Question : Server Migration onto New hardware running Server 2008, Domain Controller or Exchange server 1st?

Hello,

I am looking for some advice on a server migration job that I will be completing in the near future.

Here is the current IT infrastructure:

There are 4 servers, all running server 2003 standard.
Server1 - Application Server and Domain controller with all FSMO roles and Active Directory & Global Catalog.
Server2 - Exchange server (Exchange 2003 Standard)
Server3 - Terminal Server
Server4 - Digital Dictation/Print Server, Domain Controller
 
Server3 is to remain as member servers on the domain  
Server4 is to be demoted as a DC prior to the new 2008 DC being introduced and left on the domain as a member server leaving just Server1 as the only DC.
 
Both server1 and server2 are now old and need to be physically replaced. I am therefore going to purchase 2 new HP servers and install the Server 2008 64Bit standard o/s on both.
On one of the new HP servers running server 2008 I will be installing Exchange 2007, and other server 2008 will be the new Domain Controller.

Requirements:

- Move the server 2003 domain controller onto the new HP server 2008.
- Forklift Exchange 2003 from old server onto new HP server running Exchange 2007.

Question is, would it be best to transfer the AD, etc to new Domain Controller first OR forklift the exchange database to the new Exchange member Server first?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Answer : Server Migration onto New hardware running Server 2008, Domain Controller or Exchange server 1st?

see.. the exchange needs the schema and config partitions and some parts of domain partitions  prepaired in any case... ( when you do /prepareAD    /domain and other commands .. basically AD in added with some additional data required by exhcange )

wether 2003 or 2008   both work  good  as far as exchange is concerned (you need the forest funcational level to be 2003 navite or higher )


i would say bring exchange in either 2003.. or  2008 AD env.. but not in mix env.
if you you AD and exchange together it is a lot for you to do. at the same time

and will be better if you bring exchange 2007  after bringing in DC  2008 (if this is x64 dc ) will have better performance to facilitate  exchange

Thank you