New Exchange 2K Server Setup - help please

[Fragclub]

Hi,
I am new to Exchange Server and I have a question, first I'll start with what I will be getting - hardware:
Compaq ML 350
1 Gig RAM
3 36 Gig SCSI HD
532 Smart Array controller (Raid 5)
Windows 2K server + Exchange 2K

My question:
1. Will the above hardware support 35 users if I give each user 500 Meg mailboxes - I know they are HUGE but I will be reducing that number in time as I clean out their old files (some users have 1 Gig pst files right now!!).
I'm just not sure how much space I get to keep with a RAID 5 setup and I know there are other storage requirements with Exchange other than just Mailboxes.
Any help would be great (I have tried the Compaq sizer but they don't help me much).
Thanks in advance,
New Guy

 

[GSMITH]

You'll end up with 72GB (2x36) after setting up RAID 5.

Figure (overestimating here) ~8GB for OS, Exchange, pagefile & miscellaneous.

That leaves 64GB or so for email , plus log files.

 

[Xybertron]

You will need Exchange Enterprise version to support over 16GB.

Also you will build log files fast importing the mail. Do a backup after half the users are merged in. This will clear out the log files. If you plan to do them all at one time you can enable circular logging on the storage group until the merge is done. Dan
Microsoft Exchange Support @ Microsoft