Thanks for the clarification Michael. John T eServices For You "Seek, and ye shall find!" -----Original Message----- From: exchangelist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:exchangelist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Michael B. Smith Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 7:46 AM To: exchangelist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [ExchangeList] Re: Before Upgrading to 2003 Server - LDF Problem Item (3) is not correct. Certain features of Exchange 2003 require Windows 2003 AD; but Exchange 2003 will, in general, work on Windows 2000 AD quite happily. But I absolutely agree with your other conclusions and recommendations. _____ From: exchangelist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:exchangelist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of John T (Lists) Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 5:34 PM To: exchangelist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [ExchangeList] Re: Before Upgrading to 2003 Server - LDF Problem You have 3 problems that are combing to create a super problem: 1. Exchange 2000 & 2003 are integrated/rely on Active directory. When Exchange is installed on a DC, it is a permanent bond that can not be broken. As far as Exchange is concerned, there is no other DC in the world. 2. Exchange 2000 will not run on Windows Server 2003. Therefore, to upgrade to Exchange 2003, you must first upgrade Exchange 2000 to Exchange 2003, and then upgrade the OS. 3. Exchange 2003 requires Windows 2003 Active Directory. Super Problem: Since to upgrade to Exchange 2003 you have to first access Windows 2003 Active directory, and since Exchange is installed on a DC and it is a permanent bond, you must first upgrade the OS to Windows 2003 BUT you can not do that because Exchange 2000 will not run on Windows 2003 and therefore you will not be able to upgrade it to Exchange 2003. So, IMHO, the recommended course of action is to create a new server running Windows 2000 and Exchange 2000 and NOT a DC. Migrate mailboxes to that server. Demote the current Exchange server, uninstall Exchange and drop the server from the domain. Now, upgrade your Active directory to Windows 2003. Upgrade Exchange 2000 to 2003 and then upgrade the underlying OS to Windows 2003. Yes, a lot of work and time. But then again, that is why MS publishes white papers ahead of time telling people not to install Exchange onto a DC. John T eServices For You "Seek, and ye shall find!"