How to establish coexistence while migrating from Novell GroupWise to Exchange Server 2000

In large organizations where hundreds of mailboxes need to be migrated from GroupWise to Exchange Server, coexistence is must to let the users communicate while the migration process is going on. This is because in large organizations, migration of mailboxes of hundreds to thousands of users cannot be performed in just a single night. It may be possible to do in small organizations but in large organizations, it may require many days; therefore, coexistence between GroupWise and Exchange Server must be established, so that the users do not need to stop communication through email. Here, in this article, we describe that how coexistence or interoperability can be maintained during migration between GroupWise to Microsoft Exchange Server 2000.
GroupWise Requirements for Establishing Coexistence
In order to make the migration process successful maintaining coexistence, GroupWise version 4.1 API Gateway Netware Loadable Module (NLM) must be installed in the system having GroupWise. Moreover, distribution list expansion must also be activated and for that GroupWise patch 2 for API NLM/OS2 (gw41api.exe) must also be installed on the GroupWise system.
How to Activate Distribution List Expansion in GroupWise
Microsoft Exchange 2000 comprises Exchange connector for GroupWise to establish coexistence and make the migration process successful. While establishing coexistence, meetings must be scheduled in both GroupWise and Exchange Server and for that, Exchange Server 2000 Service Pack 1 contains calendar connector using which meeting can be scheduled with each other for information sharing. While the migration process is going on during the coexistence period, Exchange users can view GroupWise distribution list in Exchange Global Address List (GAL). Moreover, only one copy of the email message is delivered to the GroupWise connector. But, if you activate the distribution list expansion then GroupWise will send the message to all users in the list. Mentioned below are the steps that help you activate the distribution list expansion:
1.Access the API gateway root directory of your GroupWise system.
2.Find out the ngwapi.prm file.
3.Open the file using Notepad.
4.Now, find the line containing ;/group.
5.Remove the semicolon from the specified string.
6.Select File > Save to fix the changes done.
7.Restart the API gateway.
This way you can establish coexistence while migrating from GroupWise to Exchange Server. The process is lengthy and complex; therefore, you must have sound knowledge about Exchange Server and GroupWise. If you are not that much familiar with Exchange Server 2000 and GroupWise, then we suggest you to use GroupWise to Exchange Migration software for hassle free relocation of users mailboxes in bulk. The GroupWise to Exchange Migration software can even directly transfer the mailboxes from GroupWise to Exchange Server or you can also configure the software to convert the mailboxes into individual .pst files to access them directly with MS Outlook.

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