My clients Exchange server is dying fast. They want Exchange loaded on the new Terminal server. I know this is not best practice but in an effort to save money they want to proceed. Exchange is now loaded and working on the new Terminal Server. However I believe its going to need to be a Domain Controller in order to migrate over the mailboxes from the old Exchange server that is actually on a different domain. When adding Domain Controller option role onto new Terminal server it prompts me one of the following options. Domain controller for new domain or additional Domain Controller for existing domain? Additional Domain Controller seems like the correct choice. As this domain already has a primary Domain Controller that is another box. However proceeding says it will delete all local accounts on this server! The new Exchange server is an active Terminal server so the local accounts and profiles are crucial. Any advice on how I should proceed or if I am even going about this in the right manner? Thanks!!

If you have installed Exchange you cannot promote the server to be a domain controller. You would have to remove Exchange first, promote the server, then install Exchange. Still, Exchange does not have to be on a domain controller; in fact best practice is to not install Exchange on a domain controller. You will not be able to move mailboxes per se. You will basically have to either buy a third-party tool like Quest Migration Manager or export the mailboxes using Exmerge and import them back into the new system, and your users will probably not have a good experience unless you really know what you're doing. Seriously, this is one of those cases where you're being penny-wise and pound-foolish. It could well end up costing more than it saves.Ed Crowley MVP "There are seldom good technological solutions to behavioral problems."

Totally agree with Ed. I have been through the same situation 2 year ago and trust me you wouldn't want to be in that kind of situation. Gulab | MCITP: Exchange 2010-2007 | Skype: Gulab.Mallah | Blog: www.ExchangeRanger.Blogspot.com

As Ed mentioned, you cannot install Exchange before installing DC. In my opinion, you can build a new DC and install Exchange in the DC. Then, you can move the users via ADMT and migrate user mailbox. For more information, please refer to the following article: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc974332(WS.10).aspx Thanks. Novak Please remember to click “Mark as Answer” on the post that helps you, and to click “Unmark as Answer” if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.