Win2K Workgroups and Exchange 2000 1

[tfccom]

Hey Everyone,

I have a Windows 2000 workgroup; 10 Win2K Pro Machines and One Win2K Server, all running on a TCP/IP net. Is it possible to install Exchange 2000 ina workgroup situation, or do you need AD and WINS. I have been told that you absolutly need WINS, but I'm not sure that that's true. Even if it was you can still have WINS without an Active Directory.

Is any of this possible?

Thanks,
Trevor Farren

 

[FilthPig]

Exchange 2000 requires Active Directory.

Active Directory requires DNS (not WINS).
Marc Creviere

 

[JBruyet]

Hey FilthPig,
I'm going to be purchasing a mail server program in the near future and I was considering Exchange 2000. I was going to build a Win2k server to put it on, but on my small network (three NT servers) I wasn't planning on installing Active Directory. Should I opt for choice #2, Ipswitch's IMail server?

Thanks,

Joe Brouillette

 

[FilthPig]

I havn't used it. All I can say is that I'm very pleased with Exchange 2000. Marc Creviere

 

[JBruyet]

Hmmmm... Does anybody know if there would be any adverse consequences if I had one Win2k server on an NT network (three NT servers) and that one Win2k server had AD running on it?

thanks,

Joe Brouillette

 

[Xybertron]

The first win2k AD server is going to be the PDC Emulator thus it will talk to the NT4 BDC's. Dan
Microsoft Exchange Support @ Microsoft

 

[FilthPig]

Just a small addition to Xybertron's post - the first DC in AD will talk to the NT4 BDC's if you upgrade the PDC of your current domain. If the NT4 machines aren't domain controllers, they'll work as member servers in AD. Marc Creviere

 

[JBruyet]

I realize we're getting a little bit off topic here, but if you would indulge me one last time I'd appreciate it. If I put a Win2k server on my network and promote it to DC, will my current NT DC automatically step down to BDC or will I need to reconfigure it manually? Will all the users be copied to the Win2k server or will I need to enter them manually? If anyone can point me to a FAQ or something that would be great.

thanks,

Joe Brouillette

 

[FilthPig]

No, in order to achieve that, you'd have to install a new NT4 BDC (or complete the following on an existing BDC), promote it to PDC, and then upgrade it to Windows 2000 Server. That will upgrade your domain to Active Directory, and the NT4 BDCs will look to your 2000 Server as the PDC. It's really a huge subject to cover - I'd recommend picking up Mastering Windows 2000 Server by Mark Minasi. It does a very good job of preparing the NT4 veteran for Active Directory, and has a section on upgrating/migrating from NT4. Marc Creviere

 

[JBruyet]

Thanks very much. I appreciate all the help!

Joe