Installing Exchange Server

[InlineFour]

I have two computers to install this setup. The first server is my Active Directory and Domain controller. The second computer will be my Exchange server. I've installed Forestprep and Domain prep on the Domain controller. So now I'm on the last step of actually installing the Exchange software. I tried installing the last step on the second server, however, it says that I've not run the Forestprep and Domainprep yet.

Do I need to set up something in the second computer? What am I missing here?

 

[RebateMonger]

What version of Exchange and what version of Servers?

 

[InlineFour]

exchange 2003 and windows 2003.

 

[RebateMonger]

Microsoft: How to Verify that ForestPrep and DomainPrep Completed Successfully

Microsoft Technet: Exchange Server 2003 Deployment Guide.

I have very little experience with pure Exchange 2003. Most of my Exchange Servers are part of SBS deployments. I know that the deployment tools for Exchange are VERY complete. But you need to pay attention to the results at each step. Sometimes, errors can be subtle. You can examine the installation log files at each step and look for problems. Obviously, make sure that you meet all the prerequisites (SMTP, NNTP, and World Wide Publishing Services, ASP.NET, and IIS. And WINS in the Domain somewhere wouldn't hurt. Make sure your deployment accounts have adequate permissions. And, of course, carefully follow each step.

ForestPrep needs to be run once on a Server in the Forest Root Domain. ForestPrep modifies the AD Schema to add necessary items.

DomainPrep needs to be run once on a Server in each Domain where you will be installing Exchange. Plus once in the Forest Root Domain. Plus once in any Domain that will contain mailbox-enabled objects (such as users and groups), even if no Exchange comptuers will be installed in that domain. DomainPrep adds necessary Groups and Permissions for Exchange to function.

If you only have a single Domain, you should only need to run ForestPrep and DomainPrep once.

 

[EatSpam]

How did you run forestprep and domainprep?

 

[spyordie007]

RebateMonger's post is spot-on.

I'd run forest prep and domainprep again, look closely at what errors are displayed (if any).

 

[InlineFour]

Do I need to install Active Directory on the Exchange server as well?

 

[nweaver]

no, but you have to have it be a member server in the domain (i.e. join it to the domain) and be logged in with forest? admin rights, iirc. been a few years

 

[InlineFour]

Ok so I"ll only have one Active Directory installed, but how do I manage the Exchange email accounts for each user? Is a new tab created for the Active Directory users, or do I manage through Exchange server?

 

[spyordie007]

It's best if you can avoid installing Exchange and AD on the same server; there are some known issues when the two sit on the same server (such as service interdependancies) so aside from SBS I try and avoid it.

When runing forestprep and domainprep there are a lot of privilages you need. Typically I'll do it with an account that is a member of both Domain Admins as well as Schema Admins.

 

[jlbenedict]

Originally posted by: InlineFour
Ok so I"ll only have one Active Directory installed, but how do I manage the Exchange email accounts for each user? Is a new tab created for the Active Directory users, or do I manage through Exchange server?

I believe in Exchange 2003 / Windows Server 2003, management of the email accounts is through Active Directory. Exchange 2003 is "Active Directory" integraged.

Once Exchange is installed, you'll notice alot more tabs and options on your accounts when you view them in Active Directory.

 

[InlineFour]

Originally posted by: spyordie007
It's best if you can avoid installing Exchange and AD on the same server; there are some known issues when the two sit on the same server (such as service interdependancies) so aside from SBS I try and avoid it.

When runing forestprep and domainprep there are a lot of privilages you need. Typically I'll do it with an account that is a member of both Domain Admins as well as Schema Admins.

yeah, that's what i wanted to do. however, i'm not sure if i have to run forestprep and domain prep on the active directory server, exchange server, or both.

from rebatemonger's post, it seems like i have to run forestprep on the active directory server and domainprep on the exchagne server.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: InlineFour
however, i'm not sure if i have to run forestprep and domain prep on the active directory server, exchange server, or both.

You can run ForestPrep and DomainPrep on any Member Server in the Domain. It'll probably run faster if you run it directly on the Forest Root Domain Controller if you just have a single Domain.

 

[spyordie007]

Originally posted by: jlbenedict

Originally posted by: InlineFour
Ok so I"ll only have one Active Directory installed, but how do I manage the Exchange email accounts for each user? Is a new tab created for the Active Directory users, or do I manage through Exchange server?

I believe in Exchange 2003 / Windows Server 2003, management of the email accounts is through Active Directory. Exchange 2003 is "Active Directory" integraged.

Once Exchange is installed, you'll notice alot more tabs and options on your accounts when you view them in Active Directory.

Sort of, but not exactly.

The Active Directory Users and Computers msc is where you will manage the user accounts (for Exchange and AD); you will also want the Exchange System Manager to manage the Exchange organizaiton and servers.

AD Users and Computers can be installed on any XP/2K3 domain member by running adminpak.msi; to gain the Exchange functionality put the Exchange CD in that computer and do a custom install, one of the options is the Exchange System Manager, this will give you ESM itself as well aso add the tabs in AD Users and Computers.

Cheers,

Erik

 

[jlbenedict]

Originally posted by: spyordie007

Originally posted by: jlbenedict

Originally posted by: InlineFour
Ok so I"ll only have one Active Directory installed, but how do I manage the Exchange email accounts for each user? Is a new tab created for the Active Directory users, or do I manage through Exchange server?

I believe in Exchange 2003 / Windows Server 2003, management of the email accounts is through Active Directory. Exchange 2003 is "Active Directory" integraged.

Once Exchange is installed, you'll notice alot more tabs and options on your accounts when you view them in Active Directory.

Sort of, but not exactly.

The Active Directory Users and Computers msc is where you will manage the user accounts (for Exchange and AD); you will also want the Exchange System Manager to manage the Exchange organizaiton and servers.

AD Users and Computers can be installed on any XP/2K3 domain member by running adminpak.msi; to gain the Exchange functionality put the Exchange CD in that computer and do a custom install, one of the options is the Exchange System Manager, this will give you ESM itself as well aso add the tabs in AD Users and Computers.

Cheers,

Erik

:thumbsup:
Good stuff

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: spyordie007
It's best if you can avoid installing Exchange and AD on the same server; there are some known issues when the two sit on the same server (such as service interdependancies) so aside from SBS I try and avoid it.

When runing forestprep and domainprep there are a lot of privilages you need. Typically I'll do it with an account that is a member of both Domain Admins as well as Schema Admins.

It should be ok, they suggest splitting them if you are a large organization as Exchange + AD in large organizations can be resource intensive.

 

[stash]

It should be ok, they suggest splitting them if you are a large organization as Exchange + AD in large organizations can be resource intensive.

Not to mention that running both on one box pretty much kills any sort of redundancy.

If you separate them, you could cluster Exchange and have additional DCs. You can have additional DCs if you keep Exchange on a DC of course, but it won't use any of the other ones.