XADM: You Must Use a Native-Mode Windows 2000 Domain for Exchange 2000

This article describes why you must use a native-mode Windows 2000 domain for Exchange 2000.

In earlier versions of Exchange Server, you can use distribution lists to send e-mail messages to people and to set permissions on public folders. Distribution lists allow membership from any Exchange Server site and they can be nested. This functionality is similar to the functionality of Windows 2000 universal groups. Exchange 2000 uses Windows 2000 universal security groups and Access Control Lists (ACLs) to provide a flexible model for permission management.

When Active Directory Connector (ADC) replicates a distribution list from Exchange Server 5.5 to Active Directory, it replicates it as a universal distribution group. If the information store detects that that group has been used in the ACL for a folder, such as a public folder or a user's Calendar, the information store automatically converts the universal distribution group to a universal security group. Because universal security groups can only exist in a native-mode Windows 2000 domain, you must have a native-mode domain in which to put your universal security groups.

Some of the information in this article is from the Exchange 2000 Online Help. To view this topic, start Exchange 2000 Online Help, expand Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server, expand Coexisting with Previous Versions, expand Managing Exchange in Mixed mode, expand Concepts, expand Understanding Coexistence with Previous Versions, and then expand Understanding Group Management and Security.