What is the best path to upgrade w2k3 servers and DC to windows 2008
Hi,
I have 4 windows 2003 servers in the domain and I am going to upgrade them (in-place) to windows 2008. I wonder if I could get some advices on what is the best path to do this job.
The server details:
1. DC1: running w2k3 server R2 standard x64 version with sp2. This is basically the file server and printer server. It is a domain controller and DNS server .
2. DC2: running w2k3 server R2 standard x32 version with sp2. It is domain controller, DHCP server, DNS and WINS server. It has Exchange server 2003 running on it.
3. VMware server : It's a member server running w2k3 server R2 enterprise x64 version with sp2. It has VMware server installed.
4. Database server: It's a member server running w2k3 R2 enterprise x32 version with sp2. It has SQL server 2005 enterprise version installed.
I am bit worry about the DC2 which has Exchange 2003 installed.
And advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
I have 4 windows 2003 servers in the domain and I am going to upgrade them (in-place) to windows 2008. I wonder if I could get some advices on what is the best path to do this job.
The server details:
1. DC1: running w2k3 server R2 standard x64 version with sp2. This is basically the file server and printer server. It is a domain controller and DNS server .
2. DC2: running w2k3 server R2 standard x32 version with sp2. It is domain controller, DHCP server, DNS and WINS server. It has Exchange server 2003 running on it.
3. VMware server : It's a member server running w2k3 server R2 enterprise x64 version with sp2. It has VMware server installed.
4. Database server: It's a member server running w2k3 R2 enterprise x32 version with sp2. It has SQL server 2005 enterprise version installed.
I am bit worry about the DC2 which has Exchange 2003 installed.
And advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
ASKER
Hi tigermatt,
Thank you very much. That part of upgrade Exchange 2003 is exactly what I want to confirm.
Would it be a problem if I just upgrade the other three servers but leave DC2 as w2k3? Then I will have a win2008 domain controller (DC1) and a win2003 domain controller (DC2). Would that be a problem?
Thank you very much. That part of upgrade Exchange 2003 is exactly what I want to confirm.
Would it be a problem if I just upgrade the other three servers but leave DC2 as w2k3? Then I will have a win2008 domain controller (DC1) and a win2003 domain controller (DC2). Would that be a problem?
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ASKER
Then I will leave DC2 as win2003 and not touched, until next time we upgrade the hardware of it.
Thanks lot for your suggestion.
I am going to upgrade one of the member servers (the SQL server one) this weekend and DC1 next weekend.
I will download the win2008 drivers for the other three servers. I have read an articles saying got blue screen after upgrade win2008 from win2003, I guess that was what you mentioned--the storage controller driver problem.
I appreciate very much for your time and kind help. You have clearly answered my original question: the best path to upgrade my servers.
Thanks lot for your suggestion.
I am going to upgrade one of the member servers (the SQL server one) this weekend and DC1 next weekend.
I will download the win2008 drivers for the other three servers. I have read an articles saying got blue screen after upgrade win2008 from win2003, I guess that was what you mentioned--the storage controller driver problem.
I appreciate very much for your time and kind help. You have clearly answered my original question: the best path to upgrade my servers.
ASKER
Many thanks!
Hey,
You won't be able to in-place upgrade the Exchange Server due to a few limitations. Windows Server 2008 ONLY supports Exchange Server 2007 SP1, and Exchange 2007 requires a 64-bit Operating System to be installed upon. Since the currently have the 32-bit Server 2003 installed on DC2, and you cannot upgrade cross-architectures - essentially a 32-bit to 64-bit upgrade is not supported. You would need to move Exchange off DC2, uninstall Exchange, demote DC2 from its Domain Controller role, format it (you cannot upgrade to 64-bit edition to run Exchange 2007), then repromote the server and install Exchange 2007 SP1. You can then transition to Exchange 2007 as per the 3 articles at http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/transitioning-exchange-2000-2003-exchange-server-2007-part1.html.
As for the other servers, they should in-place upgrade, provided you don't go cross-architectures. I.e., install 32-bit Server 2008 on the present 32-bit servers, 64-bit Server 2008 on the existing 64-bit servers (VMWare and DC1).
Let me know if you have any questions,
-tigermatt