Exch 5.5 and AD 2003?

[1665]

Hi, we are upgrading our flat NT4 single domain to AD 2003 NATIVE mode , do we need to do anything to Exchange 5.5 to run smoothly on the AD network, or does does nothing at all have to be done?

Kind Regards

Apollo

 

[GuyThomas]

You do need a detailed plan.
Will you be upgrading Exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2003? If not how will you manage when you decomission NT?

Do you require a new Exchange Organization name?

Will you go for a period of co-existence? or are you a small organization that could upgrade over a weekend?

Take care with the compatability of the various systems Exchange, Windows (5.5, 2000 and 2003) Go for the Enterprise edition, the standard Exchange has a 16GB store limit.

I have set out more information here.

http://computerperformance.co.uk/exchange2003/exchange_2003_migration_strategy.htm

Guy Thomas

'Best Practice' Ezine

http://computerperformance.co.uk/Ezines.htm

 

[1665]

Currently we are using Exchange 5.5 Enterprise edition (25GB DB), we are upgrading our PDC first then our BDC and set it to NAtive mode, in my test lab Exchange 5.5 seemed to have no problems once then PDC and BDC become DC's and te Win98 and Win2k clients could could connect to Exchange as if nothing had changed. We plan to get Exchange 2003 Q3 of the year, but will simply buy a new server and move the mail boxes over using the built in utility, then decomission 5.5 after that. We have about 20k to spend on Exchange.

 

[Beboen]

Why do you want immediately to native mode? I notice you have Win98 clients which will cause problems. They have to be added to the new domain (immediately to native mode implies new netbios domain name).

I'd go for upgrade from NT4 to W2K3 and then switch to native mode. This doesn't cause any troubles for E55 and later on when you migrate to E2K3 you shouldn't have too much troubles either.

 

[1665]

Hi, so the best way would be to:

1.) Sync a BDC and take offline for backup.
2.) Upgrade the PDC to a win 2003 DC, by putting in the CD and selecting upgrade. (using the option Windows Server 2003 interim and Permissions compatible with pre-windows 2000 server operating systems)
3.) Upgrade our BDC's using the CD again, then run dcpromo.
4.) Authorise our DHCP servers
5.) Check clients can connect and Exchange 5.5 on NT4 OS is ok.
6.) Can we now switch to Native mode?
7.) Check Exchange and clients

Any goog guys?

 

[Beboen]

Yes, sounds good. You don't have to upgrade BDC's. I would do a fresh install on them. You can switch to native mode when you have no longer NT4 DC's in your domain.

 

[1665]

Ok, and just to double check, Exchange 5.5 on Windows NT 4.0 operating system will work in Active Directory 2003 in Native mode ?

Thanks for your time.

 

[Beboen]

Yes, no problem. I did it myself at a customer. But be sure that your NT4 box on which Exchange 5.5 runs is no DC, otherwise you can't switch to native mode for W2K3 DC's.

 

[1665]

Thanks