Hey Guys,
We’ve got a situation we are ready to go AD by upgrading our PDC from NT4.0 SP6a to Win2k and then AD from that point. The problem is we plan on taking our current domain ATCNTD1 to ATICORPORATE.COM and the main location in Long Island (Corporate HQ) will be a child domain ATILI.ATICORPORATE.COM, a child domain of the ATICORPORATE.COM (also at Corporate HQ). We’ve got multiple locations in our NT Domain (ATCNTD1) with our other Exchange Servers. These sites will eventually be child domains (e.g. Memphis ATIMP.ATICORPORATE.COM). Right now we are at ATCNTD1 and we want to be at a child domain level equal to all our sub locations which will also be child domains. The problem is we’re stumped about where we should locate our main Exchange Server (ATCNTS3). We want to use ADC for mirroring our Exchange Organization (2 Sites/Multiple Servers) users in AD and them converting all the accounts to 2k accounts but we’re not sure where we should place our Exchange Organization at the master level or the child domain level. Should Exchange information be put at ATICORPORATE.COM or at ATILI.ATICORPORATE.COM, any ideas?
 
OLD
 
Corporate HQ -----------------------T1 Frame--------------->Memphis Location
(Domain) ATCNTD1 (BDC for ATCNTD1 Domain) MEMPHIS1
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(Exchange Server) ATCNTS3 (Exchange Server) MPMAIL
 
 
 
 
NEW
 
Corporate HQ
ATICORPORATE.COM *1
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-------------------------------------------------------T1 Frame----------------
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Corporate HQ Memphis Location
(Child Domain)ATILI.ATICORPORATE.COM *2 (Child Domain) ATIMP.ATICORPORATE.COM
 
 
Does the Exchange 5.5 SP2 server we currently have (ATCNTS3) get its information imported at the *1 or *2. Are we required to have the main exchange site located at the top level of the domain tree or does it have to remain at the Child level where our other servers for the users at Corporate HQ to find it.
 
Should we:
 
a. Create a new Master AD Domain first as ATICORPORATE.COM and then upgrade our current Domain ATCNTD1 to Win2K and AD at the child level ATILI.ATICORPORATE.COM, keeping the Main Exchange Server Organization and Site at the child domain level. Also this change will be in Mixed Mode for some older Win 9X clients. Will our other locations be affected if we do this as their exchange servers replicates with ours and we have the Web Outlook box that relays all incoming/outgoing messages to our ISP.
b. Upgrade our current domain (ATCNTD1) to ATICORPORATE.COM and then create another child domain and migrate our NT4 and Win2k Servers to that domain but keep the Main Exchange & Web Outlook box at the ATICORPORATE.COM Level. How will our older 9x clients be affected if we put the main exchange server at the ATICORPORATE.COM Level instead of ATILI.ATICORPORATE.COM.
 
 
Thanks
PrinceAli0