Question : Installing Exchange 2010 and updating current domain level funtion issues

I am in the process of upgrading our failing single Exchange 2003 server to an HA Exchange 2010 solution. After installing Win Server 2008 64Bit on all four new Exchange 2010 servers (2 x CAS/HUB and 2 x Mailboxes) I am preparing to raise the domain function on our current 2000 Active Directory network so I can start the Exchange 2010 install.

As per eveything I was able to find on the internet I used the 2008 Server install disk on our domain master DC and I ran the following commands:

adprep /forestprep
&
adprep /domainprep

Everything looked fine and all the DC's received the update. Our current AD function level was 2000 and when I went to raise it I was now given a choice of 2003. I selected it and applied it and after a bit all other DC's were now running it.

When I started the install of the first Exchange 2010 server I was greeted with the following error after the prerequisite check:

"Error:
The forest functional level of the current Active Directory forest is not Windows Server 2003 native or later. To install Exchange Server 2010, the forest functional level must be at least Windows Server 2003 native."


After getting that error I went back to the AD console and double checked all DC's (Total of 4 all running Win Server 2003) and all of them were exactly the same domain function level (2003).

I have attempted to re-run forestprep and domainprep and I get the message stating that it was already updated so I assume that AD is ready for Exchange 2010....or at least I can hope.

With all that above I have a few questions:

- I am not given the option to have "2003 native", I only have 2003 in my function level. Is this the same? All my servers are the exact same OS (2003 server with same SP).

- Before I came on board we had one 2000 SBS server that was upgraded in place to 2003 Server and then the other DC's were added at a later date. Could this have done something to AD that might be causing the errors?

- Is there a command that I am completely missing with prepping AD that I have obviously missed? Running foresst


Any help is appreciated and tanks for any and all replies!

Answer : Installing Exchange 2010 and updating current domain level funtion issues

you need to go into AD Domains and Trusts to upgrade your forest funtional level to Windows 2003