details ---------2 DC, 2k3 sp2 32bdomain in 2k3 native1 server running exchange 2003 sp2 on windows 2k3 sp2 32bexchange org in 2k3 native i have a new installof 2008 sp1 64b machine which i am trying to install exchange 2007 sp1 on. the setup seems to stop at the same place every time Setup encountered a problemwhile validating the state of Active Directory: Setup could not retrieve the schema master domain controller information from Active Directory. I have run setup /pl and that passed fine, but when i try the next bit setup /ps. it failing with the above errorWhen i ran dsquery server -hasfsmo schema and it comes back with C:\Users\Administrator>dsquery server -hasfsmo schema"CN=SERVER,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=DOMAIN,DC=COM"any suggestion what to do next?erro log below [17/09/2009 13:45:29] [0] **********************************************[17/09/2009 13:45:29] [0] Starting Microsoft Exchange 2007 Setup[17/09/2009 13:45:29] [0] **********************************************[17/09/2009 13:45:29] [0] Operating System version: Microsoft Windows NT 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1.[17/09/2009 13:45:29] [0] Setup version: 8.1.240.6.[17/09/2009 13:45:29] [0] Logged on user: domain-UK\administrator.[17/09/2009 13:45:29] [0] Command Line Parameter Name='mode', Value='Install'.[17/09/2009 13:45:29] [0] Command Line Parameter Name='sourcedir', Value='E:\English\Exchange2007\SP1\x64'.[17/09/2009 13:45:29] [0] Command Line Parameter Name='fromsetup', Value=''.[17/09/2009 13:45:29] [0] ExSetupUI was started with the following command: '-mode:install -sourcedir:E:\English\Exchange2007\SP1\x64 /FromSetup'.[17/09/2009 13:45:29] [0] Setup is choosing the domain controller to use[17/09/2009 13:45:30] [0] Setup is choosing a local domain controller...[17/09/2009 13:45:37] [0] Setup has chosen the local domain controller SERVER.DOMAIN.COM for initial queries[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] [ERROR] Setup encountered a problem while validating the state of Active Directory: Setup could not retrieve the schema master domain controller information from Active Directory.[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] [ERROR] No domain controller with the name 'SERVER.DOMAIN.COM' could be found in Active Directory.[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] Setup will use the domain controller ''.[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] Setup will use the global catalog ''.[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] Exchange configuration container for the organization is 'CN=Microsoft Exchange,CN=Services,CN=Configuration,DC=domain-UK,DC=com'.[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] Exchange organization container for the organization is 'CN=domain Exchange,CN=Microsoft Exchange,CN=Services,CN=Configuration,DC=domain-UK,DC=com'.[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] Setup will search for an Exchange Server object for the local machine with name 'EXCHANGE02'.[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] No Exchange Server with identity 'EXCHANGE02' was found.[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] The following roles are unpacked: [17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] The following roles are installed: [17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] The local server does not have any Exchange files installed.[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] Setup will use the path 'E:\English\Exchange2007\SP1\x64' for installing Exchange.[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] The server is cluster type: 'None'.[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] The requested cluster type: 'None'.[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] The installation mode is set to: 'Install'.[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] An Exchange organization with name 'domain Exchange' was found in this forest.[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] Active Directory Initialization status : 'False'.[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] Schema Update Required Status : 'True'.[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] Organization Configuration Update Required Status : 'True'.[17/09/2009 13:45:38] [0] Domain Configuration Update Required Status : 'True'.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Applying default role selection state[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup is determining what organization-level operations to perform.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareLegacyExchangePermissions.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareSchema.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareOrganization.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareDomain.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Because the value was specified, setup is setting the argument OrganizationName to the value domain Exchange.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup will run from path 'E:\English\Exchange2007\SP1\x64\Setup\ServerRoles\Common'.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] InstallModeDataHandler has 4 DataHandlers[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup is determining what organization-level operations to perform.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareLegacyExchangePermissions.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareSchema.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareOrganization.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareDomain.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Because the value was specified, setup is setting the argument OrganizationName to the value domain Exchange.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup will run from path 'E:\English\Exchange2007\SP1\x64\Setup\ServerRoles\Common'.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] InstallModeDataHandler has 5 DataHandlers[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup is determining what organization-level operations to perform.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareLegacyExchangePermissions.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareSchema.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareOrganization.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareDomain.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Because the value was specified, setup is setting the argument OrganizationName to the value domain Exchange.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup will run from path 'E:\English\Exchange2007\SP1\x64\Setup\ServerRoles\Common'.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] InstallModeDataHandler has 6 DataHandlers[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup is determining what organization-level operations to perform.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareLegacyExchangePermissions.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareSchema.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareOrganization.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareDomain.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Because the value was specified, setup is setting the argument OrganizationName to the value domain Exchange.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] Setup will run from path 'E:\English\Exchange2007\SP1\x64\Setup\ServerRoles\Common'.[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] InstallModeDataHandler has 6 DataHandlers[17/09/2009 13:45:39] [0] RootDataHandler has 1 DataHandlers[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup is determining what organization-level operations to perform.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareLegacyExchangePermissions.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareSchema.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareOrganization.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareDomain.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Because the value was specified, setup is setting the argument OrganizationName to the value domain Exchange.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup will run from path 'E:\English\Exchange2007\SP1\x64\Setup\ServerRoles\Common'.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] InstallModeDataHandler has 5 DataHandlers[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup is determining what organization-level operations to perform.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareLegacyExchangePermissions.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareSchema.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareOrganization.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareDomain.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Because the value was specified, setup is setting the argument OrganizationName to the value domain Exchange.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup will run from path 'E:\English\Exchange2007\SP1\x64\Setup\ServerRoles\Common'.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] InstallModeDataHandler has 4 DataHandlers[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup is determining what organization-level operations to perform.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareLegacyExchangePermissions.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareSchema.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareOrganization.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareDomain.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Because the value was specified, setup is setting the argument OrganizationName to the value domain Exchange.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] Setup will run from path 'E:\English\Exchange2007\SP1\x64\Setup\ServerRoles\Common'.[17/09/2009 13:46:10] [0] InstallModeDataHandler has 1 DataHandlers[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup is determining what organization-level operations to perform.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareLegacyExchangePermissions.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareSchema.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareOrganization.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareDomain.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Because the value was specified, setup is setting the argument OrganizationName to the value domain Exchange.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup will run from path 'E:\English\Exchange2007\SP1\x64\Setup\ServerRoles\Common'.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] InstallModeDataHandler has 4 DataHandlers[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup is determining what organization-level operations to perform.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareLegacyExchangePermissions.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareSchema.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareOrganization.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareDomain.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Because the value was specified, setup is setting the argument OrganizationName to the value domain Exchange.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup will run from path 'E:\English\Exchange2007\SP1\x64\Setup\ServerRoles\Common'.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] InstallModeDataHandler has 5 DataHandlers[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup is determining what organization-level operations to perform.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareLegacyExchangePermissions.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareSchema.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareOrganization.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareDomain.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Because the value was specified, setup is setting the argument OrganizationName to the value domain Exchange.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] Setup will run from path 'E:\English\Exchange2007\SP1\x64\Setup\ServerRoles\Common'.[17/09/2009 13:46:12] [0] InstallModeDataHandler has 6 DataHandlers[17/09/2009 13:46:14] [0] Validating options for the 0 requested roles[17/09/2009 13:46:15] [0] Validating options for the 0 requested roles[17/09/2009 13:46:20] [0] Setup is determining what organization-level operations to perform.[17/09/2009 13:46:20] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareLegacyExchangePermissions.[17/09/2009 13:46:20] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareSchema.[17/09/2009 13:46:20] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareOrganization.[17/09/2009 13:46:20] [0] Setup has detected a missing value. Setup is adding the value PrepareDomain.[17/09/2009 13:46:20] [0] Because the value was specified, setup is setting the argument OrganizationName to the value domain Exchange.[17/09/2009 13:46:21] [0] **************[17/09/2009 13:46:21] [0] Setup will run the task 'test-setuphealth'[17/09/2009 13:46:21] [1] Setup launched task 'test-setuphealth -DomainController $null -DownloadConfigurationUpdates $true -ExchangeVersion '8.1.240.6' -Roles 'Global' -ScanType 'PrecheckInstall' -SetupRoles 'Global' -PrepareDomain $null -PrepareLegacyExchangePermissions $null -PrepareOrganization $true -PrepareSchema $true -ADInitError 'Setup encountered a problem while validating the state of Active Directory: Setup could not retrieve the schema master domain controller information from Active Directory.'' [17/09/2009 13:46:21] [1] Beginning processing.[17/09/2009 13:46:46] [1] [ERROR] Setup encountered a problem while validating the state of Active Directory: Setup could not retrieve the schema master domain controller information from Active Directory.[17/09/2009 13:46:46] [1] [WARNING] The Active Directory schema will be upgraded if you continue. Verify that the organization is ready for Exchange 2007 by running the Exchange 2007 Readiness Check, which is part of the Exchange Best Practices Analyzer.[17/09/2009 13:46:46] [1] Ending processing.[17/09/2009 13:46:46] [0] **************[17/09/2009 13:46:46] [0] Setup will run the task 'test-setuphealth'[17/09/2009 13:46:46] [1] Setup launched task 'test-setuphealth -DomainController $null -DownloadConfigurationUpdates $false -ExchangeVersion '8.1.240.6' -Roles 'Bridgehead' -ScanType 'PrecheckInstall' -SetupRoles 'AdminTools','Bridgehead','ClientAccess','Mailbox' -TargetDir 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server' -ADInitError 'Setup encountered a problem while validating the state of Active Directory: Setup could not retrieve the schema master domain controller information from Active Directory.'' [17/09/2009 13:46:47] [1] Beginning processing.[17/09/2009 13:46:54] [1] Beginning processing.[17/09/2009 13:46:54] [1] Administrator Active Directory session settings are: View Entire Forest: 'True', Configuration Domain Controller: 'SERVER-US.DOMAIN.COM', [17/09/2009 13:46:54] [1] Searching objects of type "SmtpSendConnectorConfig" with filter "$null", scope "SubTree" under the root "Administrative Groups".[17/09/2009 13:46:55] [1] Previous operation run on domain controller 'SERVER-US.DOMAIN.COM'.[17/09/2009 13:46:55] [1] Preparing to output objects. Maximum result set size "unlimited".[17/09/2009 13:46:55] [1] Ending processing.[17/09/2009 13:46:59] [1] [ERROR] Setup encountered a problem while validating the state of Active Directory: Setup could not retrieve the schema master domain controller information from Active Directory.[17/09/2009 13:46:59] [1] Ending processing.[17/09/2009 13:46:59] [0] **************[17/09/2009 13:46:59] [0] Setup will run the task 'test-setuphealth'[17/09/2009 13:46:59] [1] Setup launched task 'test-setuphealth -DomainController $null -DownloadConfigurationUpdates $false -ExchangeVersion '8.1.240.6' -Roles 'ClientAccess' -ScanType 'PrecheckInstall' -SetupRoles 'AdminTools','Bridgehead','ClientAccess','Mailbox' -TargetDir 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server' -IISInstalled $true -ADInitError 'Setup encountered a problem while validating the state of Active Directory: Setup could not retrieve the schema master domain controller information from Active Directory.'' [17/09/2009 13:46:59] [1] Beginning processing.[17/09/2009 13:47:12] [1] [ERROR] Setup encountered a problem while validating the state of Active Directory: Setup could not retrieve the schema master domain controller information from Active Directory.[17/09/2009 13:47:12] [1] Ending processing.[17/09/2009 13:47:12] [0] **************[17/09/2009 13:47:12] [0] Setup will run the task 'test-setuphealth'[17/09/2009 13:47:12] [1] Setup launched task 'test-setuphealth -DomainController $null -DownloadConfigurationUpdates $false -ExchangeVersion '8.1.240.6' -Roles 'Mailbox' -ScanType 'PrecheckInstall' -SetupRoles 'AdminTools','Bridgehead','ClientAccess','Mailbox' -CreatePublicDB $true -TargetDir 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server' -IISInstalled $true -ADInitError 'Setup encountered a problem while validating the state of Active Directory: Setup could not retrieve the schema master domain controller information from Active Directory.'' [17/09/2009 13:47:12] [1] Beginning processing.[17/09/2009 13:47:26] [1] [ERROR] Setup encountered a problem while validating the state of Active Directory: Setup could not retrieve the schema master domain controller information from Active Directory.[17/09/2009 13:47:26] [1] [WARNING] If Outlook Web Access is in use, you should replicate the free/busy folder on this server to every other free/busy server in the organization. This step should be performed once Setup completes.[17/09/2009 13:47:26] [1] Ending processing.

Just go through this and see if this can help you http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/exchangesvrdeploy/thread/7aadc4c8-1d0c-4c9a-a46c-884ab66dc922 Vinod |CCNA|MCSE 2003 +Messaging|MCTS|ITIL V3|

Ping the FQDN of the Schema Master, next validate the account you're running has Enterprise, domain and Schema Admin permissions.SF - MCITP:EMA, MCTS: MOSS 2007, OCS 2007, Exchange 2007

I can ping the FQDN and have the correct account permissions. I have managed to replicate the problem on a fresh 2k3 sp2 64bit machine. So ithink it is down to our dns infrastructure which i am going to review tomorrow.I am thinking it hasmanaged to go out to the internet and ask our external dns server for the schema informationbut why isnt the internal ones setup in the network card answering ?Is there any way to turn on extra logging in the setup so i can see if i am right about my theory ?

The Event logs should have information as well but the install logs would have more.Just a thought but are the IP subnets you using for Exchange related to an Active Directory Site with Domain Controllers?Also, is your Domain and forest levels at least 2000 native?SF - MCITP:EMA, MCTS: MOSS 2007, OCS 2007, Exchange 2007

yes one address range for the whole uk office. so 192.168.4.x for the uk

ok update.I transfered the schema master to the usa server and tried the installer and it passed. So i transfered it back to the UK server and it passed again.strange stuff

So this the answer.....

yes. it seems to work for me.

AD Sites and Services, DNS, or Firewall/network routing would probalby be the issue. Since you moved the role to another server it makes me suspect the items mentioned above....SF - MCITP:EMA, MCTS: MOSS 2007, OCS 2007, Exchange 2007