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Trying to help a small client with their Exchange environment.
Exchange 2010 SP1 RU8
Win2016 AD servers
Domain and Forest functional levels are at 2016.
The compatibility matrix isn't entirely clear about AD/Server OS levels. It seems clear that the DFL/FFL need to be lower, but is having 2016 AD servers an issue as well? Could I lower the DFL/FFL to get SP3 RU22 or higher installed or is having 2016 DC's going to still be an issue?
The client will eventually move to O365, but it's my understanding they need to get Exchange upgraded first.
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Do suggestions below from Andy help? Yes, Exchange 2010 is not supported for 2016 AD, and it's better for you to update your 2010 SP1 to SP3 latest RU first.
And the Exchange Deployment Assistant will be helpful to you. For migrating to O365, open this link using a Microsoft 365 or Office 365 account with Global administrator permissions
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Yea thats not supported from the matrix you referenced:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/Exchange/plan-and-deploy/supportability-matrix?view=exchserver-2019
So the question is will it work? Maybe... Not supported often means, "not tested". - and if something goes wrong, you will be told by support that its "not supported" :)
Personally, I would plow ahead. Now, you can rollback the DFL/FFL, sure, but that has its own risks as well...
The big thing is to get Exchange 2010 to SP3 plus the latest RU so you can run the Hybrid Wizard and move those mailboxes to 365.
You may run into errors when you run the Exch Upgrades or it may stop you, but then you at least know what you need to do and can plan B it.
Thanks for the response Andy. I guess my concern is that the SP install will fail and possibly leave Exchange in an unusable state. It's my understanding SP3 has some schemes updates, so I assumed it would fail at that point. I read other comments about lowering the FFL/DFL having risks but never seen anything documented on it.
I'm curious if anyone else out there has had to overcome this issue. The environment is small, under 150 mailboxes, but is a law firm and they tolerate almost zero downtime.
Well, for zero downtime, thats impossible if upgrading :)
Alternatively, run the schema updates etc for SP3, then bring up a NEW server with the latest SP and RU and move mailboxes to it.
No downtime excect for a few minutes for each mailbox possible as it cuts over - meaning you could also move mailboxes overnight or over a weekend.
That sounds like a good plan. I'll put this into motion and hopefully have an update within a couple days.
Hi
Feel free to share your update here if any, good luck!
Hi
Any progress so far?
None yet. I'm still waiting on the client to provide the go ahead to move forward on this.