Intelligent Message Filtering

[TexExpat]

I have an Exchange 2003 server running as an Exchange Virtual Server on a Windows 2003 cluster. This is the only Exchange Server in my organization. We do have an SMTP gateway in place on another server.

My management is insisting that I install the Intelligent Message Filter on this clustered Exchange server. Microsoft plainly states that this is not supported on a cluster. Management still insists that I install it.

Has anyone tried this? Does it work? What are the drawbacks to installing it?

Thank you very much for your help with this.

 

[jonbush]

i've never tried IMF in a cluster, but....

just get it in writing that management want you to do a "major" change on a LIVE server that works just fine, after showing them the microsoft documentation, warning them of the consequences of a fault, then if they really insist, make a 'ghost copy of your server on a spare hdd, and make sure you have backups of everything, before you try it.....just cover your own a*$*

then ask for some spare hardware to build a test setup to prove whether it works or not, OR would a single bridgehead server solve your problem ?

best of luck,

J.

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I know i've got it backed up somewhere!
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[TexExpat]

Thank you very much for your reply.

I thought of trying to implement a bridgehead server, but that of course would involve the resource I have the least of, time. I have always maintained a single-server environment, so I have no experience with a bridgehead server, other than that my single Exchange server has one in it.

Would implementing this be very disruptive to my environment? Can I build the server and then assign it the role on the fly, or does it require down time for my production server? Also, the entire point of this whole thing is to enable the server rather than the client to put filtered messages into the Junk E-mail folder of Outlook. If I implement this on a bridgehead server, will the message still go into the Junk E-mail folder on the client's Outlook?

 

[jonbush]

as far as i understand it (some checking on the old technet may be in order) but you build an exchange server, then add it to an existing exchange organisation, then tick the box under "server properties" to set it as a front-end server....then configure it to do your collecting and sending....

there is a document about it....i'll try and find it....

J.

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I know i've got it backed up somewhere!
=======================================

 

[jonbush]

of course, there is another plan....

use a third party spam filter, like gfi mail essentials or mailwall...i have used both in the past and found them to be quite good....

might appease the management, and be easy and a lot less hassle and time consuming...

J.

=======================================
I know i've got it backed up somewhere!
=======================================