NT4 w Exchange 5.5 to W2K3

[odiedawg]

Here's my current environment:
NT4 PDC (Print svcs, WINS, DNS, DHCP, File Server)
NT4 BDC (Exchange 5.5)

User Accounts: 15
Mailboxes: ~ 25 (total priv database is around 8GB - I know way too large
for the number of users, total pub db ~ 200MB)

Here's what I have done so far:
a. Purchased 2 new W2K3 server boxes
b. On Server 1, I have installed DHCP, Print Svcs, WINS and DNS, migrated
data from old PDC to this server- just files no accounts) - also patched box
with current OS patches.
c. Pointed users on existing NT4 domain to the new file shares on Server1
and Print Server.
d. Stopped all services on old PDC (DNS, WINS, DHCP)
d. On server 2 I have patched the OS with current patches. This server
will be my Exchange server.

Here's my plan so far:
1. Have Server1 be a AD DC for a new 2K3 domain
2. Create a trust between old NT4 domain and new domain created in step 1.
3. Here's where I need some suggestions......

Here's my questions:
1. Since I plan to create a new domain and exchange organization, do I need
to
run ADMT to migrate the accounts, computers, groups to the new AD domain and
then install Exchange 2003 into existing 5.5 organization? Or can I setup a
new Exchange Organization and then move mailboxes to this new organization?
2. Would I be better off taking a different approach like EXMERGE based on
number of users?
3. I have read that it's not a good idea to have an Exchange server also be
a DC. Having said that, should I have an existing 2k server become a DC in
the newly created domain? I am nervous at not having more than one DC in the
new 2K3 domain.
4. If you only have one DC, will Exchange function with the DC offline?

Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions.

[seth]

this should help you with questions 1 &2

Planning to Move from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/guides/PlanE2k3MsgSys/40968c49-43bb-4d8b-bb40-eb6996b764ae.mspx

How to Migrate from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2003 Using the Active Directory
Migration Tool
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/guides/PlanE2k3MsgSys/504334e5-6ba1-474b-a37c-976553f8d79a.mspx

Upgrading from Exchange Server 5.5 to Exchange Server 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/2003/upgrade55to2k3.mspx

How to use the Exchange Migration Wizard to migrate mailboxes from an
Exchange organization
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;328871

As for 3, do you already have a 2000 server? you only mentioned having 2 NT
servers and purchased 2 2003 servers.
If so, you could have one of the 2003 servers and the 2000 server as DC's
and the other 2003 server with exchange.
If not, it wouldn't necessarily hurt having exchange on a DC, thought it is
not generally recommended, but sometimes necessary (see article below).
Of course, I would recommended having 2 DC's because having only 1 is right
there a single point of failure if it went down.
Considering the small environment, I wouldn't be against having exchange on
a DC. I have that here with a little slightly larger environment than yours
and no performance issues so you should be ok.
Just keep in mind that once exchange is on a DC it can't be demoted while
exchange is on it. Just FYI for the future.

This should provide more information with questions 3 & 4 (global catalog,
exchange on DC, etc)

Global catalog server placement and ratios in an Exchange 2000 Server
organization or in an Exchange Server 2003 organization
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;875427

HTH

"odiedawg" <odie...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:92722EBB-4237-46CA...@microsoft.com...

[odiedawg]

Seth,

Thanks for taking the time to give me some useful info. Question for you:

I mentioned that I bought a new server and setup wins, dns etc. This server
will be my new DC for a newly created AD domain. The server is currently a
member server of my NT4 domain - forgot that I had dome that step. In order
to begin the creation of the new domain - do I simply move the new server to
a workgroup and then go through the process of making it a DC in a new
domain? If I do that, will my NT4 domain users then not be able to use the
print svs, wins, dns? Would establishing the trust between the two domains
address/resolve that issue?

odiedawg

[seth]

1) yes - remove the 2003 server from the NT domain (to be part of a
workgroup) and run dcpromo to create the new forest and domain
2) after the 2003 server is running ad DC, you can setup the trust to use
the printers

you would need to establish a trust anyway when you migrate users

How to establish trusts with a Windows NT-based domain in Windows Server
2003
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;325874

"odiedawg" <odie...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

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