Exchange 2007 Server Rolls

[Darphbobo]

First post here, and hopefully the gang here can help.

We are preparing to purchase and deploy exchange 2007. We currently have exchange 2000 (front end, back end) setup. (not that that really matters)

We purchased 2 HP quad Core Xeon systems with 4 GB ram each, and 4 x 73Gb SAS drives.

Our original place was to Cluster these servers with all roles on them. (Full redunancy) or so we thought.

Now after more research, we have found we cannot have all the roles on these. Hub transport will not run on a cluster!

We have about 800 users and need the redundancy, email is vital to our business.

What are our options?
What I have come up with is:
2 servers clustered with all roles except hub
2 server NLB with hub transport role.

Is that our only option ? We really dont want to purchase more servers if we dont have too..

Thanks in Advance!

 

[58sniper]

With 4 servers, I'd put two servers in a cluster as mailbox roles.
NLB the CAS and HT on two more.

You should look into LCR in Exchange 2007, as it might fit the bill for you instead. Clustering isn't always what it's cracked up to be. It's expensive, and you run into limitations (as you have noticed).

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[Darphbobo]

Ok, so just to verify....

We can or cannot use just 2 servers and have full redundancy????

 

[58sniper]

You can't.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[Zelandakh]

One Exchange 2007 running all roles (rolls are things you eat for lunch) except for edge.
CCR to another physical box also running all roles except edge.
Edge if you really have to use it needs to be on another box.
LCR the live box if you want to go mad.
Lots of spindles.
You haven't got enough RAM - start with 16GB.

 

[58sniper]

I agree. You can't accomplish redundancy with CCR and all the roles with the hardware you currently have.

Not enough RAM (not even close), and certainly not enough drives.

You don't mention the number of users you have, nor the amount of email you have (and expect to have). So those 4 drives aren't going to be close when you take two of them for the OS. You should have separate arrays for storage groups/databases and others for transaction logs. You certainly couldn't do CCR *AND* LCR without even more drives.

Like Zelandakh said - lot's of spindles. Otherwise it'll be slow. And Exchange has always liked RAM.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[Darphbobo]

Ok, here are the specs:

700 Mailboxes
Currently 45Gb single information store.
(That store will be broke out into 4 Stores during the move)
Mail to grow to 100Gb over next 3 years is expected
We are not keeping data on those drives, it will be tied back to a NAS that has plenty of space

Why isn't 4Gb enough?

 

[58sniper]

4GB has never really been enough for that. But 32bit machines had a 4GB limit.

2GB per processor, per role in many instances, or 4GB + 5MB per mailbox MINIMUM for multi role servers.

Exchange Server 2007 Processor and Memory Recommendations

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/2007/plan/hardware.mspx

also, take a look at:
Exchange 2007 Mailbox Server Role Storage Requirements Calculator

http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2007/01/15/432207.aspx

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[Darphbobo]

Ok, thank you for the info.
We are jumping the ram to 8Gb per.

One more question, and I thank everyone for their input!

What if we use the 2 server using CCR. And just the 2 servers. With all roles on the 2.
That will work correct?

What are the downsides?

Thanks again