stonneway
asked on
GC on Exchange 2010
Hi chaps,
We have an exchange 2010 server at a data centre and our AD server is on the other end of a VPN connection at our office.
I know that MS dont support having Exchange 2010 on a domain controller but is there anything we can do to make the Exchange 2010 a bit more resiliant to VPN glitches ? What about making the Exchange 2010 server a GC perhaps, would that work ?
Olly
We have an exchange 2010 server at a data centre and our AD server is on the other end of a VPN connection at our office.
I know that MS dont support having Exchange 2010 on a domain controller but is there anything we can do to make the Exchange 2010 a bit more resiliant to VPN glitches ? What about making the Exchange 2010 server a GC perhaps, would that work ?
Olly
ASKER
Is there anything we can do to the current Exchange server? I'm assuming from what you say that making the Exchange server a GC isn't possible.
Another thought is to create a VM based server on the Exchange Server and in it run a basic 2008 install and make that a DC.
Olly
Another thought is to create a VM based server on the Exchange Server and in it run a basic 2008 install and make that a DC.
Olly
A GC should be first a DC to be honest I have never tried to promote/demote a server running exchange 2010 so things MIGHT have changed but I learned from previous exchange versions that doing so will break exchange.
the VM approach is possible (keeping aside potential performance issues) would work
the VM approach is possible (keeping aside potential performance issues) would work
Nah, you do not want to promote any Exchange server to a domain controller
I agree, depending on your config the VM may work but it's less then ideal. Probably still better than not having a DC/GC on site though. I would just expect major problems when you reboot the server.... Your Exchange server would try to contact the DC which is not running yet (since it runs as a guest), and thus having issues starting up. You may be better off if you make this a Virtual Host and virtualize both DC and Exchange, but I cannot say if if this is feasible in your situation - depends on hardware, usage, sizes, etc.
I agree, depending on your config the VM may work but it's less then ideal. Probably still better than not having a DC/GC on site though. I would just expect major problems when you reboot the server.... Your Exchange server would try to contact the DC which is not running yet (since it runs as a guest), and thus having issues starting up. You may be better off if you make this a Virtual Host and virtualize both DC and Exchange, but I cannot say if if this is feasible in your situation - depends on hardware, usage, sizes, etc.
ASKER
Hmm well we are planning on getting an additional, redundant, exchange server at the data centre so perhaps we can make that a VM host and dump the Exchange server in to a VM and make the VM host a DC.
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you need in fact to have a Domain controller working as a GC in the site where your exchange server is, however do not promote your server to a DC while you have Exchange installed on it you might break your exchange installation