Can anyone recommend the best scenario for the following: We have 3 x Windows 2008 R2 Server 2 x Xeon (16Gb RAM) 1 x Core 2 Quad (4Gb RAM). We need a DC, DNS, DHCP, Print Management (only 8 queues), Exchange 2010, TMG, WSUS and IIS 60 Users (require email) and 350 Users who just login (no email). Which would be the best configuration bearing the above in mind?

Hello, which Edition from Windows server 2008 R2 do you have? Have you thought about virtualization?Best regards Meinolf Weber MVP, MCP, MCTS Microsoft MVP - Directory Services My Blog: http://msmvps.com/blogs/mweber/ Disclaimer: This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties or guarantees and confers no rights.

You can go about using your resources in a few different ways seeing as how we are talking about less then 500 users you aren't really going to be tasking any of the servers beyond their capabilities. Off the top I would suggest. Server#1 Domain Controller - DNS, DHCP Server #2 File & Print - IIS, WSUS, TMG (Possible Exchange Transport, Possible secondary DC) Server#3 Exchange 2010 - Consider the roles you may need for Exchange as well (Edge, Transports ect...)

I suggest: Use 16GB RAM server for Exchange 2010 exclusively and the server with 4GB RAM can be used for TMG, WSUS and IIS. TMG will require multiple NICs so a physical server will be helpful On 3rd server i.e. with 16GB RAM - Install Hyper-V server core OS and create VMs as follows: a. One VM for Domain Controller and DNS (4GB Virtual RAM) b. Another VM for: Additional DC, DNS, DHCP and Print Server (4GB virtual RAM) thus on the third server you would use 10GB approx (2GB for Hyper-V + 8GB for 2 VMs) and rest of the memory can be used future use. - Sarvesh Goel - Enterprise Messaging Administrator (Exchange 2010)

Here is my opinion : Server #1 - 4 GB RAM - DC, DNS & DHCP Server #2 - 16 GB RAM - Exchange with desired Roles Server # 3 - 16 GB RAM ( Utilize Hyper-V features and create VMs ) i. 1st VM 4 GB v RAM - Additional DC (configure this as a GC) & Print Server ii. 2nd VM 4 GB v RAM - TMG iii. 3rd VM 4 GB v RAM - IIS and WSUS Also, look at following articles Running Domain Controllers in Hyper-V http://technet.microsoft.com/library/dd363553(WS.10).aspx Time Synchronization in Hyper-V http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2010/11/19/time-synchronization-in-hyper-v.aspx For DHCP redundancy, please see How to install a DHCP Server with the 80 20 rule or 50 50 rule in a few clicks http://robertsmit.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/how-to-install-a-dhcp-server-with-the-80-20-rule-or-50-50-rule-in-a-few-clicks/ Thanks I do not represent the organisation I work for, all the opinions expressed here are my own. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees and confers no rights.

Thanks for your inputs...