Installing Exchange 2007 on small office server

[TomJunior]

Hi,

We have 7 people here. We host our email on our Windows 2003 server (an IBM eServer x86). We want to start using Exchange for archiving, contact sharing, and a few other features.

I downloaded the Exchange 2007 demo and started to install it on our server. I have hit two bumps so far:

1. It wants ActiveDirectory. We aren't running ActiveDirectory. I can set it up, I suppose, but are they hoping it will be on the same machine or a different one? We only have the one server.

2. It said that the 32-bit version of Exchange 2007 isn't meant for production use. Is it referring to the fact that it's a demo, or do they only want Exchange 2007 running on 64 bit servers?

Also:
-- We use our external firewall as the DNS server. I suppose I can change that easily. Will this be a requirement?

Thanks!
Tom

 

[MarkArnold]

You need to engage someone who can talk to you about Small Business Server. It would be a gross waste of money to implement a retail version of Exchange for seven users.

You will need a 64bit capable server with WIndows Server 2003 x64 edition with Exchange 2007 to be supported in production. The 32bit version is merely for lab testing, nothing more.

 

[ShackDaddy]

Wait a few more months and buy Small Business Server 2008, which includes Exchange 2007 in an AD environment. Probably cost you around $800 for the whole bundle. But it will still require a 64-bit server.

Dave Shackelford
Shackelford Consulting

 

[MarkArnold]

For sure. You can spend the time playing with virtual server 2005 and windows guests on your workstation so that you know exactly what you're doing and how things work ready for when you buy the new SBS.

 

[TomJunior]

Thanks for the advice, and the money saving tips everyone. That is probably what we will do, then.

Thanks!
Tom