One thing you should probably point out is that you won't be able to use the FE server for OWA access. I know it wasn't explicitly mentioned, but just to be complete since Chris seems to have this jumbled a little. I've seen a lot of people that really want to use the new OWA features thinking they could. Keep in mind as well that there's a checklist in place. Wouldn't hurt to read through that for a basic order of what needs to happen when and why. Rick does a nice job of putting them in there, but it never hurts to see it visually with checkboxes etc. Al -----Original Message----- From: Rick Boza [mailto:rickb@xxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Monday, November 29, 2004 2:43 PM To: [ExchangeList] Subject: [exchangelist] Re: Exchange 2003 upgrade... http://www.MSExchange.org/ Well, I'm not sure exactly what you hope to buy by putting in the front end server so far out to your migration - it shouldn't hurt anything, but there's no good reason for it that I can see from what you've mentioned, unless you just want a chance to poke around with it. Having said that, you seem to have the order a bit off - it sounds like you want to put in the server before an ADC. Actually you want the ADC in place before you install your first Exchange 2003 box. How many DC's do you have, that you're worried about the schema extension? If you just want to be sure replication will happen, I'd go collect a bunch of DCDIAGS and FRSDiags to make sure things are running smoothly before running the PREPs. If everything is healthy then there shouldn't be any issue; if not, you definitely want to be sure you get that fixed first. Same thing for your 5.5 environment's Directory Service - be sure that is clean before you put in the ADC. >>Is this a step that you would do a month in advance of migrating Public Folders and Mailboxes? Well, you can really do it anytime I suppose, but there's no real reason to do so way out in advance. >>Will having this FE server interrupt any current 5.5 operations? It should have no effect whatsoever, assuming the 5.5 environment is in good health >>Will I have to create an ADC from the FE server to my Exchange 5.5 servers? Assuming you want to migrate and not replace (meaning, carry forward the 5.5 Org rather than simply build a brand new thing from scratch) then you will need an ADC. The ADC should be the second thing you put in (following the PREPs) and will run on a Win2K3 server - does not need to be an Exchange server necessarily. You'll then probably want to have Connection Agreements between your DC and one Ex5.5 server in each of your Exchange sites. This is so you can switch your management of the Exchange mailboxes over to AD and pass changes to each site as necessary. >>Basically, I would not publish the MX record until we are ready to begin migrating Mailboxes to Back End servers to ensure the new FE server is not used. Just to clarify - the MX record will be used for mail delivery, not Front End - Back End purposes. Or do you mean a bridgehead server when you say Front End server? If it's your external facing mail relay host, that still shouldn't matter to your Ex5.5 org, but you might (and probably should) consider simply using a Windows server with SMTP running rather than a full blown Exchange box. Anyhow, my brief thoughts on the matter - hope that helps a little! Rick On 11/29/04 2:27 PM, "Chris Wall" <Chris.Wall@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: http://www.MSExchange.org/ Hello all, We have recently upgraded our NT 4 domain to 2003 AD and now it is time to upgrade Exchange 5.5... I am reading many deployment guides, white papers, etc. As such, I would like to install an Exchange 2003 Front End server as an initial step. This would accomplish two things for me. 1. It would extend the schema prior to sending out other DC's to remote locations. This will ease the burden of initial replication of the new DC's 2. Have this server in place along with our existing 5.5 organization for when we do begin migrating mailboxes in about a month. Is this a step that you would do a month in advance of migrating Public Folders and Mailboxes? Will having this FE server interrupt any current 5.5 operations? Will I have to create an ADC from the FE server to my Exchange 5.5 servers? Basically, I would not publish the MX record until we are ready to begin migrating Mailboxes to Back End servers to ensure the new FE server is not used. Thanks for your replies. Regards, Chris Wall Sr. Exchange Administrator MCSE, MCSA Global Knowledge Network 9000 Regency Parkway Cary, NC 27511 w - 919.460.3236 ------------------------------------------------------ List Archives: http://www.webelists.com/cgi/lyris.pl?enter=exchangelist Exchange Newsletters: http://www.msexchange.org/pages/newsletter.asp Exchange FAQ: http://www.msexchange.org/pages/larticle.asp?type=FAQ ------------------------------------------------------ Other Internet Software Marketing Sites: World of Windows Networking: http://www.windowsnetworking.com Leading Network Software Directory: http://www.serverfiles.com No.1 ISA Server Resource Site: http://www.isaserver.org Windows Security Resource Site: http://www.windowsecurity.com/ Network Security Library: http://www.secinf.net/ Windows 2000/NT Fax Solutions: http://www.ntfaxfaq.com ------------------------------------------------------ You are currently subscribed to this MSEXchange.org Discussion List as: al.mulnick@xxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe visit http://www.webelists.com/cgi/lyris.pl?enter=exchangelist Report abuse to listadmin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx