Exchange 2003 SP2 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Domain Controllers

Question

I'm looking at adding two Windows Server 2008 R2 Domain Controllers into our Windows Server 2003 domain to support our Exchange 2003 SP2 server and replace a retiring Windows Server 2003 Server.

Our Domain and Forest functional levels are currently Windows Server 2003, which supports domain controller operating systems (Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2003) according to the "Appendix of Functional Level Features" on Technet .

So there should not be an issue other than running adprep /forestprep and adprep /domain.... right!?

But, according to the Exchange Server Supportability Matrix, Windows Server 2008 R2 Active Directory Servers are not supported as global catalog servers or domain controllers in a Exchange 2003 SP2 environment!!!???

This was a shock to me... How can Windows Server 2008 R2 be a DC for a Windows Server 2003 domain and forest, but not communicate with an Exchange 2003 SP2 server?

Hopefully, I'm not the first to see this issue (or maybe I am), but I know a lot of Exchange 2003 admins will not be happy if there is not a work around... or is Microsoft trying to push everyone automatically to Exchange 2010...

Solution 1

The page you linked states quite clearly that read only 2008/2008R2 domain controllers are not supported; standard (i.e. writable) DCs are supported.

It also states that 2008/2008R2 domain and forest functional levels are supported.

What is not supported is running Exchange 2003 on a 2008/2008R2 server.

Solution 2

Installing Server 2008 R2 as a domain controller makes changes to the AD schema, that results in problems with Exchange 2003 and 2007. Exchange 2007 SP2 will resolve this issue to allow it to communicate with 2008 R2 DC's however as far as I am aware there is not update planned for Exchange 2003.

Solution 3

This Exchange Server Supportability Matrix link might be more helpful. There is clearly an X mark for Exchange 2003 SP2 running under all domain and forest levels up to and including Windows Server 2008 R2 Domain Functional Level and Windows Server 2008 R2 Forest Functional Level.

If it makes you feel any better, I am very much currently running Exchange 2003 SP2 (on Windows 2003) and Windows Server 2008 R2 DCs (with a domain and forest at 2003 level).

Comments

[Admin]

The reason you’re probably running 2008R2 servers in an AD 2003 functional domain level is because you can’t upgrade to 2008R@ domain functional level and expect exchange 2003SP2 to functional. I've had this problem for months now and not one persona can solve it (looks like Microsoft really screwed up this time) my exchange server only recognizes the last 2003 AD server in the domain for "Directory access" it cannot/will not discover any of the 2008R2 AD servers (all FSMO roles, GC, DNS and DHCP are running on 2008R2 server. This is really really really stupid.

[Massimo]

Nor is it needed, accordingly to the linked Technet article...