Putting a 2003 Domain controller on a 2000 Network... Licensing Issue?

[Mneumonik]

Hey all,

I want to put a 2003 server on my network, which all the domain controllers are windows 2000 adv. servers. I need to make this a DC because it will be an exchange server.

Only thing i worry about, is will this new server take over and my 2000 licenses will no longer be useful? I have about 200 CAL's on my 2000 DC.. I cant afford for one server to take down my network.

Also, if it does take over and there is a problem with licensing... how easy is it to back out, as far as depromoting the server and getting everything back to normal?

Thanks in advance!

-Dan

 

[LWComputingMVP]

I need to make this a DC because it will be an exchange server.

WHAT!?!?

You DO NOT want Exchange running on a DC if possible. That is NOT a best practice.

I've been dealing mostly with 2003 networks with no CAL issues like that... but I'd suggest you contact Microsoft's licensing folks to see if you'll need 2003 Server CALs for a 2003 Exchange install on a 2003 Windows server.

I can post the number if you like.

 

[58sniper]

WHAT!?!?

You DO NOT want Exchange running on a DC if possible. That is NOT a best practice.

Yeah - what he said!

I've been dealing mostly with 2003 networks with no CAL issues like that... but I'd suggest you contact Microsoft's licensing folks to see if you'll need 2003 Server CALs for a 2003 Exchange install on a 2003 Windows server.

Again - I agree. No one here can absolutely say for sure, so you're best avenue is to contact the fine folks in the licensing division and get the answer straight from the horses mouth. You can start, however, by taking a look through

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/mpla/default.aspx

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[nsanto17]

You want to join the server to domain but you do not want the Exchange box to be a DC.

 

[sutors]

As long as you don't touch your 2000 DC which is acting as your licensing server in your domain, there should be no problems at all with introducing 2003 DC to the enviroment.

And to add, true, you do not want to have an exchange running on DC.
FYI, if you demote a DC running exchange on it, you just put your machine in an unsupported state for exchange.