Win 2003 Server, Exchange 2003 Server Upgrade

TeaLeaf · May 14, 2004, 07:10:06 AM

Over the Friday 28th and weekend of 29th, 30th and 31st May I have the pleasure of moving into some new offices and going from good old ISDN to Broadband (wish I could move my house here too but I guess it will have to stick with the ISDN). Part of the move of my business from my home to an office is moving the computers and also running an upgrade from:

Win 2k Server to Win 2k3 Server
Exchange 2k Server to Exchange 2k3 Server
Setting up OWA (I guess this is OK to run on the same server?)
Setting up a sharepoint server (hmm, do I need a new server for this?)
And anything else that looks interesting

The priorities are the Win2k3 and Exchange upgrades, the rest is frills to play with.

As I know enough about Win2k3 and Exchange2k3 to fill at least one side of a postage stamp I am on the lookout for some assistance from one more knowledgeable than me. I have asked tugs already, but he comes under the employment category of InShortSupply™ and his boss is likely to fly him somewhere else in the world that weekend, so as an alternative plan I am looking for someone else who is server set-up and wordly-wise to come and assist me.

All I can offer is some beer (no Sheepy, you really *do* need to know things about servers to qualify), some food and my thanks.

If you are anywhere near the sprawling metroplis of narrowband Milton Keynes and fancy offering a helping hand then please send me a PM. All offers (not *that* kind of offer Benny) are gratefully appreciated :thumbsup:

TL.

Gh0st Face Killah · May 15, 2004, 11:43:02 AM

Useful link on upgrading.

http://www.pcquest.com/content/search/show...asp?artid=51232

TeaLeaf · May 15, 2004, 02:33:11 PM

Cheers GFK, I'll go have a read. I may not understand it it, but I *will* read it

TL.

Gh0st Face Killah · May 15, 2004, 02:39:12 PM

I think its a must do as it will migrate your users etc to the new active directory structure.

TeaLeaf · May 15, 2004, 02:42:08 PM

Err having read it I have to report back that I actually understood it and could follow it. :blink:
Is this something I should leave until the Saturday or do on the previous day?

One thing I didn't mention is that it is running as a P2P netowrk rather than a proper domain, would that change anything?

Is there a similarly easy guide to upgrading Exchange2k to Exchange2k3?

/me goes to google to find answers....

TL.

OldBloke · May 15, 2004, 02:55:47 PM

Sorry TL but I simply don't have the level of expertise you require although I am at the end of a phone if required.

At the risk of volunteering by proxy, Gandy may be the man you need.

TeaLeaf · May 15, 2004, 04:06:55 PM

Cheers Oldie. GFK has kindly offered to come and help on the Saturday so I just want to make sure I am prepared! From everything I hear the 2k3 upgrade path is fairly good so long as you do thingsa in the right order. From what I can work out that means do the AD & User prep first (as per the article GFK linked to above), then upgrade the OS and then upgrade Exchange. The rest is frilsl apart from installing and making work the new broadband router (the office was previously on my ISDN lines).

Are there any patches I should have to hand for immediate install when first connecting to the net for w2k3 server? /me holds USB pen drive at the ready...

TL.

OldBloke · May 15, 2004, 04:20:14 PM

Make sure this patch is on before connecting to network:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/...n/MS03-039.mspx

Then 'Windows Update' asap.

Grimnar · May 15, 2004, 04:41:24 PM

nope not me i know a little from 2000 but nothing from 2003

Gh0st Face Killah · May 15, 2004, 04:42:06 PM

Does it not do an update as part of the install? i seem to remember it doing that.

BigFatCat · May 15, 2004, 06:57:33 PM

Does not Exchange 2003 need a DC and active directory to even install?

TeaLeaf · May 15, 2004, 09:13:04 PM

I'm assuming the AD/DC is part of the migration/upgrade from the current Win 2k Server install, and that the D:\i386>ADPREP /forestPrep and D:\i386>ADPREP /DomainPrep work beforehand preps the necessary files for the 2k3 upgrade to grab them and use them?

TL.

Rabbi Bob · May 16, 2004, 12:39:43 AM

Out of curiousity, you mention that it is not a proper domain. I take it you are running Exchange on a server that is acting as the lead AD and DC for itself? If so, how is that working out for you?

I ask as my current work domain is using an AD connector to the DC and quite frankly there have been a few issues recently with the DC's stability that are effecting the Exchange server. I've been considering correcting the DC, but also moving Exchange to be dependent only on itself in its own domain.

Unless I missed the intent of the Exchange/OWA same server question: we run both on the same (2.6GB P4/1GB) and it runs smooth.

TeaLeaf · May 16, 2004, 06:35:20 AM

Seems to work just fine running everything on the one box. We are using an XP2400+ with 2GB RAM with onboard hardware RAID1. We are a small business so it only needs to run 3 user accounts (although this will soon be 5). It also runs F@H 24/7

We do have some issues with store.exe (as it seems a whole bunch of people do). This has been an intermittent problem where it suddenly grabs up to 100% of the CPU and almost all of the RAM, hence everything else grinds to a halt. Still not found a fix for it but from my research I'm not the only one suffering with this particular problem. It can not happten for weeks and ten happen twice in a day

Since we upgraded the workstations to Outlook 2003 for the functionaility we have also had the 'known issue' of the pop-up window advising you that 'Outlook is trying to retrieve data from the Microsoft Exchange Server FORTITUDE-AD', but nothing is retrieved and Outlook at the client end just seems to lock up. The only way to resolve this problem I have found is to reboot the server. Again, this is very intermittent - it happened twice last Monday, but not otherwise in the past 3 weeks.

I have some spare boxes available so if it is advisable I could always run AD/DC from another box if needed.

TL.

Gandalf · May 16, 2004, 02:31:49 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by OldBloke@May 15 2004, 03:20 PM
Make sure this patch is on before connecting to network:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/...n/MS03-039.mspx

Then 'Windows Update' asap.

ok, if you are going to use windows update, make sure to shut down all exchange services, SQL services (If running) and any IIS services. Otherwise bad things can happen.

However, I'd seriously look at getting hfnetchk pro, which is free for upto 10 machines. www.shavlik.com

I use it at work, and patching our 35 machines becomes a doddle

I've not actually done a 2k to 2k3 migrate yet, this is something I'll be doing in a few months, however I have a good idea on the relevant steps to take. But it sounds like you've got it covered with GFK, but I'm on the end of the phone if you need any more advice.