I currently have a 350 node network running a mix of operating systems, Netware (rules by the way), SCO, NT 4.0 and Red hat. My mail servers are Exchange 5.5, which I would like to get rid of all together and go back to groupwise if I could, but the IT staff here is already fimilar with Exchange and I don't want to change that on them.

I need to go active directory before I upgrade Exchange (from my understanding that's the best way to do it) and would like to anyway but i'm being asked from the powers above what advantages, both from the business side and technical side will we gain by going to AD and Exchange 2003. I went out to Micro$oft's site and got alot of marketing BS, but what I need is the real scoop from those of you who have done it.

So my question to the techies is: what are the business and technical advantages to migrating to AD and exchange 2003?

I really appreciate your input..