[cfav1973]

our current infrastructure is Exchange 5.5. we just recieved a 5 user licence of BES 3.7 . I would like to know if the BES server could be 2003 instead of 2000 server as we are starting to migrate all our environment to 2003.
The book only states 2000 or Nt4.0.
Also,

Any words of advice before I start the install?

thanks a bunch! :D

[otto]

First off, Exchange 5.5 is not supported on a Windows Server 2003 installation.

As for BES, its supported under Exchange 2003 as of BES 3.6 SP2.

Lastly, I think you meant licenses BES 3.6, correct? I don't believe they will be releasing a 3.7 version before 4.0 is finalized and released, I don't believe.

If you are upgrading your AD environment to 2003 from 2000, then you will want to look into an upgrade path from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2003. Exchange 5.5 can still be run on Windows 2000 with an AD running on 2003, though.

[pzkzm9]

Your BES 3.6 server can be a Windows 2003 box "independent of your Exchange Organization Version" your not running Exchange Server on your BES server.... however, there are a few things to look out for.

1. You will need to load Exchange System Manager 2003 instead of the Exchange 5.5 Admin Tool (this also requires IIS to be loaded ... WWW/NNTP/SMTP) ... you can disable all of them after you get ESM 2003 installed)

2. You will need MSDE 2000 ... make sure you also apply SP3 to plug the security holes

3. Apply the most recent CDO.DLL (see the CDO matrix in the install guide for 2000/2003) .. it has a matrix of what CDO you need for a given OS.

Now my AD Domain Controllers were already at 2003 before I put my BES servers on 2003 .... I dont know if you can have a 2003 memeber server in a AD that has only Windows 2000 domain controllers ... I suspect not.

[jibi]

Originally Posted by pzkzm9

I dont know if you can have a 2003 memeber server in a AD that has only Windows 2000 domain controllers ... I suspect not.

sure you can...