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I'm trying to figure out how to make two Exchange Servers replicate.

My goal is to make that Exchange Mail keeps working even if one of the server fails or is for whatever reason unreachable.

They already talk to each other through AD and as far as I know most things are already replicating, except the Mailbox Databases. If a server goes offline, every Mailbox associated with it's Database becomes inaccessible.

So I did some research and apparently they should use one single Mailbox Database, replicated between them. But here is where the problems begin.

If I got this right I have to create a Database Availability Group, put the two servers in it, and set up a Mailbox Database Copy between them.

The problem is, apparently the Database Availability Group cannot be managed by a server in the group, it has to be a third one (called "DAG Witness")? What the hell.

Is there some way to workaround this? I don't want to have three servers, and to make matters worse the docs say the DAG Witness has to be a Windows Server too.

There must be some way to achieve this without having to rent an entire Data Center.

Havenard
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2 Answers2

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This description is wrong:

The problem is, apparently the Database Availability Group cannot be managed by a server in the group, it has to be a third one (called "DAG Witness")?

You do need a Witness. However, it doesn't manage anything.

The Witness could be as simple as a share on third server. No extra software is needed. And a dedicated server is not required.

longneck
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You can configure a DAG with just two servers without a witness server. However, keep in mind that without a witness server, you won't have automatic quorum management for odd-numbered DAGs. For set up a DAG with two Exchange Server, refer this link.

Eric Simson
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