XADM: Complete Functionality of the DSAccess Tab Is Only Available When You Use an Exchange 2000 Service Pack 2 Computer

When you install Exchange 2000 Server Service Pack 2 (SP2) on an Exchange 2000 Server computer, Exchange System Manager displays an additional tab in the properties of the Exchange 2000 Server computer named Directory Access.

However, when you view the properties of an Exchange 2000 Server Release To Manufacture computer or Exchange 2000 Server Service Pack 1 (SP1) computer from an Exchange System Manager console, which has been upgraded to Exchange 2000 Server SP2, the Directory Access tab for the pre-Exchange 2000 Server SP2 computers does not enable you to change Directory Access information for the pre-Exchange 2000 Server SP2 computers.

This problem can occur because, before Exchange 2000 Server SP2, the only procedure to manually assign Directory Access for the Exchange 2000 Server computer is by modifying the registry. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server.

The Exchange 2000 Server computer locates the Directory Access topology each time the Exchange 2000 Server computer restarts. When the Exchange 2000 Server computer starts, Exchange 2000 Server selects a global catalog server, a configuration domain controller, and maintains a list of other available domain controllers that Exchange 2000 Server can use for Directory Access. In Exchange 2000 SP2, the Directory Access tab has been added to enable the modification of the DSAccess information through the user interface (UI).

In Exchange 2000 Server SP2, you can right-click a server, click Properties, and then click the Directory Access tab to view and configure all of the Exchange 2000 SP2 computers in your topology. You can only view, add, or remove servers to the topology list for Exchange Server computers that have Exchange 2000 SP2 installed.

If you try to select an Exchange 2000 Server computer or an Exchange 2000 Server SP1 computer, under the Directory Access tab the only item that displays in the drop-down list box is the All domain controllers view option. The Add and Remove buttons are not available. This function is by design and the configuration of Directory Access through this UI is not available for Exchange 2000 Server and Exchange 2000 Server SP1 computers.