Looking to add a second MS Exchange 5.5 Server

[snewman]

I'm a real newbie when it comes to the MS Exchange 5.5 server I "inherited" though company layoffs. I've got a single server supporting roughly 50 users, and I would like to lessen this single point of failure. I have a second exchange server sitting idle that I want to bring online with a second mx record entry so that server maintenance does not halt incoming/outgoing mail activity.

I am completely in the dark on this, but I have a feeling what I am looking to do is possible. Any information, links, keywords or anything to point me in the right direction would be extremely appreciated.

Here are a couple of questions I have about this, provided what I want to do is possible:

Do both servers run off a single information store? If not, how do they replicate?

How does the Outlook 2000 client know which server to look for? If there is such a thing as default, does it know how to switch if the default server goes down?

Thank you all very much in advance!

 

[fuego007]

What you want to do can't be done by adding another server to the site. This can only be done by clustering the servers, which requires a different version of Exchange, as well as clustering software and additional hardware.

Exchange is very stable as long as you don't mess with it. Other than tape backups, it requires virtually nothing in the way of routine maintenance. Anyone who tells you that you should periodically perform a manual defragmentation of the databases should be forever ignored. If you are not running the Enterprise version, you may want to ensure that mailbox size limitations are implemented to prevent the information store from exceeding the 16GB limit.

What you can do with the extra server, is configure it (off the active network) to look exactly like the production server. This will allow you to restore your backup to this server in the event of a catastrophic failure of the production server and be up and running quickly. You can also use it to restore single mailboxes from tape backup, if necessary.

I recommend you get a good book on Exchange (my personal recommendation is Exchange Server 5.5 Unleashed, which is published by SAMS). Familiarize yourself with the areas of backup and recovery.

I cannot emphasize strongly enough how important it is to leave the server alone (asside from creating/deleting mailboxes, and other general administration functions). Using some of the Exchange utilities can get you in trouble very fast, and you shouldn't even contemplate using them without consulting Microsoft or a VERY EXPERIENCED Exchange 5.5 EXPERT. If your server experiences problems (such as a service stopping on its own), contact someone immediately, as it is very easy to make a small problem a BIG one.

I also recommend that you install Norton (Symantec) Antivirus for Exchange on the server if it isn't already. Do not run any other antivirus software on the Exchange server without configuring scanning exclusions (which can be found in the Symantec knowledge base by searching for 'Exchange'). Using antivirus to protect the operating system and files without excluding certain Exchange folders can cause important log files to be quarrantined, which will cause the IS to stop.

Let me know if you want more detailed info.

Good luck,
Bob