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A message insists I must run setup /Domainprep, but I already ran this utility!

I have this single active-directory level domain. Let's call it parent.com. All services are running fine on this domain. When Exchange 2000 Server was set up, it automatically did the required preparation for the forest/domain using the setup program itself, and there was no need to separately run setup with the /domainprer or /forestprep switches. Now, whenever a new user is created at this domain I have the choice of creating a mailbox or not. Just wait a few minutes and the mailbox is there.

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Next, I created a child domain, which we'll call child.parent.com. Now here comes the Exchange issue:

Next I ran the setup /forestprep & /Domainprep on the Exchange server itself which is located at the parent level. I then went down to the DC of the child domain and ran the setup /domainprep utility as required.

Now I need to main-enable my child domain users. So the next logical step is to create a Recipient Update Service just for the child domain using the Exchange System Manager program. Unfortunately, this process hangs up for a minute or two, ending up with a message which states that a child domain administrator must run the setup /Domainprep first!

I already ran this utility.

I am very confused about this behavior. The event log shows nothing in this regard. Please help.
It sounds like you might not have any global catalog servers in the child.parent.com domain. If that is the case, you'll want to make a DC in this domain a GC, as well. To do this:
  1. Log on to a domain controller.
  2. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Sites and Services.
  3. Expand Sites, expand Default-First-Site-Name (where Default-First-Site-Name is the name of your site), expand Servers, and then expand a domain controller from the child domain where you want to install Exchange Server 2003.
  4. Right-click NTDS Settings, and then click Properties.
  5. Click to select the Global Catalog check box, and then click OK.
  6. Quit Active Directory Sites and Services.
  7. Run the Exchange Server setup /domainprep command again in the child domain.
  8. Restart the Exchange server, and try creating a mailbox now.
If this does not resolve it, see if the information at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;288807helps. This article discusses troubleshooting steps for RUS.

This was first published in February 2004

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