Exchange Queue & AExchange 2007 SP1 Deployment

Nino Bilic

Q I am wondering whether or not Exchange Server 2007 SP1 is available only in the 64-bit version? If it turns out that it is also available in a 32-bit version, is that version supported for a production environment?

A In this regard, there isn't any difference between the original (RTM) and SP1 versions of Exchange 2007. SP1 is available in both 32- and 64-bit flavors. However, it is important to keep in mind that, just as with the RTM version, only 64-bit is supported for installed server roles in a production environment. You can use the 32-bit SP1 version in order to run various /prepare setup switches and to manage your 64-bit servers, though, just as you could with RTM.

Q Do I need to complete the full installation of the Exchange 2007 RTM version first and then apply SP1 to get the SP1 server?

A This is a characteristic of Exchange 2007 SP1 that is quite different compared with service packs for previous versions of Exchange. When you get the SP1 bits, you are essentially getting the RTM bits with SP1 slipstreamed into them as well, and this means that you do not have to use the RTM DVD for new installs of Exchange 2007 SP1.

So, in order to install new Exchange 2007 SP1 servers, all you need are the SP1 bits. Even if you are joining the first Exchange 2007 into the Exchange Server 2003 organization, for example, you will still be able to get started with SP1 right away.

Q I have a server running Exchange 2007 RTM on Windows Server® 2003, and I am installing Exchange 2007 SP1 on the machine now. Because Microsoft says that Exchange 2007 SP1 is supported on Windows Server 2008, I plan to do an in-place upgrade to Windows Server 2008 later. What do you think of this plan?

A Unfortunately, this is a bad idea. In-place upgrading the server from Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008 with Exchange 2007 RTM or SP1 installed is not supported. There are multiple technical reasons for this, and you should understand that your Exchange installation will break if such an in-place upgrade is performed.

For more information, read "Mission Impossible: In-Place Upgrading Microsoft® Exchange Server 2007 from Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008" at msexchangeteam.com/archive/2007/10/04/447188.aspx.

Q I have never entered the product IDs for a few of my lab servers. Because of this, when I launch the Exchange Management Console, I get a pop-up warning that says I have "0 days" left. Will I be able to upgrade to Exchange 2007 SP1 without entering product keys for those servers?

A Yes. Exchange 2007 SP1 setup (see screenshot) cannot check the length of the trial period for an already installed server. There is no upgrade block in place for this scenario.

Q I have already installed Exchange 2007 SP1 on my Mailbox server. Now I would like to add the Client Access server role to this server. Do I need to use my Exchange 2007 RTM or the new Exchange 2007 SP1 bits?

A You need to use your Exchange 2007 SP1 bits to install additional server roles after Exchange 2007 SP1 was already applied. As noted earlier, Exchange 2007 SP1 is a complete product that contains all of the files required to run Exchange 2007, and you will not need your Exchange 2007 RTM bits once SP1 is successfully installed.

Of course, if you have multiple server roles on the server that you are upgrading to Exchange 2007 SP1, the application of SP1 will automatically upgrade all of the roles installed. You cannot apply SP1 to only some of the roles on the same physical server.

Q My Exchange organization has multiple Exchange 2007 servers, and server roles are distributed among several of them. Which server roles should I upgrade first?

A Before doing anything, you should download and read the Exchange 2007 SP1 release notes (go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=112364), as they contain important information about the application of SP1 to an existing installation.

To respond directly to your query, though, what follows is an excerpt from SP1 release notes that addresses this very question:

"We recommend that you upgrade your servers that are running the Mailbox server role after you upgrade your servers that are running the Client Access, Unified Messaging, Hub Transport, or Edge Transport server roles. If you upgrade your servers in this order, you may avoid potential service interruptions. (Upgrading roles in that order will assure that the servers that "front" the functionality for mailboxes are able to communicate with the mailbox server without interruptions, rather than running into problems when trying to communicate with a more-featured back-end server.) We also recommend that you upgrade your Client Access servers that reside in Internet-facing sites before you upgrade your Client Access servers that reside in sites that are not accessible from the Internet.

If you are running the Edge Transport server role in your Exchange organization and have created an Edge Subscription, all transport servers that participate in the EdgeSync process must be running the same version of Exchange 2007. You must upgrade all the subscribed Edge Transport servers and all the Hub Transport servers in the Active Directory® site to which the Edge Transport servers are subscribed; and you must do so within 15 days of the first upgrade to Exchange 2007 SP1 of any transport server that participates in the Edge Subscription process."

Q I have ForefrontTM Security for Exchange Server installed on my Exchange 2007 RTM server. Do I have to do something special before upgrading to Exchange 2007 SP1?

A The RTM version of Forefront Security for Exchange Server is incompatible with Exchange 2007 SP1. You need to either remove Forefront Security for Exchange Server or upgrade it to a later version before you can upgrade. The SP1 release notes can provide you with more detail.

And, by the way, Exchange 2007 SP1 setup has a new prerequisite check that will warn you of this in case you are in this situation and you attempt the upgrade.

Q I have Exchange 2007 RTM with the post-RTM Rollup Update (RU) installed. Do I have to remove the RU before I apply Exchange 2007 SP1?

A You do not have to go ahead and manually remove any rollup updates before installing Exchange 2007 SP1. Exchange 2007 SP1 setup will take care of getting rid of any updates that might have to be removed before SP1 is applied to the machine. 

Nino Bilic is a Supportability Program Manager for Exchange Server. He is getting insanely rich by exploring the galaxy and whooping bad guys in Mass Effect.

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