Applies to: Exchange Server 2007 SP2, Exchange Server 2007 SP1, Exchange Server 2007 Topic Last Modified: 2007-08-13
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 can be deployed in an Active Directory directory service forest that has an existing messaging system. You have a coexistence scenario if the following conditions are true:
When a large organization gradually transitions a messaging system from Exchange 2000 Server or Exchange Server 2003 to Exchange 2007, the organization will probably have to maintain more than one version of Exchange during that time. This topic provides an overview of the coexistence scenarios that are supported for Exchange 2007 and an overview of the configuration steps that you must perform to maintain coexistence. For information about how to complete the transition from Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2007, see Upgrading to Exchange 2007.
Table 1 lists the supported coexistence scenarios with earlier versions of Exchange.
Exchange Server 5.5
Not supported
Exchange 2000 Server
Supported
Exchange Server 2003
Mixed Exchange 2000 Server and Exchange Server 2003 organization
Exchange 2007 requires that 64-bit hardware be supported in a production environment. Exchange 2007 cannot share hardware with Exchange 2003. However, if Exchange 2003 is currently installed on a server that uses 64-bit hardware, you can install Exchange 2007 on that server after Exchange 2003 is removed.
You can only deploy Exchange 2007 in an Exchange 2003 organization that operates in native mode. When an Exchange 2003 organization operates in native mode, the following conditions are true:
After these items have been removed, you must manually convert the Exchange organization to native mode.
Start Exchange System Manager. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Exchange, and then click System Manager.
Right-click the organization and then click Properties.
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.
All Exchange 2007 server roles are supported for coexistence with a native mode Exchange organization. When you deploy the first server roles for coexistence, follow the procedures in How to Install Exchange 2007 in an Existing Exchange Server 2003 Organization.
Table 2 lists the organizational Exchange 2007 server roles and the supported configuration for each role when Exchange 2007 coexists with Exchange Server 2003 and Exchange 2000 Server.
Client Access server role
Hub Transport server role
Unified Messaging server role
Mailbox server role
In Exchange System Manager for Exchange 2000 and Exchange 2003, all Exchange 2007 servers are displayed as members of a single administrative group that is called Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT). All Exchange 2007 servers are also displayed as members of a single routing group that is called the Exchange Routing Group (DWBGZMFD01QNBJR). These objects are created for coexistence with Exchange 2000 Server and Exchange Server 2003 and should not be modified by using Exchange System Manager.
You must use the administrative tools that are specific to the Exchange server version that you are managing.
Mailboxes that are located on Exchange 2000 and Exchange 2003 servers are also displayed in the Exchange Management Console in Exchange 2007.
For more information, see the following topics: