Ultimate Exchange 2007 Upgrade Guide 1

[pgaliardo]

I've been doing tons of reading in preparing for upgrading our domain to Exchange 2007. I am looking to see if anyone has found the best upgrade guide in a single document. Here is our setup:
Single Forest/Domain
2 Domain Controllers - both Windows 2000
Exchange 2000

I was planning on upgrading the schema on both domain controllers, then upgrading the GC Server to Windows 2003 Server R2. However, I've read that upgrading the schema can cause hell with Exchange 2000.

My plan is to migrate from Exchange 2000 to 2007, but before I can install Exchange 2007, I need to upgrade the schema. So, I'm in a catch 22 and was wondering what the best course of action is to take.

If anyone has upgraded a similar environment, I'd be curious to hear about your experience. I'd also like to know what the best documentation regarding this is.

Thanks.

 

[Zelandakh]

Create a new DC in the org. Remove its network cable. Save it for a rainy day.

Then follow

http://technet2.microsoft.com/Windo...1123-4bc4-9ffc-3b3bcf7202251033.mspx?mfr=true

upgrading with adprep from a service pack 1 disk at least. This should avoid the problems encountered.

It isn't really an upgrade path then per se, more of a standard fork lift inter server move - generally termed the Ed Crowley method (wish I'd talked about it 6 weeks before he'd done it!!!) where you migrate the mailboxes as if both servers were 2003.

 

[pgaliardo]

Create a new DC in the org.

Do you suggest making this a Global Catlog Server also?

Thanks as always. A star for the link.

 

[Zelandakh]

No - on the off chance it goes upwards, you can seize FSMO. This is a long shot insurance policy.