Upgrading SBS Enviro to Exch07

[multiband8303]

Prereqs for Exchange 07 are..


We have a small business server 2000 box - that is currently doing all the FSMO roles (as should be) including these 2 - we are going to add 2 new boxes, both Windows Server 2003 R2 - one a DC/File storage server, the other our new mail server running you guessed it, Exchange 2007 - we would like to keep the SBS box due to some propitary software that is running and has been configured by a 3rd party company, that I would care never to recreate...ever again.

My real question is - how much will SBS2k cry when I take away one of its precious FSMO roles - by moving the schema master over to the new DC

Please indulge. Kthx bye.

 

[RebateMonger]

I don't know about SBS 2000. SBS 2003 must hold all FSMO roles and be the root of the forest. Otherwise, SBS 2003 will start rebooting itself every few hours after about three days.

The requirement for Exchange 2007 seems to be that the Schema Master must be at Server 2003 SP1 or higher. It sounds like you could upgrade your SBS 2000 to SBS 2003 Premium Edition and then keep the Schema Master on the SBS Server. I'd likely upgrade the SBS to 2003 anyway, because of improved reliability and ease of restoration.

If I needed to know this for sure, I'd contact the local Microsoft Tech Reps and ask. Personally, I'd probably upgrade SBS, add the file server/DC, and hold off on the Exchange 2007 Server for a while. I think it's a bit early for Exchange 2007.

 

[multiband8303]

SBS2000 to SS2k3 might be a good idea for the schema master, however we must upgrade to Exchange 2007 - the client wants this specifically, I don't ask questions anymore - I just do what I'm paid to do. I will contact our local Microsoft partner and get the low down. But if we do have SBS2k3 running all the FSMO roles - will it cry with another DC on the forest?

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: multiband8303
But if we do have SBS2k3 running all the FSMO roles - will it cry with another DC on the forest?

No. You can have as many DCs as you wish. At least up to 75 or so, as long as there are no Users.

 

[stash]

I did this once in a test environment and it seemed to work ok.

http://www.msexchange.org/tuto...2003-domain-Part1.html

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: stash
I did this once in a test environment and it seemed to work ok.

http://www.msexchange.org/tuto...2003-domain-Part1.html

That's interesting. Thanks, stash.