Hello, I have an exchange2003SP2 server in my organization and today its on a windows 2003 Domain enviroment. I would like to raise up my domain controllers to use windows 2008R2 and to remove completely the windows 2003 DC's. what should I take in mind in this kind of upgrade? will my exchange 2003 continue working after the forest/ad preps? can I raise the functional level of the domain to windows 2008R2 with no problems? Thanks!

Hi You need to run adprep to promote a 2008 R2 DC into your domain And before raising the domain/forest functional level, make sure that your old servers are demoted before doing that. And another tip, check what devices that are using your DNS servers for name resolution, if changing the IP on the DNS servers(DCs) it needs to be changed on the devices too. In some cases when the opportunity have been there it's pretty nice to demote dc2 and reinstall it with win 2008 r2, set it up with the same ip like before and then adprep and the rest. Then take the last 2003 dc, demote it and install win 2008 r2 on it, take same ip address and then promote it as dc Jonas Andersson MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007/2010 | MCITP: EMA 2007/2010 | MCSE/MCSA Blog: http://www.testlabs.se/blog

Thank you for your sharing!Your expertise never fails to impress :)

Thank you very much for your quick response. I would like to know if there should be any affect on my exchange 2003 servers accessing the AD. and from what I understand is that I should promote to Windows 2008R2 domain enviroment all my servers and demote all my 2003 DC's? when promoting I should I promote the domain to a windows 2008 functional level and not to windows 2008R2 functional level because problems can pop up with my exchange 2003 to the AD connection is that right? Thanks again for your help.

Thank you very much for your quick response. I would like to know if there should be any affect on my exchange 2003 servers accessing the AD. and from what I understand is that I should promote to Windows 2008R2 domain enviroment all my servers and demote all my 2003 DC's? when promoting I should I promote the domain to a windows 2008 functional level and not to windows 2008R2 functional level because problems can pop up with my exchange 2003 to the AD connection is that right? Thanks again for your help. There shouldn't be any impact's.. but make a proper checklist and make a good plan, that's the key :) For ex.. You have 2 DC's named: DC01 and DC02 with ip 1.1.1.1 and 1.1.1.2 First, Start with doing the adprep to prepare the environment for Windows 2008 R2 Second, demote DC02 (dcpromo), install the Win 2008 R2 server, give it ip 1.1.1.2 and promote it as DC/GC/DNS and move fsmo roles to it. Third, demote DC01 (dcpromo), instal the Win 2008 R2 server, give it ip 1.1.1.1 and promoto it as DC/GC/DNS When you are done and have a updated environment with only Win2008R2 DC's , then you can raise the forest/domain functional level, not beforeJonas Andersson MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007/2010 | MCITP: EMA 2007/2010 | MCSE/MCSA Blog: http://www.testlabs.se/blog

Thanks a lot for your help. hope it will go smooth.

You're welcome! :)Jonas Andersson MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007/2010 | MCITP: EMA 2007/2010 | MCSE/MCSA Blog: http://www.testlabs.se/blog