Windows Server 2008 R2 Setup Where to Start

[Emulex]

exchange server 2010 works fine under 2008 R2.

You have to buy R2 and 2010 now - you can downgrade rights to 2008 server and 2007 i guess but that seems silly

 

[pollardhimself]

I have the r2 domain functionality set to windows 2008 R2, If I format the current server with windows 2003 standard and join it to the r2 domain will i have any issues?

I think I am just going to have everyone backup there email, then setup everything from scratch

 

[rasczak]

how much time do you have pollard? you may want to take a step back if you can afford to and come up with an upgrade plan. you'll very easily get lost going back and forth between setups if you haven't done this before. also, since you haven't added the new server to the domain yet, feel free to blow away the installation anytime if you don't feel like you have something done correctly. the repetition will help you later on. i've built a couple of networks from scratch, and we're currently looking at upgrading our current 2003 infrastructure to the 2008 arch.

i agree with rebate, you should create a new domain with the 2008 box and a couple of test clients. then either create new accounts on the new domain, migrate your email over to the new exchange server and get all of your server apps installed to make sure there's no compatibility issues. then add a "test" users (actual users) to the domain and have them test run your new network setup for you. once you feel comfortable with the new setup, begin migrating your users and their desktops to your new domain and retire the old one.

this way you don't lose functionality of the 2008 server you have an entirely new domain and you have the notes from the install and build out at your disposal.

 

[pollardhimself]

Ive decided to take a "Configuring & Troubleshooting a Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure" class so I can get a good basis to start from because Im a little lost

http://www.hyperlearn.com/courses/m...ograms/mcitp-server-admin/network-server-2008

 

[phoenix79]

I just upgraded our 2003 (not SBS) domain to 2008R2 over the past few weeks. It went quite smoothly. I added the new servers to the old domain and promoted them to DC's. Then transfered all the FSMO's to one of them and demoted the old DC's. This is across a span of about 2 weeks to allow for replication of each change so don't just go in and change everything at once.

I bought the book Windows Server 2008 R2: Unleashed on the recommendation of a couple people here, it was invaluable to me for the upgrade.