I needexpert advice on below scenario: Current Setting: Exchange 2003 R2 installed on windows SBS 2003under domain name Company1.local Goal: Install Exchange 2007 SP1 on Windows Server 2003 under domain name Company2.local; transition data to exchange 2007; decommission exchange 2003. please note that both servers are physically miles apart. any suggestions on deployment planning will be very helpful. thanks, Mandeep

Hi, Before we move on, I had to say that you need to set up the fast communication channel between Servers. Data Transition need fast link between these servers. For that you want to setup a new domain, and user account should be the same as the former account in Company1.local,is that right? So you can migrate the account to the new installed AD, and then deploy the Exchange organization. 1. You must first use a tool such as the ActiveDirectoryMigration Tool version3.0 (ADMTv3) to move the user account to the target forest, and then move the mailbox to the target account. For more information about ADMTv3, see Active Directory Migration Tool v3.0. 2. You can use GALsync tool to synchronize the global address lists (GALs), I recommend you to use GALs Identity Lifecycle Manager (ILM) 2007 Feature Pack 1 to synchronize Exchange 2007 GALs. 3. Then you can move mailbox from Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2007. How to Move a Mailbox Across Forests http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa997145(EXCHG.80).aspx Details you can refer to the below article: How to Transition from Cross-Forest to Cross-Forest http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124363(EXCHG.80).aspx Notelease make full backup before you perform any action. Hope it helps. Xiu

Please note that Exchange 2003 is on a SBS domain. Therefore, I cannot use cross forest transition since SBS doesn't support Trusts...please advice if i'm wrong here. if that's the case, what are my options? i really don't want to go exmerge route...

Hi, Then you need to upgradeSBS domain to windows 2003 server standard. SBS 2003 Transition Pack http://blogs.technet.com/moloyt/archive/2007/10/10/sbs-2003-transition-pack.aspx Besides,you can use microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs to get better help on SBS migration. http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs Hope it helps. Xiu