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AnswerWindows Server 2008 R2 / Exchange Server 2007 SP2

  • Monday, May 25, 2009 12:38 PMJ-H Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Will Exchange Server 2007 SP2 support running Exchange 2007 on Windows Server 2008 R2?

Answers

  • Monday, November 09, 2009 9:36 AMElvis Wei -MSFTMSFT, ModeratorUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     Answer

    We always talk about listening to customers and sometimes this is written off by many as 'marketing speak'.  In fact, we do take feedback seriously and no input is more important to our engineering processes than your voice.

    Earlier this year we made a decision in one direction, and due to the feedback we have received on this blog and elsewhere, we have reconsidered.  In the coming calendar year we will issue an update for Exchange 2007 enabling full support of Windows Server 2008 R2.  We heard from many customers that this was important for streamlining their operations and reducing administrative challenges, so we have changed course and will add R2 support.  We are still working through the specifics and will let you know once we have more to share on the timing of this update.

    So, keep the feedback coming.  We are listening.

    Kevin Allison
    GM Exchange Customer Experience



    The latest update for this issue:

    Supporting Exchange 2007 on Windows Server 2008 R2
    http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2009/11/04/453026.aspx

All Replies

  • Monday, May 25, 2009 1:09 PMChristian_Pedersen Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    There is no documentation regarding this yet, but I do believe that it will be supported.

    ~Christian
  • Tuesday, May 26, 2009 7:57 AMElvis Wei -MSFTMSFT, ModeratorUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     

    edit: an incorrect reply.

  • Tuesday, May 26, 2009 8:16 AMJ-H Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Hi Elvis

    thanks for the update.

    Is my assumption correct that the last sentence has a small typo?

    Windows Server 2008 R2 supports Exchange 2007 R SP2.

    Regards
    Juergen

  • Tuesday, May 26, 2009 8:21 AMElvis Wei -MSFTMSFT, ModeratorUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Hi Juergen,

    yep... I got a typo... It should be SP2... Thank you for your correction.    :-)

    - Elvis
  • Thursday, July 23, 2009 3:31 AMElvis Wei -MSFTMSFT, ModeratorUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     

    Hi Everyone,

     

    A latest update regarding Windows Server 2008 R2 and Exchange 2007 SP2.

     

    Exchange Server 2007 SP2 will not be supported to run on Windows Server 2008 R2. But if you have a domain controller which does not run Exchange, you can upgrade it to Windows Server 2008 R2 since it is supported scenario to run against Windows Server 2008 R2.

     

    We will have a blog post or other similar communication in detail regarding this soon. I will update this post when it's available.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Elvis

     

     

     

    Get the latest info about Exchange? See our team Blog:

    You Had Me at EHLO

    http://msexchangeteam.com/default.aspx

     

     

  • Saturday, August 01, 2009 2:12 PMswitch6343 Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     

    Hi Everyone,

     

    A latest update regarding Windows Server 2008 R2 and Exchange 2007 SP2.

     

    Exchange Server 2007 SP2 will not be supported to run on Windows Server 2008 R2. But if you have a domain controller which does not run Exchange, you can upgrade it to Windows Server 2008 R2 since it is supported scenario to run against Windows Server 2008 R2.

     

    We will have a blog post or other similar communication in detail regarding this soon. I will update this post when it's available.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Elvis

     

     

     

    Get the latest info about Exchange? See our team Blog:

    You Had Me at EHLO

    http://msexchangeteam.com/default.aspx

     

     


    Elvis, please elaborate on your statement, as I am not sure what you mean with this: "But if you have a domain controller which does not run Exchange, you can upgrade it to Windows Server 2008 R2 since it is supported scenario to run against Windows Server 2008 R2"
  • Saturday, August 01, 2009 2:14 PMAndy DavidMVPUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    What he means is that the DCs can be 2008 R2 as long as Exchange isn't installed on that DC.
  • Tuesday, August 04, 2009 9:17 AMZhengwen ZhuMSFTUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     Proposed Answer
    That is correct.

    Stand alone DC/GC can be Windows Server 2008 R2 and it is supported to have Exchange Server 2007 SP2 work against these DC/GCs.
    However there is NO support for any Exchange Server 2007 SP2 components (any roles, including admin tools) installed on Windows Server 2008 R2. Exchange Server 2007 SP2 will not even install on it - the pre-req check will fail during installation.
  • Tuesday, August 11, 2009 12:45 AMj4sander Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Not even the admin tools?  That is a huge let down.  Given the advancements with remote desktop coming in WS08 R2, we were looking forward to building a terminal server for our IT staff with all the remote admin tools for our environment. 
  • Thursday, August 13, 2009 12:49 PMRakesh_Patel Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    So if we have to purchase a Windows license when Windows 2008 R2 is released we cannot then use that to build an Exchange 2007 SP2 server? We would need to run Exchange 2007 SP1 instead? Or is this also not supported?
  • Thursday, August 13, 2009 12:50 PMRakesh_Patel Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    So if we have to purchase a Windows license when Windows 2008 R2 is released we cannot then use that to build an Exchange 2007 SP2 server? We would need to run Exchange 2007 SP1 instead? Or is this also not supported?
  • Friday, August 14, 2009 3:04 AMElvis Wei -MSFTMSFT, ModeratorUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Hi Rakesh,

    Exchange 2007 (both SP1 and SP2) is not supported to run with Windows Server 2008 R2 as the base OS, but it will support in environments with Windows server 2008 R2 DCs.
  • Saturday, August 15, 2009 11:53 AMwosully Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Glad I know this now: I have Exchange 2007 SP1 running on Server 2008 R2 Release Candidate.  When I tried an upgrade it failed because of Exchange.  I of course, disagree with this. 
  • Saturday, August 15, 2009 11:54 AMwosully Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Will Exchange 2010 be supported on Server 2008 R2 DC's?
  • Saturday, August 15, 2009 12:12 PMAmit TankMVP, ModeratorUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Will Exchange 2010 be supported on Server 2008 R2 DC's?
    None of Exchange version (except SBS family) supported on DC. It always recommended to install Exchange on Member server instead of DC.

    Amit Tank | MVP – Exchange Server | MCITP: EMA | MCSA: M | http://ExchangeShare.WordPress.com

  • Sunday, August 16, 2009 12:07 PMKimpan Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Is Exchange 2007 SP1 supported to work against a 2008 R2 DC with 2008 R2 Domain and Forest Functional Level? 
  • Wednesday, August 19, 2009 8:53 PMc3-tech Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    You say no version of exchange is supported on a DC but yet the following says otherwise:

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb691354.aspx

    Installing Exchange 2007 on Directory Servers

    For security and performance reasons, we recommend that you install Exchange 2007 only on member servers, and not on Active Directory directory servers. Although installing Exchange 2007 on a directory server is supported, it is strongly discouraged. However, you cannot run DCPromo on a computer running Exchange 2007. After Exchange 2007 is installed, changing its role from a member server to a directory server, or vice versa, is not supported.

    I think we all understand its not a good idea to do because security and performance but what about small businesses that cant use SBS server due missing features but cant afford to have multiple servers?

    Thanks!

  • Thursday, August 20, 2009 2:14 AMAmit TankMVP, ModeratorUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Oh yeh, my bad. I should have used "recommended" instead of "supported"! :b

    Amit Tank | MVP – Exchange Server | MCITP: EMA | MCSA: M | http://ExchangeShare.WordPress.com

  • Monday, August 24, 2009 11:51 PMUtegrad Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Can you comment on when / if Exchange 2007 (in any SP) will be supported to run on Server 2008 R2?
  • Friday, August 28, 2009 8:05 AMNitin Gupta [gupnit]MVPUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Hi,

    Exchange 2007 ends at Windows Server 2008. It is not supported on Windows Server 2008 R2
    Nitin Gupta (gupnit) | MVP - Exchange | http://www.nitingupta.in/blogs
  • Friday, August 28, 2009 9:20 PMErjewett Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     

    Exchange 2007 can be virtualized running on Windows Server 2008 on top of Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V, http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc794548.aspx

  • Thursday, September 17, 2009 9:22 PMRyster Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    So, heres the setup I have now.

    Windows Server 2008 x64 SP2 running as a DC
    Exchange Server 2007 SP2 running Mailbox, Hub Transport and Client Access.

    I want to upgrade my server to 2008 R2, however from what I'm reading that is not supported.

    Will the following upgrade path be supported instead..?

    Upgrade to Exchange 2010 when it is released, then upgrade Server 2008 to R2 after Exchange is upgraded?
  • Thursday, September 24, 2009 3:51 AMElvis Wei -MSFTMSFT, ModeratorUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     

    Update: A article in team blog for this issue:

    Exchange Server 2007 SP2 and Windows Server 2008 R2

    http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2009/09/21/452567.aspx

  • Monday, October 05, 2009 6:13 PMNewmar Corp Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    I just installed it on 2008R2 STD that is running on Hyper-V

    All you have to do is follow the directions - it was pretty easy. The only thing I didn't have right was the DNS suffix - but I'm sure a lot of you don't have a 64bit schema master - which is essential in running the Exchange setup commands. You need to transfer your schema master fsmo to a 64 bit DC and run these 3 commands on it after transferring.

    Exchange setup.exe /pl
    Exchange setup.exe /ps
    Exchange setup.exe /p /on:"Organization Name"

    Follow these 3 articles and you shouldn't have any problems.

    Works fine if you just take your time and read.
  • Monday, November 09, 2009 9:36 AMElvis Wei -MSFTMSFT, ModeratorUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     Answer

    We always talk about listening to customers and sometimes this is written off by many as 'marketing speak'.  In fact, we do take feedback seriously and no input is more important to our engineering processes than your voice.

    Earlier this year we made a decision in one direction, and due to the feedback we have received on this blog and elsewhere, we have reconsidered.  In the coming calendar year we will issue an update for Exchange 2007 enabling full support of Windows Server 2008 R2.  We heard from many customers that this was important for streamlining their operations and reducing administrative challenges, so we have changed course and will add R2 support.  We are still working through the specifics and will let you know once we have more to share on the timing of this update.

    So, keep the feedback coming.  We are listening.

    Kevin Allison
    GM Exchange Customer Experience



    The latest update for this issue:

    Supporting Exchange 2007 on Windows Server 2008 R2
    http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2009/11/04/453026.aspx
  • Monday, November 09, 2009 12:01 PMdmstork Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Regarding that Exchange 2007 will be supported on Windows 2008 R2 : Great news!

    Will it be possible to in-place upgrade Windows 2008 RTM with Exchange 2007 (with necessary patches) to Windows 2008 R2? Or do we have to do a clean install on R2 and then move the data?