New install deosn't work - Advice greatly needed

[RoamZone]

I've got a brand new machine that I have put a fresh install of Windows 2003
Server with all the updates. It has 1Gig of Ram, RAID drives, and 1.6GHz
processor. I have no special or advanced settings. I've gone through the
"Manage Your Server" steps of setting up and activating the "File Server,
Application Server, Mail Server, VPN Server, Domain Controller, and DNS
Server". Again no special or advanced settings. So far I've tested what I
can and all the aspects of the OS and features work as they should. I had
an issue adding users to Active Directory but it was a user password
permissions issue that needed set. Now it works.

I then installed Exchange 2003 Standard as instructed by the CD's on screen
checkbox steps. I've done the DNS configuring, ForestPrep, DomainPrep, and
then the actual Setup, all without errors or speed bumps. I'm logged is as
Administrator with all permissions and rights that the instructions specify.

The Problem: When I open the "Exchange 5.5 Administrator" program that it
installed it can't find an Exchange Server. Specifically, I click the
Browse button in the "Connect to Server" window and it gives me the
following message. "The list of Microsoft Exchange Server computers is not
available because no Microsoft Exchange Server computer could be located.
Microsoft Exchange Administrator, ID no: c10312c8". If I type in the name
of the server (which is Exchange) in the field and click OK it gives me the
following message. "A connection could not be made to the Microsoft
Exchange Server computer 'EXCHANGE'. The Microsoft Exchange Server computer
does not respond. Microsoft Exchange Directory, ID no:
DS_E_COMMUNICATIONS_PROBLEM"

When I open the "Active Directory Users and Computers" list the server shows
up under the "Domain Controllers" folder. When I open the "Exchange System
Manager" there is NO server or machine listed anywhere. The only folders
listed are "Global Settings, Recipients, Administrative Groups, and Tools".

Please help. I've got a seperate Exchange Server on a seperate domain that
I wish to keep totally seperate from this new one. My point is that I'm
somewhat familiar with what is supposed to happen here, it's just not
happening.

 

[znetbiz]

Why are you ytying to administer the Exchange 2003 box with the 5.5 tool. That will not work. You need to use the system manager tool that also should of been installed. In the system manager, the server should appear under the admin group tab.

 

[RoamZone]

OK, I've looked in the System Manager tool and the server does NOT show up anywhere. There is nothing in the Admin Group folder. When I run the dcdiag tool I get the following results.

Domain Controller Diagnosis

Performing initial setup:
Done gathering initial info.

Doing initial required tests

Testing server: Default-First-Site-Name\EXCHANGE
Starting test: Connectivity
The host 514449fe-f1da-43bc-8f65-3f3f610e6417._msdcs.roamzone.us could
not be resolved to an
IP address. Check the DNS server, DHCP, server name, etc
Although the Guid DNS name

(514449fe-f1da-43bc-8f65-3f3f610e6417._msdcs.roamzone.us) couldn't be

resolved, the server name (exchange.roamzone.us) resolved to the IP

address (66.192.184.166) and was pingable. Check that the IP address

is registered correctly with the DNS server.
......................... EXCHANGE failed test Connectivity

Doing primary tests <<<All these tests pass just fine so I didn't paste the results.

 

[sabrinaduncan]

I know it takes time, but you might just want to wipe the machine and start over.

 

[RoamZone]

I just did a fresh load yesterday - it was the 4th time!

 

[sabrinaduncan]

I'm sorry, RoamZone, that I didn't have a better answer. Obviously you are getting frustrated.

 

[zoeythecat]

I'm not familiar with Exchange 2003 at all yet but i'm assuming you need to take steps to setup an Active Directory Connector to sync up your 55 database with Exchange 2003. I also assume that you followed white paper documentation on what method you need to use to migrate your mailboxes from Exchange 55 to Exchange 2003? There are steps you need to follow. I would suggest navigating Microsofts website to locate white papers that take you step by step.