preperation for Exchange 2007 install

[chalkwellstu]

I am about to embark on the planning for an exchange implementation. Having never installed server software before anyone got any tips or can steer me clear of any exchange nuances? Be even better if someone had a planning/implementation doc I could practice my plaguerism tendencies on!

 

Stu

[djm968]

This lot should keep you busy for a while.

 

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124558.aspx

[intrigue]

Don't forget the ever userful msexchange.org i think thats it.

 

Matt

[djm968]

Don't forget the ever userful msexchange.org i think thats it.

 

Matt

 

Well said Matt, and EduGook of course.

 

Is this a new deployment or are you migrating?

 

Exchange 2007 is quite good at letting you know if it’s not happy if a vital component is missing.

[chalkwellstu]

thanks guys got a lot to think about there. its a new deployment so gona wack it on an old server first as a sort of run through.

 

boy am i nervous!!

[djm968]

Don't forget its 64bit only and your "old server" must support 64bit Windows.

 

A new deployment is relatively straight forward it’s the annoying migrations from SleazyMail that often come back a bite you on the backside.

[chalkwellstu]

Mmmmmm yes. we have our mail through easynet at the mo so that challenge should be interesting. also i currently have server 2003 on the curric server. when i install exchange is it going to have a tantrum?

[djm968]

I presume you are talking about Exchange Server 2003. Will E2K3 and E2K7 both be in the same forest/domain?

 

How do your staff currently access Sleazynet mail... do they have local have PST files?

[chalkwellstu]

I hadn't decided on whether to put E2k£ & 7 within the same domain or have it as a seperate server. Any advice?

Yeah the PST's are all on local Laptop Hard drives but i want to have them on the server so they can log in from any machine and access thier mail.

[djm968]

You can install them both in the same domain but they will probably try and "talk" to each other which may cause issues if you don’t want a combined staff and student messaging solution.

 

Having said that…. many Schools now see that just have a single Exchange email community as a positive and as long as the server is configured correctly with separate mail stores and policies etc. there is no reason why not.

 

You will be pleased to know that there is a now functionality within Exchange 2007 SP1 to import PST files directly into the Mailboxes, which should make your life a little easier.

[Simcfc73]

I am planning my upgrade from Ex 2003 to 2007.

 

Plan is to install another Ex2003 on a VM, migrate mailboxes and settings, uninstall Ex2003 on first machine, install 2003 64bit, install ex2007 and then migrate the mailboxes back across.

 

Tried to migrate my mailbox today onto the VM and GFI through a complete tissy fit, filling up my mailbox with 3 error emails every 10 seconds. Then when I moved the mailbox back it failed near the end so I was stuck, luckily the mailbox recovery agent had caught it and all was well.

 

Got Vmware server installed with Ex2007 to play with at home and a couple of big books to scan through.

 

Fun fun fun

[chalkwellstu]

i may well go for the both on one server solution as it may prove useful when this V.L.E stuff kicks in. it all in the planning so looks like i will be spending my christmas reading techie books !!

[zag]

You should be fine with a new install of 2007, Just make sure you run the preperation tools BEFORE you install it

 

2003 >> 2007 is a nightmare!! I still cant receive mail on my 2007 mailboxes, Some permissions problem. SP1 didn't fix it or tell me how to fix it