All you need is a registed domain name to setup exchange

nice343

is this assumption correct

Mishra

That is not correct. There is a lot more involved.

What are you looking for? What it takes to setup? How much money it costs? Things you need to think about in a production environment?

ajs1976

actually, you do not need a regsitered domain name at all, if you only want router email internally.

nice343

I installed a installed windows 2003 on a computer that I have which is also the domain controller and the dns server. I just want to setup basic email for myself and see how it works.

royal

If you are just doing this to test, you can use a fake domain name in a lab as you won't need to route to the internet.

So with no connectivity to the internet:
1. Build a DC/DNS with any domain name (if installing Exchange 2007 with SP1, do not use a single-label domain name. Make sure it's something.something.
2. Build Exchange - schema objects, domain objects, configuration, etc...
3. If installing Exchange 2003, you should not install Outlook on the same box as they share .dll files and certain aspects of Exchange will not function correctly. If installing Exchange 2007, you can use Outlook and Exchange on the same box with full functionality.
4. Test away
5. Ask future Exchange questions in the Exchange forum of this site.

HeroPsycho

I'd make two virtual machines with Exchange on one and DC on the other.