Domain/Forest Functionality

[Storm]

Hi All

We previously had 2 2k3 domain servers, these have now been upgraded to 2008 r2

We are also running 2003 exchange which is due to be upgraded, will it cause any issues if i upgrade the forest or domain funcitonatlity to 2008?

Thanks

[sc302 Veteran]

I would hold off until you no longer have 2003 AD servers. Once you no longer have 2003 AD servers then you can upgrade the domain functionality level to 2008 regardless of what kind of servers you have on the network.

[Storm]

Well we no longer have them now, ive upgraded the last one..

Just Exchange 2003 and a bes server, was just wondering if upgrading it would break either of those!

[sc302 Veteran]

do not change the function level with a 2003 exchange server. bes won't break, exchange will....but being that exchange will be broken bes will be too.

[Zinomian]

i believe it will... exchange 2003 uses a lot of info from AD in the 2003 mode, so just upgrade to exchange 2010 first, also upgrade you BES and then move the forest to 2008 mode.

[Storm]

Ok understood, glad i didnt do it :)

Next question, is there an EASY way to migrate from Exchange 2003 -> 2010?

[sc302 Veteran]

build a new 2010 server in your environment then move the mailboxes from 2003 to 2010

http://technet.micro...y/dd638187.aspx

that will be the easiest way. exmerging is a pita and takes too long.

[Storm]

Thanks mate,

So its OK to have 2 different exchange servers on one domain?

[sc302 Veteran]

yes.

[Zinomian]

http://www.simple-talk.com/sysadmin/exchange/upgrade-exchange-2003-to-exchange-2010/

Follow the instructions...I did, and all works fine.

you may have an issue here or there depending on your setup. i could send you a document i created with a summary of the site and some edits i found that worked for me (also some commands for BES and exchange2011) if you end up having issues.

[Storm]

http://www.simple-ta...-exchange-2010/

Follow the instructions...I did, and all works fine.

you may have an issue here or there depending on your setup. i could send you a document i created with a summary of the site and some edits i found that worked for me (also some commands for BES and exchange2011) if you end up having issues.

Thanks that looks handy.

I have a few questions,

can i have mailbox roles, and stores etc all on the same server?

And im wanting to do all that in one go, so i can just transfer them across, and once completed AD will see the new srver as the mail host?

[Storm]

Also, once thats done, do i simply point the bes express server to the new mail server? (is that easy?)

[Zinomian]

Also, once thats done, do i simply point the bes express server to the new mail server? (is that easy?)

stop the services on the BES server...migrate the BESAdmin account to the new server (exchange) and restart services (or reboot server), if all is properly configured, including firewall ports, etc, BES should work fine. Keep in mind to research all the commands you need to run for exchange 2010.

[Zinomian]

Thanks that looks handy.

I have a few questions,

can i have mailbox roles, and stores etc all on the same server?

And im wanting to do all that in one go, so i can just transfer them across, and once completed AD will see the new srver as the mail host?

Yes. and Yes.

[Storm]

stop the services on the BES server...migrate the BESAdmin account to the new server (exchange) and restart services (or reboot server), if all is properly configured, including firewall ports, etc, BES should work fine. Keep in mind to research all the commands you need to run for exchange 2010.

Brilliant, Getting tehre

when you say migrate the BESADMIN account, do you just mean the permissions basically?

ta

[Zinomian]

Brilliant, Getting tehre

when you say migrate the BESADMIN account, do you just mean the permissions basically?

ta

No, I mean that there should be a "BesAdmin" mailbox on your system, and that needs to be migrated from the old exchange server to the new one, just like any other mailbox. While this account is being migrated, i would either shut down the BES server or stop all of its servers. And the commands from BES for exchange 2010 are permissions basically, they are all just shell commands and cant really be configured via the gui anymore like you did on exchange 2003.

[Storm]

Thanks,

Thats great, ive got 2003 -> 2010 interop working great now,

i want to migrate my mailbox over to the new server to test, but i have a blackberry....

So is there a way of making the besadmin accuont available to both servers?

Thanks

[sc302 Veteran]

you just need to follow through with the besadmin install for the 2010 server. make sure you use the same account info (don't create a second account). besadmin (because it is a domain user) will detect what exchange server the user is going to and connect accordingly...just setup the 2010 server as specified in the docs and you will be fine.

[Storm]

Brilliant...

When you say besadmin install how do you mean?

Just setting the permissions basically?

[sc302 Veteran]

Yes

[Storm]

Cheers mate.

Don't suppose you know of a walk through?

Ed

[sc302 Veteran]

Just the setup instructions on blackberry's site.