change for speed and performance

Suggestion please:
We have dell server running MS 2000 server and 2000 exchange server And we want to change to a high speed server with 2003 server and 2003 exchange server AND we want to make sure that all the setting of the existing exchange server is intact and also the clients are configured automatically/updated?
-Can replica solve the above purpose.
-can i upgrade the 2000 exchanger server to 2003 exchange server first and then use replica.
– can any provide a solutios for he ?