Migrating Novell GroupWise to Exchange using Kernel for GroupWise to Exchange is a direct, automated process designed to transfer emails, calendars, contacts, and archives. The tool supports both on-premises Live Exchange and Office 365 as destination targets.
Here is a step-by-step overview of how to perform the migration: 1. Preparation
Ensure the GroupWise server is accessible and you have administrative credentials.
Ensure that neither the source (GroupWise) nor destination (Exchange) files are open in the background.
Install Kernel for GroupWise to Exchange on a machine with network connectivity to both systems. 2. Select Migration Method
Launch the software and choose how to connect to GroupWise: Single Mailbox, Multiple Mailboxes using Proxy, or Batch File.
Select the connection method: Default Login, Online, Remote, or Cache Path. 3. Scan and Preview Mailboxes
Enter the necessary credentials (username/password) for the GroupWise account.
The software will scan and display the mailbox structure (Mailbox, Sent Items, Calendar, Contacts, Archives) in a tree-like structure. Use the preview pane to verify data before migration. 4. Configure Destination and Filters
Click the Export button and select the save option: Live Exchange or Office 365.
Enter the Exchange server details (Domain Name/IP, User Credentials).
Map the source GroupWise mailboxes to the target Exchange mailboxes.
Optional: Apply filters to narrow down the migration by item type (email, calendar, tasks) or specific date ranges. 5. Start Migration Click Finish to start the migration process.
Once complete, open the Outlook profile linked to the Exchange server to verify the migrated data. Key Considerations
Backup: Always take a full backup of your GroupWise system before starting.
Alternative Methods: While the tool is designed to make this easy, some users have reported that for very large or complex environments, a multi-step migration (e.g., via intermediate Exchange versions) or manual PST export may be necessary, as noted in some user discussions.
If you are planning this migration, I can help you weigh the pros and cons of specialized tools vs. manual migration, or discuss the best way to handle complex shared mailboxes. Migrate Novell GroupWise to Exchange