Upgrading from exchange 5.5 to exchange 2003

[abhi1024]

We are currently running exchange 5.5 on win 2000 domain. We have a parent domain and two child domains (all win 2000) with one exchange server.
I want to upgrade from exchange 5.5 to exchange 2003 with an exchange server running in each domain.Could anybody let me know how would that be possible?Also do I need to upgrade my domain controllers from windows 2000 to windows 2003 ???

Please advice.
Thanks

 

[Spirit]

Yes it is possible.

You CAN run Exch2k3 on a Win2k server but it needs to be at least service pack 3 or 4 (can't remember before my 2nd coffee!!!) but you will lose some of the functionality.

Personally, add a Win2k3 member server and stick exchange on that, probably the easiest way?

Sounds like you're already got your AD done so all you need to do is add the 2k3 exchange server and move the mail boxes to the new server..... that sounds sooooo simple and easy! LOL....

Iain

 

[zbnet]

Win2000 SP3 is the min for Exchange 2003.

 

[Zelandakh]

And it won't give you FBA or RPC over HTTPs.

Iain - it IS soooo simple and easy. But only after the first few servers have been done and you've bashed your head against the wall several hundred times when it fails to work properly.

 

[netometer]

Hi!

I would say that you have a serious project. Doing your homework – testing the project in a non-production environment would be the best approach.

A good place to start with would be to see what are the most common mistakes in the upgrades which you are planning:

http://www.netometer.net/qa/index.html?winmist.html

http://www.netometer.net/qa/index.html?exchmist.html

Here is a demo of an upgrade to Windows 2003. As you have Windows 2000 AD may be you will be interested mainly in the steps for converting/moving DHCP and WINS services to a Windows 2003 server:

http://www.netometer.net/video/index.html?tutorials/nt4upgrade/index.html

I agree that upgrading first all the domains to Windows 2003 and making sure that you have perfectly functioning AD is the right plan.

Feel free to ask any questions which you have about your project.

Dean

NetoMeter

http://www.netometer.net