I Installed Exchange on my lab and wanted to do some testing for HA and DR in Exchange 2010. When first exchange 2010 Server by default it will create one Database by default.

Figure 1. First Exchange 2010 Database

Before I start my testing wanted to make sure that I have all the database created in the right location with the right name. Then I created a new Database on the exchange Server and moved all the mailboxes from the default first database to the newly created database and then I tried to delete the Default first database , immediately I got the below error. Figure 2.

Figure 2. Error when tried to delete First Default Exchange 2010 Database

Then wanted to check if I have any arbitration mailboxes left on the exchange server and executed the command and found that I had couple of arbitration mailboxes Figure 3.

Get-mailbox -Database "Mailbox Database 1475616347" -Arbitration

Figure 3. Command to get the list of Arbitration Mailboxes on Default First Exchange 2010 database

Unless we move it out these arbitration mailbox we will not be able to delete the Default Database. Used below command to move the database out to the new Database which i manually created with the name MDB01. Figure 4. Below Powershell command get all the arbitration mailbox and pipe to New-MoveRequest to move the mailbox to the new database

Get-mailbox -Database "Mailbox Database 1475616347" -Arbitration | New-MoveRequest -TargetDatabaes MDB01

Figure 4. Moving Arbitration Mailbox to the New Database

Once we have moved out, now we are ready to delete the database. This can be done either through console or through powershell command. Once you enter this command on the Exchange management shell console and confirm the same

Remove-MailboxDatabase "Mailbox Database 1475616347"