, you should download the transporter suite.

Note: There are two different versions of the file i.e., transporter.msi for 64-bit systems and transporter32.msi for 32-bit systems.

• On MS Exchange Server, run the suitable MSI installer. Then, go through the Open screen followed by a license agreement window.

• On the Select Components and Install Location screen, make sure that the Microsoft Transporter Tools option is selected for the installation. Free Busy Connector Add-In Task for Lotus Domino option should not be selected. Make sure that the installation location is set to the desired location. Now, the default location is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Transporter Tools

• In the last, Click on Install under the Ready to Install screen

• Once the installation is done, you will notice the new program folder known as Microsoft Transporter Suite for Domino will be included in the management console and shell as well.

In reality, the creation of the Directory connector is a straightforward process as there is no other option to configure. You will either create a connector with Transporter connector using Transporter command Shell or console. Here you can see the console first:

• When the management Console gets launched, choose the Connect option from Console

• Now, right-click on Connect option and select Create Directory connector under context menu, or select the similar name option from the Action panel

• Now, you can open Create Directory connector Wizard screen, click on Next. Then, navigate to create at the Progress screen. Finally, you can click on Finish to exit the screen

Final Words

With the help of this blog, we have highlighted the best possible approaches to migrate Lotus Domino to Exchange. We have covered the direct solution using automated solution, which is the wise option. However, the manual solution is also being elaborated, which requires adequate technical expertise and sufficient time to implement the steps.