Managing Exchange Server 2003 from Windows Vista
As you may know, Microsoft doesn’t support Exchange Management Console for Exchange Server 2007 or the Exchange System Manager for Exchange 2003 on a Windows Vista-based computer as explained in the KB article 931903 “You cannot install the Exchange Management Console or the Exchange System Manager on a Windows Vista-based computer”. If you try to install the Exchange System Manager for Exchange Server 2003 on Vista, the installation fails and you get the error:
The “Internet Information Services Snap-In” component of the Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) is either not installed or disabled.
Microsoft suggests that as a workaround you use Remote Desktop to manage Exchange Server 2003 from Windows Vista. If for some reason the Remote Desktop option is not a viable solution for you and you are looking for another option, here’s a workaround that you might want to try.
1. Install adminpack.msi from Windows Server 2003 on Windows Vista so you will have the Active Directory Users and Computers console.
2. Copy the following files from Exchsrvr\Bin folder on your Exchange Server 2003 to Windows Vista’s System32 folder:
address.dll
escprint.dll
exchmem.dll
glblname.dll
maildsmx.dll
pttrace.dll
netui0.dll
netui1.dll
netui2.dll
3. Register the maildsmx.dll by typing the following command at the command prompt:
regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\maildsmx.dll
4. Just be aware that the Move Mailbox feature may not work so you can use Remote Desktop for that.
You should now see the Exchange tab in your Active Directory Users and Computers on your Windows Vista computer.
I have done this workaround and it works….almost. It adds the exchange tabs in AD, but there is a problem when I create/delete a mailbox. As soon as I create the mailbox, the console stops working – “….exchange extension has stopped working”. So I open it back up and check the account – the mailbox actually DID get created. I would be able to live with this (just have to reopen the MMC when I create/delete a mailbox), BUT, the mailbox permissions are not set correctly on the newly created mailbox. Normally, there are a few groups that are automatically added in the ‘mailbox rights’ option under EXCHANGE ADVANCED tab(like our admin groups and such – propogated down from a higher level). When I add the mailbox under vista (and then reopen the console), the only account in the MAILBOX RIGHTS area is SELF. So this will cause problems in the future with that mailbox. I’ve heard that this workaround has worked perfectly for a lot of people, and was wondering if there is a fix for this specific problem. I have seen the same problem in forums, but no fixes/explanations. So far in our organization, I am the first(guinea pig), to install Vista on my machine. Any information would be greatly appreciated.