Ok, I know this question gets asked a fair bit. I just want to confirm what I have researched. We have acquired another company at a separate site. They have a SBS 2003 DC with Exchange, a Server 2003 SE and a Server 2000 TS server. We have a 2003 domain with 4 Servers. I want to migrate the SBS domain into our corporate domain including all the user accounts and Exchange org. Can I promote the 2003 SE server to a DC, install Exchange 2003 and move the mailboxes? After all the AD information is replicated can I then drop the SBS 2003 server off the domain? Now this is where it gets a bit fuzzy for me, can I then join the corporate domain? if so, how? Any help would be appreciated.

Hi, We can use ExMerge utility to move mailbox from SBS to Windows 2003 Server. But before that we need to make the Windows 2003 server to be the DC and then be the GC. You can try to follow the below steps or get better help from our SBS newsgroup. Newsgroup for Windows Small Business http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs&lang=en&cr=US Steps like below: 1. Do DCPROMO UP and make it an Additional Domain Controller.2. Make 2003 Server as a Primary Domain Controller after Active Directory replication completes. Two ways to Make 2003 server as a Primary Domain Controller.(1) Use NTDSUTIL and Transfer all FSMO roles to 2003 server.(2) Do a DCPROMO Down on SBS 2003.(1) Disconnect or Unplug the Network Cable From SBS 2003.(2) Use NTDSUTIL and Seize All FSMO Roles.Knowledge Base Article for your reference:Using Ntdsutil.exe to seize or transfer FSMO roles to a domain controller (255504) http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;255504 Access violation error occurs after seizure of domain controller role (305220) http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;305220 NOTE: To confirm all FSMO roles use NETDOM QUERY FSMO (Need to Install Support Tools first)3. After getting All FSMO Roles on 2003 Server, do METADATA CLEANUP on 2003 server by using NTDSUTIL.Knowledge Base Article for your reference:How to remove data in Active Directory after an unsuccessful domain controller demotionhttp://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;216498 4. Promote 2003 Server to GC (Global Catalog).Active Directory Sites and Services - Sites-Default First Site Name - Servers - <Server Name> - NTDS Settings - Properties - General - Check the Global Catalog Option.Knowledge Base Article for your reference:You cannot promote a Windows Server 2003-based domain controller to a global catalog server (889711)http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;889711 NOTE: Check if DNS is installed or not and if not then Install it through Add Remove Programs-Windows Components-Networking Services.KB: Domain Subfolders Missing from Forward Lookup Zone (310568)5. After making 2003 Server as a GC and doing METADATA CLEANUP Install Microsoft Exchange on 2003 Server and create Mailboxes of All Users manually.6. Once Mailboxes are created on 2003 Server use Exmerge Utility to Import All Mailboxes (.pst files)Knowledge Base Article for your reference:How to configure an account to use the ExMerge utility in Exchange 2000 Server and in Exchange Server 2003 (292509) http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;292509 XADM: Microsoft Exchange Mailbox Merge Program (Exmerge.exe) informationhttp://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;[LN];174197 Hope it helps. Xiu