Mail Server Suggestion Needed

brad-

Let me start by saying I dont know anything about Exchange 2007...and im going to have to learn the hard way, and fast.

We run about 100 user operation here and are going to start using our own email (currently hosted outside). In addition, a new application is going to use an exchange account to send out about 20k confirmation emails a month.

Our current servers are all an HP Proliant flavor of some kind.
Given all that, what would you guys guess I might need in terms of RAM/Storage? What kind of hardware are you guys running?

BTW, we'll probably put this on a W2k3 r2 x32 OS.

dynamik

First and foremost, you're going to need x64; there are no supported 32-bit versions of Exchange 2007.

I'll try to track down some resource guidelines in a few.

Edit: This provides a fairly comprehensive look at resources: http://www.msexchange.org/articles-tutorials/exchange-server-2007/planning-architecture/exchange-2007-sizing-****-sheet.html

blargoe

Linux... Sendmail... FREE!!!

NightShade03

I'd recommend postfix, I personally think its better, easier, and also free. Plus if you are using it on Ubuntu/Debian they have pre-installed virutal applicanes where all you need to do is configure it (if you want to go that way).

brad-

Thx Dynamik.

Ok so x64...sorry u guys, this is going to be a windows only solution

NightShade03

No problem....if you are doing exchange keep this link close by as they have some awesome tutorials and troubleshooting guides:

You Had Me At EHLO...

brad-

bookmarked both links.

Still curious if any of you guys suggest any hardware specs, or could post what you kind of rig you run it on now.

NightShade03

Well our exchange server is run virtually, but the virtual machine has a 4GB of RAM and is hooked into our iSCSI SAN.

dynamik

Are you going to have all the roles on a single machine?

Maybe a pair of quad-cores, 8gb of ram, raid-1 system, raid-1 logs, raid-10 exchange data. A lot is going to depend on how heavy your users are and what else you have configured.

Therhino

zimbra FTW...
trust me research it...very thick and robust program

Forsaken_GA

If you don't have the technical expertise in house to manage a mail server, get your company to use Google Apps. It saves *alot* of hassle. You have no idea how much I wish we could outsource our mail to Google, because keeping a mail cluster properly maintained is a full time job.

If you need collaboration, you're probably going Exchange. If all you want are POP/IMAP mailboxes and SMTP, go have a chat with your controller about the cost difference between server grade hardware with some form of Unix running dovecot and postfix, versus the cost of server grade hardware (and a beefier box to boot) and the purchase of Exchange. You may get them to reconsider that Windows only solution.

For 100 users, you could implement a unix solution on a core2duo with 1 gig of RAM and it'd run like a champ.

seuss_ssues

brad- wrote: »

In addition, a new application is going to use an exchange account to send out about 20k confirmation emails a month.

I would definately have a third party company host your mass mailings. It will save you alot of headaches down the road.

brad-

dynamik wrote: »

Are you going to have all the roles on a single machine?

Maybe a pair of quad-cores, 8gb of ram, raid-1 system, raid-1 logs, raid-10 exchange data. A lot is going to depend on how heavy your users are and what else you have configured.

Yes - all on one machine.

That sounds just about right. By the way you broke up the HD space - im guessing Exchange is like SQL in that you need to separate the logs from the files for performance.

I might drop the coin on trainsignal or cbtnuggets - just to get up to speed quickly. Anyone have a preference on those?

brad-

seuss_ssues wrote: »

I would definately have a third party company host your mass mailings. It will save you alot of headaches down the road.

That would probably cost us extra $, and $ is something we have none of...at all.

seuss_ssues

brad- wrote: »

That would probably cost us extra $, and $ is something we have none of...at all.

And not doing it will probably get your domain on a blacklist or two. Be sure to read the can-spam act and follow its rules religiously.

seuss_ssues

The other two areas that i would strongly urge you to explore would be data retention and spam filtering.

Unfortunately all of this stuff does cost money, alot of money. But it is much better to do it right the first time. Rather than having to explain to the boss why its not working and then asking for more money.

dynamik

brad- wrote: »

By the way you broke up the HD space - im guessing Exchange is like SQL in that you need to separate the logs from the files for performance.

Yep.

brad- wrote: »

I might drop the coin on trainsignal or cbtnuggets - just to get up to speed quickly. Anyone have a preference on those?

The nuggets for 70-236 were good. Check out the Mastering Exchange Server 2007 and How to **** at Configuring Exchange 2007 books as well.

brad-

seuss_ssues wrote: »

And not doing it will probably get your domain on a blacklist or two. Be sure to read the can-spam act and follow its rules religiously.

Will do. I would guess though that sending a confirmation email after they purchase something would be acceptable.

seuss_ssues

brad- wrote: »

Will do. I would guess though that sending a confirmation email after they purchase something would be acceptable.

When you mentioned 20k emails a month i was assuming they were mass advertising. Not confirmation emails for purchases....but still look over all the rules and regulations.