We want to migrate some users running Novell GroupWise 6.0 to Exchange Server 2003 or Exchange 2000 Server. What's the best way to accomplish this migration?
Microsoft stopped supporting GroupWise migrations through its own tools with GroupWise 5.5. Adding insult to injury, Novell apparently stopped supporting GroupWise 5.5 in July 2003. As a result, your options are limited to
- Moving your GroupWise 6.0 users back to GroupWise 5.5, then using Microsoft's migration tools to move them to Exchange. Microsoft Product Support Services (PSS) doesn't support this approach (and I bet Novell won't either), but it should work.
- Treating GroupWise like an IMAP client and using the Migration Wizard's IMAP mode. This option isn't a good choice because GroupWise stores a lot of metadata that will be lost when you use IMAP to migrate.
- Purchasing a third-party GroupWise migration tool, such as the ones from Wingra Technologies or CompuSven. Although Microsoft doesn't directly support these tools, the vendors support them and have a vested interest in making sure that their customers' migrations go well.