Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Windows 2003/Exchange 2003....

[JPM]

I need to bury my head into some books, or material on-line or otherwise, as I need to get my head round Exchange 2003 or Windows 2003, or both

So does anyone have any links to either on-line material or good reads etc, been looking on Amazon's site at books etc, but I'm not the best reader in the sense of concentrating and understanding, I'm far more of a hands on person, I do it once, understand and don't need to revisit etc.

Any ideas?

[Mr_S]

I used to find this a handy resource for Exhange stuff, but not done any exchange work for about 3 years

http://www.slipstick.com/

[crm250]

Love em both, learnt the hard way over time i did. although its very forgiving compared to clunky 2k
anything inparticular you are stuck with ?

[JPM]

Originally posted by crm250
Love em both, learnt the hard way over time i did. although its very forgiving compared to clunky 2k
anything inparticular you are stuck with ?

Hard to say, basically I'm a 5.5 guy, and I need to get my head around 2000/2003 but I'm in an environment where there isn't much 2000/2003 at the moment, so basically want some info to get me up to speed.

I've ordered a couple of books, but as I said I find that hard work, would rather do CBT or such like, so anything like that would be great.

[crm250]

Same here, i grew up with 5.0 and 5.5 and used 5.5 for around 450 users till about 12 months ago when i bit the bullet and upgraded 2 old NT4 domains to a brand new 2003 domain and added a exchange 2003 server to the mix coexisting with 4 x 5.5 servers.
The trust was a doddle, and used Aelita migration tool (still have a full copy that we bought ) to move the users from the old and no good named NT4 domains to the new domain and restructured OU's. This worked with zero impact even while they were still working, and the next logon the new domain was auto in the list and the old domain moved down. it kept thier pofiles and settings a treat (also fully reversable)
Then once that was done, migrated the exchadmin service account to 2003, then moved mailbox's over the wire to the new server, rehomed public folders and the GAL, flicked it to native mode so it removed all traces of 5.5 and links (external mail was always forwaded to a smart host - mailsweeper)
Then simply removed the trusts from the old NT4 - 2003, and flicked that to native too.
SP2 on the exchange and you can now move mailbox's between sites and orgs, its a real dream to work with and administer. infact so good i am struggling for things to do.

I did like NT and 5.5 for what they were, but as you know when exchange bites it bites hard, easy to recover but takes ages. with 2003 you can restore an edb to an offline folder (similar to 2k) and pick out the bits you want then dismount and chuck the rest away if not using backup exec or similar

I chose to avoid 2k, and never really did like it or trust it, it was good in principal but shite in the real world. Never thought i would sing M$ praises but credit where its due they really have done well with 2003, and i think its worth every penny (apart from the CAL rippoff)

I actually have a live 2003 DC and exchange on the web, if you do decide to play around with some spare kit (if you need media let me know) i will give you the details, and you can setup a trust or join the forrest and try and break it to see what you think mate

[JPM]

Paul,

Sounds similar to whats happening where I am but for 41,000 users, 1 org but around 150 servers, about 50 domains etc, so need to get a heads up, also using aelita, although what I have heard and seen so far is quite scary, not many peeps seem to rate it from what I have seen.

As for building etc, I've got some old kit I could use here at home, and I'm signed up to MS Action pack, so got more licensed s/ware than I can shake a stick at.

Like I said I've got some books coming, so will have a ganders when they arrive, and probably build a 2003 box running EX2003 also, and go from there.

[crm250]

No worries, are you migrating to a new 2003 site / org name etc etc ? if not then why not try an inplace upgrade ? ok i wouldnt even attempt that with 2k but i tried it wwith a spare old NT4 BDC and it worked a treat after 2k cocked it right up.
the exchange part really is a doddle mate, i wouldnt try to upgrade but to add a new 2003 exchange box into each office if funds permit (likely as 2003 will need more memory and cpu grunt - but much smoother than 2k)
and simply move mailbox as you would with 5.5 to another 5.5 box
One thing - you can use the other exchange migration tools (export to PST and import in to new mailbox) but they often leave the users not able to reply to mail from an external source as it will go back as undeliverable and a few other quirks
Aelita is a bit tough and daunting to begin with, but it really does work and is a no loss fully roll back bit of software. I picked my 500 odd off in batches of 10 or so, then got them to reboot to be safe, only about 3 profiles got mullered in about 500, and this was down to NT4 OS and a old PC's
Fred, if you want to talk to discuss or need any help or have any questions then feel free to PM me for my numbers mate
I wasnt really looking forward to doing all mine and it did take about 3 months to complete, but looking back i worried for nothing and really enjoyed it and learnt loads, but you are doing the right thing by practising first and getting used to the interface of exch 2003.
You are more than welcome to come visit my workplace and see all my systems and how they are setup and working to get you into the feel of things
Or you can give me a job in yourplace and have someone who has done it before to help out !!

[crm250]

P.S. the Aeilita exchange module is naff, and not worth the money, the domain migration tool is top drawer and saves loads of hassle with users bitching

[JPM]

Paul,

No worries, a lot of it is out of my hands here, as I need to support the current 5.5 environment, and the new oen will be supported elsewhere, thus sooner or later my contract will end, as I'll be replaced with a permie, so the exposure of either the migration tools and/or 2003 will be limited I am sure. It's more 1. out of interest 2. needing to learn it for the next job

We'll (Lily and I) will be off on holiday next week, so won't be doing much until I get back anyways..

I'll be in touch !