Upgrade from E2K to E2K3. What considerations

[mikesid]

We just recently switched from a 5.5 to a 2000 Exchange server. We did this by getting a new server and them joining the existing site and moving the mailboxes to the new server. But now we are considering going to E2K3. I am doing some research and reading info from Microsoft but I want to get the opinions from some of you who have upgraded from 2000 to 2003. We have windows 2000 and i know we need to go to windows 2003. then upgrade from E2K to E2K3. Have any of you installed windows 2003 over windows 2000? If so what, if any complications did you have? When you upgraded to E2K3 did you do an inplace upgrade over the existing server or did you make a new server and then move the mailboxes over? If you did an inplace upgrade what complications, if any did you have or what info should i know? Does it change anything major on the upgrade or does everything work the same after the upgrade.

Thanx for the help.

 

[longlivegoku]

As far as I know you don't need Windows 2003 to run Exch 2003. You can run exch 2003 on windows 2000 you just wont' have all the new functionality of exch. 2003.

 

[mikesid]

I have heard about a feature in Exchange 2003 that allows synchronization will Mobile devices running mobile o/s 2003. do you know if that needs windows 2003 to run?

 

[longlivegoku]

Per microsoft...

In a mixed Exchange invironment, you must use exchange server 2003 for both the front-end and back-end server to gain access to mailboxes by using Outlook Mobile Access and exchange activesync. For mailboxes on exhcnage 5.5 or 2000 deply microsoft mobile information server.

Is that an answer? :-

 

[mikesid]

What we are trying to do is a blackberry type thing but use a software called Good software (something like that) but they use the Treo and ATT wireless phones. However they just informed us that they are in beta mode trying to get it to work with the mobile 2003 software. I understand that E2K3 already has this built in for wireless devices.

 

[porterno]

Referring to the first posting in this thread, you'll have to upgrade your exchange installation to 2k3 first before you can upgrade the OS to 2k3. Exchange 2000 won't run on Windows 2003. A couple of good resources for what you are looking to do follow below:

http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Upgrade_Exchange_2000_to_2003.html

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321648

I hope this helps.