Install of 2010 Fails Readiness Check Forest Functional Level
Hi Folks, I'm having some problems getting past the readiness check when attempting to install Exchange 2010 on a 2008 R2 Hyper V machine. I'm logged in as the domain administrator. Both our domain and forest are both running at 2008 functional levels. We're currently running Exchange 2007. The readiness check fails saying "Error: The forest functional level of the current Active Directory forest is not Windows Server 2003 native or later. To install Exchange Server 2010, the forest functional level must be at least Windows Server 2003 native." We only have one Server 08 DC and I have double checked both domain and forest functionality levels to confirm they are all 2008. Not sure what else to check. Suggestions warmly welcomed. Thanks, Adam
April 22nd, 2010 1:21am

You need to have at least one GC running windows server 2003 w/SP1 in your environment.Elie B. MCT; MCITP: EMEA|EA|SA; MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Configuration; Blog: http://blog.elieb.info
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April 22nd, 2010 9:11am

Hi Elie, Sorry don't understnand your reply. GC Global Catalog? Or si this a typo and should be DC? I dont' undertsand what role a 2003 SP1 server would fulfil. I interpreted the message as simply requirinng 2003 or later. Not that a 2003 device is present. Thanks, ADam
April 22nd, 2010 9:29am

Hi Agilbert Actually, In each domain in which you will install Exchange 2010, you must have at least one domain controller running Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1). I have seen similar issues and probably it is related to some compatibility with environments running only on Windows Server 2008 functional level.Elie B. MCT; MCITP: EMEA|EA|SA; MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Configuration; Blog: http://blog.elieb.info
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April 22nd, 2010 9:55am

given that I've raised our domain and forest level to 2008, I would think that it wouldn't be possible to now add a 2003 DC?
April 22nd, 2010 10:00am

You might follow the solution in this thread, it might help: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/winserverMigration/thread/b6bcfb8d-b5b9-4caa-8ab7-2a71864ab560Elie B. MCT; MCITP: EMEA|EA|SA; MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Configuration; Blog: http://blog.elieb.info
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April 22nd, 2010 11:19am

Thanks Elie that seems like a rather drastic approach to install Exchange. I don't know that I want to go messing with DC and moving AD back to 2003 only to have to then move it back to 2008 again. Sureley there must be some other appraoch to get round this. Thanks, Adam
April 23rd, 2010 1:25am

Ok I have identified the problem. WHen I was checking the forest functionallity level I was checking from Active Directory Domains and Trusts and right clicking on our domain which was set to 2008. However I needed to right click on the entry above that Active Directory Domains and Trusts [MyComputer.headoffice.MyDomain] Problem Solved
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April 23rd, 2010 9:13am

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