Hi guys, I'm recently working on the migration from 2003 DC to 2008 DC. As far as it goes, everything is almost OK. AD and DNS have migrated from 2003 to 2008 and then I depromoted the 2003 DC with dcpromo removing AD from 2003 finally. The intention is to have a 2008 AD with some other services running, and leave the 2003 with Exchange 2003 so we separate sevices. Existing accounts work fine for logon and Exchange access but when creating new accounts, the get created on the 2008 DC with AD, but the Exchange profile in the other server 2003 with exchange is not created. I've seen user properties tabs and there are no exchange tabs like they used in the 2003 AD with exchange. So, how can I achieve this, and get this working so I can have this 2 separated servers? is it possible? Is there some exchange roles o exchange access to give for the new 2008 DC so I can get both servers work together? Thanks in advance.

Can you explain with bit more details? Was 2003 DC running with Exchange 2003 on it and you ran DCPromo? Is it SBS 2003 server or stand alone Windows and Exchange server? I am asking this because running DCpromo to promote/demote DC is not supported when Exchange is installed in same box.Amit Tank | MVP Exchange Server | MCITP: EMA | MCSA: M | http://ExchangeShare.WordPress.com

Hi Amit, In fact it is a one 2003 DC + Exchange running in the same box. It is an enterprise windows 2003 stand alone. What was intended to do is, to migrate the AD from the 2003 server to the 2008 which worked fine, then depromote the 2003 server as the DC leaving the 2008 as the new DC, and leave exchange running in the 2003 depromoted box. After the AD migration from 2003 to 2008, mailboxes kept working fine. As a regular task, when you create a user it's mailbox is created to, and when you se User Properties in the Users and Computers from AD you can see the Exchange related tabs on those properties. But alfter the AD migration I did, I can create users but their mailboxes are not created. Previous existing mailboxes keep working but there is no chance to create new mailboxes when creating new users. For what you're telling me I'm realizing that this is the not supported scenario right? As for what Jens tells me: "I would think that installing Exchange System Manager at the WS2008 box should solve the problem." Will it work? or do I definetly have to change the strategy? Another thing I was thinking of as after Meinolf recommendations is to: 1. Create a new 2003 fresh box 2. Make it member of the domain 3. Move mailboxes from the existing 2003 DC+Exchange box to the new Fresh 2003 box 4. Migrate AD from the 2003 DC to the new 2008 DC 5. Depromote the 2003 original box Am I in a correct way now? Thanks in advance.

Where do you create users, on new AD 2008 box or on Exchange 2003 server? Try creating a user in Exchange 2003 box by opening ADU&C in Start -> Program Files -> Microsoft Exchange and see if it issuccessful. Check event id 2080 on current Exchange 2003 box and make sure that it detect new AD 2008 box correctly. I hope it should be because other part of Exchange works fine so... There is ESM for Windows Vista but not sure about Windows 2008 though, didn't ever try it on Windows 2008. So I would say you can use any of th workstation with XP/Vista and install AD management tools and ESM to create and manage AD and Exchange users since those arecompatible... If user management on XP/Vista or current Exchange 2003 gives any error then we may think about the new Exchange 2003 box and move mailbox method...Amit Tank | MVP Exchange Server | MCITP: EMA | MCSA: M | http://ExchangeShare.WordPress.com