We have exchange 2003 server running on Windows 2000 server DC. This dc has all the FSMO roles & Active directory dns is installed. The exchange database store on SAN storage. & exchange program files also installed on D: drive (SAN) We have 1200 users with fourth storage group.600 to 700 users are accessing their mails through POP3,OWA & IMAP.& rest of the users are accessing through MAPI Client. I would like to use implement front & backend technologies for exchange. I would like to use current dc (where exchange is installed) as a Front end server & install new server as a Backend server. Could you please advise the correct step to avoid any disaster? regards, Chetan

Never use DC as a front end server. All of your non mapi connections will drop on FE end server and I am sure you will never want to drop external connections on a DC.Any Exchange is not supported on DC. How ever you might keep the BE server on the DC for practical reasons.So i think you can follow these steps:1. Never run a DCPROMO (either to promote or demote a DC) on exchange server, so making your existing server a FE server is not a good idea.2. Instead get a new server and make that as FE server.Raj