First, let me preface by saying, I've never set up Exchange in any form, and I am nottrying to migrate from an existing Exchange setup. I am doing this work in a test enviroment, as well. That being said. My question is, should I make my Exchange server a DomainController as well? In looking through the forums here, and trying to resolve an issue with the Exchange System Attendant service not starting, and refusing to start, it seems this could be caused by the Exchange Server not finding the assorted Domain Role servers. I would think, if the Exchange Server was also a DC, that it would likely not run into this problem. But, what other problems might crop up if it is a DC? Some info on the test enviroment: Current DC: Server 2008 Standard Exchange Server: Server 2008 Standard, Exchange 2007 SP1 Thanks, Jason A.

It is supported to combine Exchange and Domain Controller services on the same machine, but generally not recommended. More importantly this will likely not resolve your issue. You have a problem and you should figure out whats causing it, not just how to sweep it under the rug! - no offense! :)The first place to start in your troubleshooting is the windows Event Logs. The application log will report the issues Exchange has with contacting Active Directory. If the issue is related to the box itself not being able to contact a GC or DC, the System Log will also have entries to this effect. Please review those logs and paste the relevant ones to this forum if you want help interpreting them.I should also ask more about the environment itself. How are the DC and current Exchange server connected? is the DC running AD-integrated DNS? is the Exchange server using the DC as it's primary DNS server? is the DC a Global Catalog (GC) server? Is the IP of the Exchange server within a range of defined subnets in Active Directory Sites and Services?I could go on, but please reply to the above questions and we can work from there.Mike Crowley: MCT, MCSE, MCTS, MCITP: Enterprise Administrator / Messaging Administrator

Mike, Understood, and agreed. Currently, I am in the process of re-setting up my test enviroment, but I can give some answers to the questions about the previous enviroment (which I intend to duplicate) The DC and exchange server are on the same physical network, through a gigabit switch. The DC was running AD integrated DNS (it is also the only DC / DNS) The Exchange server was using the DC as its primary DNS (handed out via DHCP) Not sure on the Global Catalog, but I expect it was. Thanks, and once I get the test enviroment re-setup, if I continue to have a problem, I'll be back! Jason A.

What about the Event log entries? And the AD Sites and Services? Mike Crowley: MCT, MCSE, MCTS, MCITP: Enterprise Administrator / Messaging Administrator