I have 2 dcs/gc in my domain. I also have EX2010 Ent running. My domain controllers are Windows 2003 and Windows 2008. I am planning on replacing the 2003 eventually with another 2008. All the roles have been transferred to the Windows 2008 R2 DC. I have noticed that if there is an issue with the 2003 DC, some of my Outlook clients cannot open. They get the message that the default folders cannot be open. This only happens to some of the clients. Would this be something with Exchange trying to contact the failed DC or the clients themselves trying to contact the failed DC.

Probably a mix of both. Windows clients will connect to a specific domain controller and take some time to move across, as can Exchange. If you want to replace the domain controller then the best thing to do is remove the global catalog function out of hours. Then restart System Attendant on the Exchange server which forces Exchange to find a GC that is working. Global catalog is what is used for logins. Then you can DCPROMO that server out without any impact on the users. Simon.Simon Butler, Exchange MVP Blog | Exchange Resources | In the UK? Hire Me.

On Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:44:56 +0000, Ronald Lawrimore wrote: > > >I have 2 dcs/gc in my domain. I also have EX2010 Ent running. My domain controllers are Windows 2003 and Windows 2008. I am planning on replacing the 2003 eventually with another 2008. All the roles have been transferred to the Windows 2008 R2 DC. > >I have noticed that if there is an issue with the 2003 DC, some of my Outlook clients cannot open. They get the message that the default folders cannot be open. This only happens to some of the clients. > >Would this be something with Exchange trying to contact the failed DC or the clients themselves trying to contact the failed DC. You might want to see if those clients have been configured to use a specific directory server. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/319206 --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP

Probably a mix of both. Windows clients will connect to a specific domain controller and take some time to move across, as can Exchange. If you want to replace the domain controller then the best thing to do is remove the global catalog function out of hours. Then restart System Attendant on the Exchange server which forces Exchange to find a GC that is working. Global catalog is what is used for logins. Then you can DCPROMO that server out without any impact on the users. Simon.Simon Butler, Exchange MVP Blog | Exchange Resources | In the UK? Hire Me.

On Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:44:56 +0000, Ronald Lawrimore wrote: > > >I have 2 dcs/gc in my domain. I also have EX2010 Ent running. My domain controllers are Windows 2003 and Windows 2008. I am planning on replacing the 2003 eventually with another 2008. All the roles have been transferred to the Windows 2008 R2 DC. > >I have noticed that if there is an issue with the 2003 DC, some of my Outlook clients cannot open. They get the message that the default folders cannot be open. This only happens to some of the clients. > >Would this be something with Exchange trying to contact the failed DC or the clients themselves trying to contact the failed DC. You might want to see if those clients have been configured to use a specific directory server. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/319206 --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP