Windows 7 / Getting Started

Exchange Server Coexistence

There is no way to upgrade an Exchange Server 2003 or 2007 server to Exchange Server 2010. The changes in the database structure alone are enough to preclude such a possibility. However, that does not mean that there is no upgrade path for environments with legacy mailbox installations. The key to transitioning to Exchange Server 2010 lies in the concept of coexistence.

Exchange Server 2010 can be installed into an existing Exchange Server 2003/2007 messaging system. When Exchange Server 2010 has been introduced into the legacy environment, the organization is considered to be in a state of coexistence.

Table-2 lists the supported coexistence scenarios with earlier versions of Exchange Server.

TABLE-2 Supported Coexistence Scenarios 
Exchange Server Version 	Exchange Organization Coexistence
Exchange 2000 Server 		  Not Supported
Exchange Server 2003 		  Supported
Exchange Server 2007 		  Supported
Mixed Exchange Server 2003/2007   Supported

Before you can deploy Exchange Server 2010 in a legacy environment, the organization must be operating in native mode. If the organization is already running Exchange Server 2007, it is already in native mode. For Exchange Server 2003, you can go to native mode using the Exchange System Manager by performing the following steps:

  1. Start Exchange System Manager. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Exchange, and then click System Manager.
  2. Right-click the organization and then click Properties.
  3. Click the General tab, and then, under Change Operations Mode, click Change Mode. Click Yes if you are sure that you want to permanently switch the organization's mode to native mode.

Additionally, all Exchange 2007 servers in the existing environment must have Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 2 installed before Exchange 2010 can be deployed. Attempts to deploy Exchange 2010 into an environment with even one Exchange 2007 server that is pre-SP2 will fail.

Once Exchange 2010 mailbox servers have been installed into the legacy Exchange Server organization, mailboxes can be moved from the old environment to the new. Once Exchange 2010 Client Access and Hub Transport servers have been deployed, email address policies and Transport rules can be updated or recreated. Once all functionality provided by the legacy servers has been replicated in the new environment, the legacy boxes can be retired.

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In this tutorial:

  1. Administering an Exchange Server
  2. Role Based Access Control
  3. Shared Versus Split Permissions Models
  4. Configuring Exchange Server 2010 for Split Permissions
  5. Administrative Tools
  6. Exchange Management Console
  7. Exchange Management Shell Command Log
  8. Exchange Control Panel
  9. Performing Common Tasks
  10. Creating Multiple Mailboxes in the Exchange Management Shell
  11. Understanding Distribution Groups
  12. Dynamic Distribution Groups
  13. Managing Distribution Groups
  14. Creating Mail Contacts
  15. Managing Disconnected Mailboxes
  16. Moving Mailboxes
  17. Recipient Configuration
  18. Mail Flow Settings
  19. Mailbox Features
  20. Managing Email Addresses
  21. Understanding Archiving
  22. Enabling Archiving on a Mailbox
  23. Using the Exchange Server 2010 Toolbox
  24. Public Folder Management Console
  25. Mail Flow Troubleshooter
  26. Routing Log Viewer
  27. Exchange Server Coexistence
  28. Server Administration
  29. Setting Limits on Databases