Two servers. Install as different site, or in same site?

[ishmell]

I have a server at one location. It is a PDC and has mailboxes and neat things on it. I'm installing another server at another site. It is a BDC, and I want the server to be a &quot;back up&quot; in case the PDC goes down. I want the BDC to hold mail meant for mailboxes on the PDC and also possibly act as a full backup email system. In the DNS settings, I have the BDC set as MX 20 and the PDC set as MX 10 for the domain. My real question is, should I install the BDC as a different (new) site, and use a site connector and directory replication connector, or put the server in the same site. The MCSE for Exchange book was suprisingly vauge and unhelpful. I don't even know if directory replication can actually &quot;replicate&quot; the mailboxes (as a &quot;backup&quot. <br><br>Thank you for your time and effort!

 

[swp13]

If it were me, depending on the connection between the 2, I would use the same site and add the server to that site. Several functions, like moving mailboxes, can be done more easily in the same exchange site. If you use 2 sites and need to move a mailbox you need to export to a PST, delete the old mailbox, create a new mailbox in the new site and import the data from the PST. In the same site you can just use the Movr Mailbox command in the admin.

 

[Zelandakh]

Same site / different site - if the connection between the two servers is reliable and quick, make them same site. If its 128k or less or has downtime, do different site.

This is a rule of thumb only!!!