Active Mail needs to be configured according to individual client requirements, readying the system to receive migrated data. Information on email domains, mailboxes (email addresses and quotas etc), contacts and distributions lists will be gathered and bulk uploaded into the system based on the business requirements. Once this phase is complete the Active Mail system will be ready to receive email for the specified domains.

Some additional DNS configuration will be required to complete the pre-migration steps. DNS TTL's (Time to Live values) for the MX records should be lowered to give greater control during the switch over phase. Also, if Outlook 2007 is to be used an auto-discover record should be created.