Comments on: Exchange 2003 SP2 on 2008 R2 domain? Not so fast

By: Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:45:00 +0000

So after my research I have concluded that you can run exchange 2003 SP2 on an 2008 domain running in 2008 domain and forest functional level, you will have to manage your mailboxes from the exchange server using the adminpak and/or exchange management tools.
Correct? I mean does anyone know for sure you can add a new mailbox this way?

By: Zohar

Zohar — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:07:00 +0000

Thanks, this blog and the comments really saved my neck. As long you keep the domain level at 2003 there will be no problem with exchange 2003. You must point the RUS to the new domain controller and rebuils both of the RUS.
Thanks Guys

By: steve

steve — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 22:05:00 +0000

If you follow the thread from Michael, you can see it is possible. However, if you can upgrade to Exchange 2010, I would do that first and then upgrade the domain. It will be much cleaner and easier to do it that way in my opinion.

By: WallaceTech

WallaceTech — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 23:31:00 +0000

Guys. I am so glad i found this article. What is the latest on this? I have all my DC’s at 2008 R2 and my fuctional level at 1003 native mode. We are running Exchange 2003 Sp2

Is this now safe to update to 2008 Native mode or is Exchange 2010 the jump then do it?

By: Paul Vanwijck

Paul Vanwijck — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 07:15:00 +0000

i always recommend to run ExBpa first; the problem of a malfunctioning RUS would be detected.

By: Juan Machado

Juan Machado — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:45:00 +0000

2 days trying to figure out what the problem was after promoting our
domain from 2008 Functional level to 2008R2. Every 24 hours the Exchange
services didn’t start with ” Topology” errors. Only thing to fix it
was to run Exchange 2003 SP2 command ” update /DomainPrep ”

24 hours later, same problem. Exchange broken.

Exchange Domain Servers was missing from that group policy. Not sure
if the promotion to 2008R2 deleted that, or if it was not necessary for
Exchange 2003 SP2 to live in a Windows 2008 domain…

Computer Configuration
Windows Settings
Security Settings
+Local Policies
User Rights Assignment
Manage auditing and security log

- Juan Machado

By: Sp2 Exchange 2003 | AllGraphicsOnline.com

Sp2 Exchange 2003 | AllGraphicsOnline.com — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:44:35 +0000

[...] running Exchange 2003 SP2 steve.heyvan.com [...]

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 15 May 2010 18:43:48 +0000

I covered this in an (German) article in by own blog:

http://layer9.wordpress.com/2010/05/15/probleme...

Maybe it helps some German users when they are searching for the problem.

By: Probleme mit Exchange 2003 nach Migration auf Windows Server 2008 R2 Active Directory? « layer9.

Sat, 15 May 2010 13:32:04 +0000

[...] Exchange nach erfolgter Migration der Domänencontroller auf 2008 R2 berichten. So wird im Artikel Exchange 2003 SP2 on 2008 R2 domain? Not so fast beschrieben, dass nach dem Upgrade keine Mailboxen mehr erstellt werden konnten und eine Migration [...]

By: steve

steve — Sat, 15 May 2010 02:13:34 +0000

You are correct. I demoted the old server and the new domain controller has a new (never used in the domain) system name. This was a small environment with only a single DC. Your scenario matches what I did, so your solution looks like a winner.