Adding Front End capability to Clustered Exchange 2003 backend
Hi this may have been answered before so apologies!
We have a two node clustered Exchange 2003 setup. This is setup as a backend server. There is no front end server BUT we do have OWA setup on it (not using forms based authentication).
Clients connect via Outlook 2003 and via OWA. Recently we have also started allowing access for mobile devices over Exchange Activesync.
We are thinking of adding a front end server and moving the OWA functionality from the back end to the front end. We'd like to do this with minimum interruption to users if possible. But more importantly we'd like to have an end result which conforms to
best practise!
http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2009/12/02/3408921.aspx looks like a good start but Im not sure if it applies in my case and the biggest concern
is the current OWA setup on the back end server.
Are there any recommended guides or posts to help with this? Also should we go to 2010 for the front end or stick with 2003 / 2007?
Thanks in advance!
June 3rd, 2011 1:14pm
Hi
Implement an Exchange 2003 frontend server, make sure to read through the topology guidance
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa996980%28EXCHG.65%29.aspx
There will be a short amount of time when you switch between the existing config and the new config using the new FE server instead of the BE servers
Jonas Andersson | Microsoft Community Contributor Award 2011 | MCITP: EMA 2007/2010 | Blog:
http://www.testlabs.se/blog | Follow me on twitter:
jonand82
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June 3rd, 2011 2:55pm
>> Are there any recommended guides or posts to help with this? Also should we go to 2010 for the front end or stick with 2003
/ 2007?>>
If you see the need towards transitioning to new version, I would recommend exchange 2010 server and read the
article below for understanding how to introduce CAS 2010 in the existing environment please
http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2009/11/20/3408856.aspx
Regards, Pushkal MishrA
June 3rd, 2011 3:45pm
Thanks for both pieces of advice above. I'll take both on board and decide which would be best applicable for our migration.
Kind Regards,
Kalpesh
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June 7th, 2011 2:17pm