Exchange configuration for SBS2000

[benci]

I have installed SBS2000 for my company including the Microsoft Exchange 2000 component. AD is configured. For email we have Outlook configured for internet email (pop3 and smtp from our ISP) and Microsoft Mail Post Office for internal office email. PST files are located in H: drive for each user.
My questions are ( I have no experience with Exchange):
1- Is there a way to include .pst files in exchange ?
2- What's the alternative of Microsoft Mail (very convenient) in Exchange (if there is one) ?
3- What is the benefit of POP3 mail connector as long as we have POP and SMTP from our ISP ?
4- Am I just asking for too much, instead I should take an Exchange course or hire a consultant for configuring the above things for our company ?
We are not planing to host our internet email locally. The AD is configured as companyname.local. Our main concern is Outlook Web Access.
Sorry if my question is confusing.
I would appreciate any suggestions.
Thank you

 

[dellboy]

1- Is there a way to include .pst files in exchange ?

.pst files can not be included in Exchange per se, but what you can do through the outlook client is open personal folders and point the personal folder to the location of the .pst - hope that makes some sense


2- What's the alternative of Microsoft Mail (very convenient) in Exchange (if there is one) ?

Not even sure what Microsoft Mail is unfortunately


3- What is the benefit of POP3 mail connector as long as we have POP and SMTP from our ISP ?

I would go with SMTP, an automatic delivery. POP3 is basically like a dial up in many respects. If you have ADSL/permanant connection of some description then go for SMTP as it means mail delivery will be instant.

4- Am I just asking for too much, instead I should take an Exchange course or hire a consultant for configuring the above things for our company ?

I wouldn't hire a consultant personally, either go on a course, you may not learn as much as you expect. What I would suggest, if time and resources permit, is to build a second SBS server play/test that, if there is the money avaliable to go on a course buy a spare PC instead and install and reinstall etc, the only way to really learn is through your mistakes.

Hope some of this may help a little. The Microsoft Pocket Admin guide to Exchange is also very good for general stuff.

Cheers

 

[benci]

Thank you Boy for the suggestions!
Microsoft Mail is a mail program that comes with NT4 Server and is very easy for office communication e.g. after Post Office is created and Outlook is configured, you just select a name from the company directory to send an email without having to send it to someone@companyname.com.
Regarding .pst files my concern is about Outlook Web Access. If configured as you suggest will users be able to access those .pst from outside the office !?
Thanks again