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Exchange Server 2007 has been one of the most anticipated versions of the platform yet. Microsoft has collaborated at an unprecedented level with Exchange administrators, partners and users to learn about the upgrades they needed most, and then developed the features accordingly. A few of these new features are described below.
Anywhere Access
The first and probably most noticeable improvement in Exchange Server 2007 is anywhere access. The most talked-about feature that demonstrates this capability is unified messaging -- the integration of voicemail, e-mail, fax and scheduling in a single inbox. Voicemail messages and received faxes can now be routed directly to the user’s mailbox. Users can also use a telephone to listen and respond to e-mail and voicemail contained in their mailbox.
Exchange Server 2007 comes with a new version of both Outlook Web Access (OWA) and ActiveSync. The OWA interface is easier to use and offers more security features. ActiveSync also has some security improvements.
Operational Efficiency
Every organization wants to operate more efficiently and save money in the process. In Exchange Server 2007, Microsoft defines operational efficiency in terms of improved productivity and performance.
Exchange administrators will immediately notice improved productivity through the command line interface known as PowerShell. With PowerShell, administrators have new capabilities for scripting and automating tasks that they had to perform manually in the previous version.
Exchange server’s performance is also better. Exchange Server 2007 is now only supported on a 64-bit platform. This allows administrators to put more users on a single server without losing any system performance. This approach provides significant cost savings through server consolidation and simplified administration.
Built-in Protection
Exchange Server 2007 offers security and protection that’s better than ever. It now includes integrated anti-virus, anti-spam and anti-phishing technologies. Microsoft has also made it easier for users to plug in their own anti-virus or anti-spam solutions. This functionality provides added safeguards without a decrease in performance.
Exchange Server 2007 also automates the use of transport rules and message retention policies to assist with regulatory compliance. With this functionality, administrators do not need to rely on users to save or delete e-mail according to company policies.
Best Practices in Deployment
With all these enhancements, you’re wise to consider moving to Exchange Server 2007. In the following sections, this document will cover the best practices for migrating to Exchange Server 2007. First, it will discuss migration planning, including how to perform a thorough assessment of the existing environment. Next, it will address the importance of archiving before you migrate to minimize the amount of migration data to speed up the migration. Then, the actual migration process will be discussed, including Microsoft’s supported paths and which path is best for you. Finally, effective management of the new Exchange 2007 environment will be discussed, including the identification of key management priorities. As well, the appendix will offer introductions to Quest Software technologies that can assist you with public folder migration and high availability in Exchange.
With the critical importance of e-mail, it’s imperative that you plan extensively before undertaking an Exchange migration. Exchange has so many different components that you must have both high-level and detailed views to determine the specific needs for the migration plan. Unfortunately, many administrators do not have the information they need to make decisions for planning. “How many users do I have?” and “Where is the greatest amount of e-mail traffic?” are just two important questions that can prove difficult to answer in a large organization.
Some of the goals of a migration to Exchange Server 2007 include consolidation, cost reduction, improved performance and stronger security. You cannot achieve these goals unless you perform a proper pre-assessment and use the data as a guide. For example, administrators need to know where their users are located and how many are using various servers throughout the organization before they can begin to think about where they will consolidate servers and storage.
This chapter includes excerpts from the white paper, “Understand Your Exchange Environment Better,” written by Microsoft Exchange Most Valuable Professional (MVP) David Sengupta of Quest Software. David covers the complexity of Exchange and what it takes to plan a migration to this environment. He also offers an extensive list of questions that organizations need to answer to perform a thorough Exchange assessment. In addition, this document will discuss the advantages of using Quest MessageStats™ in an Exchange assessment. The entire document appears in Appendix C.
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