Hi guys, so my exchange server died and i'll be using the recovery switch but i wanted to know, do i have to use the same OS? like i know the new exchange server will have to be at the same version but if say i had 2008 can i use 2008 R2 as the OS of the new server? Thanks guys.

Not supported. Setup /m:RecoverServer cannot be used across operating systems. A server that was originally running Windows Server 2003 can be recovered only on Windows Server 2003, and a server that was originally running Windows Server 2008 can be recovered only on Windows Server 2008. Understanding Setup /M:RecoverServer http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa998656(EXCHG.80).aspx The only supported methods would be to build a separate box later and use DB portability to move the DB to the new 2008 server. So how do you get Exchange 2007 SP1 on Windows Server 2008? There are three migration paths that you can use to do this: Build a new server or cluster by doing a fresh install of Windows 2008, and then Exchange 2007 SP1, and migrate the mailbox data using the move mailbox tasks.Build a new server or cluster by doing a fresh install of Windows 2008, and then Exchange 2007 SP1, and migrate the mailbox data using database portability and/or backup and restore.Preserve the data on an existing server, uninstall Exchange, uninstall PowerShell, uninstall any other in-place upgrade blockers, upgrade to Windows Server 2008 (or perform a fresh install of Windows Server 2008), install PowerShell and other pre-requisites, install Exchange 2007 SP1, use database portability or backup/restore, reconfigure the server, reinstall 3^rd party applications, etc.James Chong MCITP | EA | EMA; MCSE | M+, S+ Security+, Project+, ITIL msexchangetips.blogspot.com