I have been blessed to transition our Exchange 2003 box to Exchange 2007. I have doing quite a bit of reading as Exchange is realitivly new to me. The current setup is pretty simple. 2 Servers. Server 1 is a Exchange 2003 (2003 Standard SP2, 32 bit HW), this is the Edge Transport Server Server 2 has all of the other roles. I will build new servers as 2008 R2 on 64 bit H/W with Exchange 2007 SP3. Main reason for the upgrade, we want to take advantage of Managed Custom folders for email archiving purposes. Can't upgrade to 2010 on account of about 300 clients running Outlook 2002 still. A few articles I have read stated that I need to replace the Edge Transport Server Role first. Other articles do not mention this and start with building Exchange servers and the roles for those servers. I will continue with our current setup of a 2007 Exchange server with Mailbox, CAS, and Hub Transport. Can I start with Server 2 (all internal roles), to test moving some mailboxes and managed customer folders? These users will need to be able to send and recieve external mail during the test (not test lab available either). Or do I need to do the Edge Transport server first? Chris

If you have moved the data - mailboxes, public folder, etc. - from Server 1 to 2, then you should not have any trouble creating the Edge. With Edge, you need subscriptions, send connectors, and receive connectors in place.

If you have moved the data - mailboxes, public folder, etc. - from Server 1 to 2, then you should not have any trouble creating the Edge. With Edge, you need subscriptions, send connectors, and receive connectors in place.

Hi, You write that you have an exchange 2003 edge transport server, there is no such server. Exchange 2003 had frontend and backend where frontend was for webmail and mobile access, and the backend was for mailbox and outlook access. That being said, you can start with creating the internal servers, but you have to start with the client access, then hub transport, then um and last mailbox server role. If I read correct you will deploy a typical server installation with will install client access, hub transport and mailbox, if that is the case you can deploy the server when you are ready. Do remember to plan out the installation so you have a plan to follow, and do read up on the process before starting so that you feel comfortable /MartinExchange is a passion not just a collaboration software.

Planning is the key for a successful migration/transition Here's a link to exchange deployment assistant, it will provide you with checklists of things that needs to be done http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/exdeploy2010/default%28EXCHG.140%29.aspxJonas Andersson MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007/2010 | MCITP: EMA 2007/2010 | MCSE/MCSA Blog: http://www.testlabs.se/blog

In addition, make sure you do not have GroupWise Connector and NNTP in Exchange 2003. If you do and you need both, you'll have to keep at least one Exchange 2003.

In addition, make sure you do not have GroupWise Connector and NNTP in Exchange 2003. If you do and you need both, you'll have to keep at least one Exchange 2003.

Hi, You can first install the CAS, HUB and Mailbox server on the Server 2. The Edge server is not compulsory. Thanks Allen Allen Song