Applies to: Exchange Server 2007 SP3, Exchange Server 2007 SP2, Exchange Server 2007 SP1
Topic Last Modified: 2008-01-17

This topic explains how to remove a clustered mailbox server (CMS) and its configuration settings from a failover cluster by using Setup /ClearLocalCMS from a command prompt. Setup /ClearLocalCMS clears the CMS configuration information from the nodes in a failover cluster without affecting the CMS object or configuration information stored in Active Directory. Setup /ClearLocalCMS does not remove the Microsoft Exchange program files or Exchange databases, and it does not update any configuration information in Active Directory.

This process is typically performed during site reactivations in which services and data established at a backup datacenter are being transitioned back to the primary datacenter. For an example of this scenario, see Standby Continuous Replication: Site Resilience with Standby Clustering.

Before You Begin

The following procedure can only be used locally on a node in the failover cluster containing the CMS; it cannot be used remotely.

This procedure can be performed only when the CMS is offline, and when the local node is not in the RedundantMachines list for the CMS. If a CMS is recovered to another failover cluster using Setup /RecoverCMS, during the Setup /RecoverCMS process, the RedundantMachines list will be updated to contain the nodes in the new failover cluster.

If the cluster nodes are running on Windows Server 2008, after you run Setup /ClearLocalCMS, the virtual computer object (VCO) will be disabled. You must re-enable the VCO.

The account used to perform the following procedure and clear the CMS configuration must be delegated Exchange Server Administrator permissions for the CMS. For more information about permissions, delegating roles, and the rights that are required to administer Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, see Permission Considerations.

Procedure

To use Setup /ClearLocalCMS to remove a local CMS from a failover cluster

  1. Open a Command Prompt window, and then navigate to the Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 installation files.

  2. Run the following command:

    Copy Code 
    Setup /ClearLocalCMS /CMSName:<CMSName>

    For example, to remove a local CMS named EXCLUS1 from a failover cluster, you would run the following command:

    Copy Code 
    Setup /ClearLocalCMS /CMSName:EXCLUS1

    After the CMS and its resources have been cleared, we recommend using Cluster.exe, or Cluster Administrator (Windows Server 2003) or the Failover Cluster Management snap-in (Windows Server 2008) to verify that all CMS resources have been removed.