Exchange 2007 AD Support

[Bozteck]

We have a Windows 2000 Active Directory domain. I know that Exchange 2007 will run on nothing less than Windows 2003 but can it operate in an Active Directory environment based upon Windows 2000? Is it as simple as doing a forestprep to update the schema, allowing us to keep our Windows 2000 domain controllers or do we absolutely have to upgrade all of our domain controllers to 2003?

[fizban2]

The domain controller that is the schema master must have Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1) installed. (By default, the schema master runs on the first Windows domain controller installed in a forest.)

• You must have at least one global catalog server in every Active Directory directory service site where you plan to install Exchange 2007. This global catalog server must be running Windows Server 2003 SP1.

• Windows Server 2003 SP1 is recommended for the following reasons:

• Windows Server 2003 SP1 supports Exchange 2007 service notifications. When a configuration change occurs in Active Directory, a notification is sent to the service. Several Exchange 2007 services use this notification. The notification mechanism in Windows Server 2003 SP1 is an improvement over the notification mechanism in Windows 2000 Server.

• Windows Server 2003 SP1 allows users to browse the address book in Microsoft Outlook Web Access.

• Windows Server 2003 SP1 provides the ability to look up distribution list membership in a more efficient manner than in Windows 2000 Server.

• In each domain where you will run Setup /PrepareLegacyExchangePermissions, setup must contact a Windows Server 2003 SP1 domain controller. Setup /PrepareLegacyExchangePermissions will not complete successfully if it cannot find at least one Windows Server 2003 SP1 domain controller.

exchange 2007 requires the AD schema to be at 2003 level, it cannot run with the AD domain at 2000. You might be able to upgrade to 2003 mixed mode and get away with having your Schema Master at 2003 SP1 and the GC for each domain 2003 SP1 while the other DCs are 2000. but i doubt that it would be a recommended configuration

[cluberti]

Exchange 2007 will run in a domain at Windows 2000 native, but is recommended to run in a domain that is at least at 2003 mixed-mode, and strongly suggested to run in a 2003 native AD. Exchange 2007 also requires that the Schema Master and the Global Catalog servers run Windows Server 2003 with SP1.

Also remember that it the production RTM version of Exchange 2007 will be x64 only, so you'll need an x64 (Intel or AMD) Windows 2003 EE x64 machine for each install of Exchange 2007.

Edited October 19, 2006 by cluberti

[fizban2]

Exchange 2007 will run in a domain at Windows 2000 native, but is recommended to run in a domain that is at least at 2003 mixed-mode, and strongly suggested to run in a 2003 native AD. Exchange 2007 also requires that the Schema Master and the Global Catalog servers run Windows Server 2003 with SP1.

Also remember that it the production RTM version of Exchange 2007 will be x64 only, so you'll need an x64 (Intel or AMD) Windows 2003 EE x64 machine for each install of Exchange 2007.

so 2000 native will work?? on the exchange page it said that 2003 mixed was needed........... maybe i just read it wrong

[cluberti]

It works just fine for the betas of 2007 - not sure if it'll change in the release version (I wouldn't be surprised if they change the check, but...).

[fizban2]

good information to know!

i have only had it running on 2003 R2, but is it good to hear it will go back that far.

@ bozteck

so basically you would need to upgrade at least one of your Global Catalog servers to 2003 sp1 and the schema Master to 2003 Sp1, the other DCs you could leave at 2000

[Bozteck]

so basically you would need to upgrade at least one of your Global Catalog servers to 2003 sp1 and the schema Master to 2003 Sp1, the other DCs you could leave at 2000

For the record, I have tested this to be true. Thanks for the info, guys! I hope to return the favor in other subjects or threads.