Upgrading Exchange 2000 Front End to Exchange 2003

[Kelly]

We have an Exchange 2000 organization with 5 different sites. We are also
using its Instant Messaging service internally. We have a front-end server
for Outlook Web Access from the Internet. The front end is also configured as
an Instant Message Router server for internal instant messaging only. I am
thinking about upgrading the front-end to Exchange 2003, and leaving the back
end as 2000. Has anybody done this and what sort or problems have you run
into? Specifically:

1. Will the front end still be an IM router server after the upgrade?
2. Will clients connecting get the OWA 2003 interface?

Thanks for your responses in advance.

[Brian Desmond [MVP]]

Kelly-

You're going to need to keep a Exchange 2000 server around if you want to
continue to use the IM stuff. MS replaced iwth with Live Communications
Server 2005.

Clients will not get the OWA2003 interface, with the exception of forms
based auth until the backend is upgraded to Exchange 2003.

--
--Brian Desmond
Windows Server MVP
desmondb@payton.cps.k12.il.us

www.briandesmond.com
"Kelly" <Kelly@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E57FB0C1-FD57-4A34-A3DA-6E2DEDE44B03@microsoft.com...

We have an Exchange 2000 organization with 5 different sites. We are also
using its Instant Messaging service internally. We have a front-end server
for Outlook Web Access from the Internet. The front end is also configured
as
an Instant Message Router server for internal instant messaging only. I am
thinking about upgrading the front-end to Exchange 2003, and leaving the
back
end as 2000. Has anybody done this and what sort or problems have you run
into? Specifically:

1. Will the front end still be an IM router server after the upgrade?
2. Will clients connecting get the OWA 2003 interface?

Thanks for your responses in advance.