dear all i have 3 windows 2000 domain controllers and two exchange servers in same organization i have to upgrade domain controllers and exchange server if any one have recommended steps ?

good place to start. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325379

dear at the first thank you . i read the kb article you send to me and make it in virsual lab . but about the exchange server 2000 in document . as i read that if i run forest prep from exchange cd before i run adprep /forest prep so Active Directory forests are not vulnerable to mangled LDAPDisplayNames but i cant compleltly understand this part and i try to do InetOrgPersonPrevent.ldf file but i t give me error . let me explain to you my plan and see if it is good or no i have two solution 1st 1- run forest prep from exchange 2003 cd 2- upgrade one on domain controller to 2003 3- install exchange server 2003 as temp 4- move mail box from exchange 2000 to 2003 5- remove exchange 2000 and format machine and re install windows server 2003 and exchange server 2003 6- move mail box to exchange server 2003 7- remove temp exchange server 2nd 1- run forest prep from exchange 2003 cd 2- run adprep/ forest prep and adprep/ domain prep in 3-make in place upgrade for exchange server 2000 to 2003 4- upgrade operating system of echange server system 5- upgrade domain controlle

First option has less risk, but make sure that all steps are followed that are detailed in that document. the inetorgperson fix is a pretty straight forward fix. needs to be in place to stop certain attributes from getting mangled. and as always, do a complete backup of your AD and Exchange systems prior to the beginning of the process.

ok thank you for your help i will take full backup before i start but what happen if certain attribute mangled ? how can i know ? and if i run exchange /forest prep before active directoy /forest perp the attribute doesnt mangled ? many thanks for your support

There are 3 attributes that are effected. there is a script that addresses those attributes. i would make sure you run that prior to your upgrade and then you should be ok. follow the article as it states these steps out in pretty good detail. Hope that helps. you can use ADSIEdit to determine the attributes current state, the article states the ones effected before and after the fix.