Redundant Exchange Servers

[newtoexchange]

Is it possible to have a redundant/Failover Exchange Server in a another location?

If I have an Exchange server in MyLocation and MyLocation burns to the ground, Can I have another Exchange Server in AnotherLocation to failover to? If this is possible, how do I go about setting this up?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Xybertron]

ntbackup

This is really it. Dan
Microsoft Exchange Support @ Microsoft

 

[richgill]

Do you mean a hot standby? GeoCluster by NSI Software allows you to set up an Exchange cluster with the cluster nodes in different locations. If you don't require something so complex, go with Dan's suggestion of NTbackup and backup the store to (a spare disk on) the remote server.

 

[Xybertron]

I would love to see the max users anyone is using in this configuration. Looks cool but I can see it failing to keep up at some point. Dan
Microsoft Exchange Support @ Microsoft

 

[newtoexchange]

Thanks for the quick replies (Xybertron and Richgill). I have not had the chance to check out GeoCluster yet, But I think I may have a solution. Let me know I this sounds crazy.
Main Exchange server is currently in my SanFran office. Office SanFran and Office Phoenix both have T1 connections to the internet. SanFran and Phoenix also have a Frame-relay T1 to each other. My ISP has agreed to give me a Private BGP Autonymous System so that Routes to my Exchange server can be advertised from two locations. Veritas (Backup-Exec) has a software that can replicate to another Exchange Server (My "hot standby" server) in my Phoenix office. If my Main Exhcange Server or the SANFRAN office burns down, all I would need to do is change an IP address on my Phoenix router (Static NAT) and my Exchange server in Phoenix would assume the role as the MAIN Server. In theory, the downtime should be less than 20 minutes (assuming I have access to telnet to my router to make the changes).

Again, if this sounds crazy or if there's an easier solution with minimal downtime, please post and let me know as I am NewToExchange.

Doug L.
CCNP,CCDP,CSS1

 

[Xybertron]

MAPI does not function well over the internet.

Dan
Microsoft Exchange Support @ Microsoft

 

[merrypig]

That is most definitely an understatement Dan

We battled for ages to try and fix/improve this before finally saying VPN only guys! The users got used to it and we got more secure as a result anyway.

Regards
Ian

 

[tom11011]

For this type of setup, you are better of with a unix/linux based solution.