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Coexistence Between Domino and Exchange : Is it Really Essential? Let’s See

  author
Anuraag Singh   
Published: Oct 15, 2023 • Lotus Notes • 5 Min Read

There is not even a single doubt in stating the line that today’s business crowd is migrating from Domino Server to the Microsoft Exchange platform. Being the firm with experience of around 10 years, we the SysTools experts recommend our clients to adopt the best exercises for easy migration or any other conditions, which demand coexistence between Domino and Exchange. Therefore, here through this blog, we decided to brief our readers with knowledge related to Lotus Notes Microsoft Exchange coexistence. We are going to cover the plans and challenges associated with its actual implementation.

Ideas Behind IBM Domino Exchange Coexistence

Each and every organization adopts their own practices, custom applications, standards, and interpretation for Domino server. This means that one cannot just plug in the coexistence product and simply attempt the data transferring process, that too between the two most popular servers. While having the Domino and Exchange coexistence, a user should be the technical administrator who is having complete technical knowledge of both the servers. Operating Notes, as well as the Exchange server, simultaneously brings risks on its own with limited accessing. There is no requirement of coexistence between Domino and Exchange if the small number of mailboxes are to be migrated. This consumes either a single day or 2-day weekend for its completion.

Till now, we were discussing for small or medium enterprises. Now, comes the Lotus Domino to Exchange migration for large firms where things become more complex and challenging. Typically, it becomes a hassle task to manage both the coexisting servers together under one environment. Due to the lack of discrepancies that occur between the Domino server and Exchange server, a special attention needs giving to transfer the source free or busy access, calendar mailboxes, message threading, and directory synchronization. In this digital world, there does not exist any add-on that provides administrators ease in tackling Domino Exchange coexistence.

Understanding Coexistence with Example

Let us take an example of the application that is associated with the Domino server, named as expense reporting system. This system enables users to fill a form through email and comprises of manager’s activity of accepting or rejecting the expenses in a single click. This click is done on an email button that is provided with a title i.e., embedded Notes element. Now suppose a message is to be sent through the Exchange server then, this email will be converted into MIME format from Notes Rich text format. This type of scenario illustrates the importance of migration that fulfills the user satisfaction.

Planning of Coexistence Between Domino and Exchange: Overview

In order to maintain the existence of both the servers simultaneously, following steps need to be carried away :

  • Use SMTP as the means to transport message so that server can set up to a path the email message in an independent manner. It will eliminate a single failure point via Notes connector

  • Now establish a routing system of SMTP, which supports Lotus Notes as well as the Exchange server

  • This renders ability to the Outlook users in participating the mail-enabled Lotus Notes application in absence of any connector.

Domino Lotus Notes Coexistence Challenges

Following points are going to highlight common challenges in presence of this coexistence idea :

  • It becomes essential that server directory comprises of individual views from both environments.
  • Some emails might get failed in translating correctly when communication is exhibited between both of them.

Apart from the above two, there are other challenges associated with coexistence between Domino and Exchange. To be safe from such complicated things, it is an advice (on behalf of SysTools) that users should switch their work from Domino to Exchange or vice-versa. This will allow an individual to work on one platform in a focused manner with the negligible amount of complications.

Here Comes Simple Way to Migrate From Domino to Exchange!

After doing lots of research, understanding the market needs, and testing the solution under different environments, we came with a solution named as Lotus Notes to Exchange Migrator. It is possible to move mailboxes from the Domino server to Live Exchange server in a hassle-free manner. The application supports different variants of calendar recurrences with the option to translate the canonical name into SMTP format. IBM Notes to Exchange migration tool supports IBM Domino 7.0 and all the above editions. Simply the customer needs to enter the server IP and password of the Domino server and then, the software will automatically extract all mailboxes of it in no time.

Planning for Lotus Domino to Exchange Migration

Few prerequisites need to be fulfilled before executing this solution on the machine :

  • IBM Notes installation is mandatory with an offline mode of Domino server
  • Live Exchange server 2016 / 2013 / 2010 / 2007 / 2003 is required
  • Domino server administrator should be having all the migration permissions

Observational Verdict

Learning all the ideas associated with coexistence between Domino and Exchange, administrators will be able to decide what to do or what not to. The server migration is not at all an easy task therefore, our experts decided to program a software that makes admin life easy. We hope that we are able to solve the Domino and Exchange Coexistence problem and if in case, you are facing any issue while doing migration then, feel free to ask us.

By Anuraag Singh

Anuraag Singh is an entrepreneurial visionary and a cybersecurity authority. With a passion for technology, he shares his insights as a speaker and technology writer. Anuraag's expertise spans the dynamic intersection of business and cybersecurity, making him a go-to source for staying informed and secure in the digital age.