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JimTrouble
15 pts.
 Lost exchange 5.5 password
Exchange, Exchange security
I have started a new job and the IT staff dont know the exchange service account password. This is a problem in that i am trying to build a replica environment using backups from the live environment but since i dont have the password to install exchange in the 1st place i am pretty stuck! The live environment consists of 1 Ex 5.5 server on a NT4 PDC and 1 Ex 2003 server running win server 2003. If i change the exchange service account password on the 5.5 PDC will this have any negative effects on the 2003 server? Part of the reason i am building the test environ is to make sure i can safely remove the 5.5 server from the production environ. Any help would be v appreciated! Thanks

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ASKED: September 15, 2006  8:07 AM
UPDATED: September 26, 2006  7:36 AM
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From what you're describing, it seems you have an NT domain and AD domain with separate accounts. So unless that's not true and your EX 5.5 & EX 2K3 Servers share the same service account, changing one should have no bearing on the other one. Just make sure you stop all the EX 5.5 services first and warn the user in advance of downtime. Though is not your problem, but running EX 5.5 on a DC is a definite NO-NO! Is EX 2K3 running on a DC too?
Last Wiki Answer Submitted:  September 15, 2006  9:55 am  by  Aalborz43   0 pts.
All Answer Wiki Contributors:  Aalborz43   0 pts.
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Thanks for your reply!
Yes the Ex2003 server is on an AD DC. EX 5.5 is on Domain1 and Ex2003 is on Domain2. Both domains trust each other and SRS has been setup between them. The active directory connector replicates the directories between the 2 email servers.
So from what u r saying changing the password on the ex5.5 server will not impact on the ex2003 server even tho they both exist in the same excahnge organization.

JimTrouble
 15 pts.
 

There is actually no big issue with running either version of exchange on a DC. Microsoft does not “recommend” it. However, look at SBS…everything on one box.

For your EX5.5 service account issue…have you worked through the http://support.microsoft.com/kb/157780/EN-US/ and http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q152808/ ?

-jmw

Jmweber
 0 pts.
 

Thanks for your reply Jmweber.
Yes i have seen those articles alright. They do not state tho what impact changing the service account password on Ex 5.5 will have on an Ex2003 server in the same site.

JimTrouble
 15 pts.
 

E2k3 is usually installed with an administrator account.
ex5.5 was usually installed with a distinct account for those services.

Just make sure that the domain administrator group (or whatever you use) is listed as a system admin in the ex5.5 at the org, site, and config levels and you should be OK.
-jmw

Jmweber
 0 pts.
 

Thanks agaion jmweber for all your info on this. Im going to change the password on fri evening (should anything go wrong ill have all w-end to fix it!!)
Thanks!!

JimTrouble
 15 pts.
 

Thanks Jmweber, that password change worked and had no adverse affects!
Ur help is much appreacited!
Cheers

JimTrouble
 15 pts.