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Exchange 2007 and Windows Server 2008R2... The facts about our support stance

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I have had a large number of customer requests asking for help to clarify our support stance - so here goes;
 

The news was initially made public via the Microsoft Exchange Team blog when discussing rollup 9 for Exchange Server 2007 service pack 1

Specifically, the Exchange Team note that one of the fixes in the RU is “Support for Windows Server 2008 R2 Domain Controllers in the environment” adding the disclaimer “Note: Exchange Server 2007 itself is not supported to be installed on a Windows Server 2008R2 system.”

The blog permits reader comments and one reader, “Tony” asked “I have a Windows Server 2008 x64 server running Exchange Server 2007 x64. The Windows Server is also a Domain Controller. When Windows Server 2008 R2 comes out will I be able to upgrade the server to R2?”

The Exchange Team respond, “Exchange Server 2007 will not be supported to run on Windows Server 2008R2. So for the system which is running Windows Server 2008 + Exchange Server 2007, you cannot upgrade the platform to Windows Server 2008R2.

If you have a domain controller which does not run Exchange, you can upgrade it to Windows Server 2008R2 since it is a supported scenario to run against Windows Server 2008 R2.”

This means companies who have been planning an early migration to Windows Server 2008R2 need to proceed with some caution. You should revise plans to recognise your Exchange Server 2007 system cannot have its operating system upgraded without simultaneously upgrading to Exchange Server 2010, so in reality a migration project will need to be scoped.

This also means that companies contemplating an Exchange Server 2007 rollout should consider their plans and determine whether this information affects their proposed roadmap. Exchange Server 2010 is strongly expected to be Generally Available within a couple of months.