How to remove default database in Exchange 2010 in a recommended way

Most of the Administrators wants to have a new database created and Remove the Default Databases in Exchange 2010

Where we can rename the Databases and change the location of the databases.

But still Administrators wants to remove the default databases and Start Fresh.

So Lets Start how we can remove the default Mailbox Databases in Exchange 2010

We got to Think 4 Things inorder to Remove the Default database in Exchange 2010

1. Moving Arbitration Mailboxes (How to recreate System Mailbox , FederatedEmail)

2. Moving Discovery Mailbox (DiscoverySearchMailbox)

3. Moving User Mailboxes

4. Moving Archive Mailboxes

If you miss out anything and if you try to remove the Default Database you might face a popup with an Error
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Microsoft Exchange Error
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The mailbox database ‘Mailbox Database 0089743213’ cannot be deleted.

Mailbox Database 0089743213
Failed
Error:
This mailbox database contains one or more mailboxes, mailbox plans, archive mailboxes, or arbitration mailboxes. To get a list of all mailboxes in this database, run the command Get-Mailbox -Database <Database ID>. To get a list of all mailbox plans in this database, run the command Get-MailboxPlan. To get a list of archive mailboxes in this database, run the command Get-Mailbox -Database <Database ID> -Archive. To get a list of all arbitration mailboxes in this database, run the command Get-Mailbox -Database <Database ID> -Arbitration. To disable a non-arbitration mailbox so that you can delete the mailbox database, run the command Disable-Mailbox <Mailbox ID>. To disable an archive mailbox so you can delete the mailbox database, run the command Disable-Mailbox <Mailbox ID> -Archive. Arbitration mailboxes should be moved to another server; to do this, run the command New-MoveRequest <parameters>. If this is the last server in the organization, run the command Disable-Mailbox <Mailbox ID> -Arbitration -DisableLastArbitrationMailboxAllowed to disable the arbitration mailbox. Mailbox plans should be moved to another server; to do this, run the command Set-MailboxPlan <MailboxPlan ID> -Database <Database ID>.
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OK
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1. Moving Arbitration Mailboxes (System Mailboxes , FederatedEmail)

&

2. Discovery mailbox

if you run (Specify your Default Database name ,Number Differs)

Get-Mailbox -Arbitration -Database "Database name"

Now moving my Arbitration Mailboxes to the new Mailbox Database .

In my case Am moving my Arbitration Mailboxes (From:”Mailbox Database 0089743213″) to “Mailbox Database”

Hence Running this Command – Modify your Default Database name if your gonna use it

Get-Mailbox -Arbitration -Database "Database name" | New-MoveRequest -TargetDatabase "Database Name"

Moving Discovery Mailbox – We can Use Exchange Management Console

Now once its completed you got to Remove the Move Request once Completed

You can view that using the Exchange management Console and Once its completed , you can remove it

Recipient Configuration – Move Request

3. Moving User Mailboxes

Moving User Mailboxes going to be real simple . Use Exchange management Console

For Fresh People – you can create a Filter for the database and Move Everything to the New Database

One last thing – In newer Versions of Exchange archive mailboxes can be placed in any database

So most of them miss out on that

For Example when you move an mailbox which has an Archive mailbox as well

It would ask you Three options –

Move only the user mailbox , Move only the archive mailbox , Move both the mailbox and archive

So you got to move the archive mailbox as well

If people miss out moving the archive mailboxes

4. Moving Archive Mailboxes

You can view the archive mailboxes

Get-mailbox -archive

but if you need find where they are residing

Get-mailbox -archive | fl identity,database

Moving archive mailboxes You can use Exchange managment Console like above or Using Shell am moving all the archive maiboxes to the new database

Get-Mailbox -Archive | New-MoveRequest -ArchiveTargetDatabase 'Database Name' -ArchiveOnly

Now Go ahead and remove the default database

Great !!

You learnt how to remove a Default Database in Exchange 2010