Chapter 7: Mission-Critical Server and Storage Technologies


7.1 What’s your Exchange server made of?

If you had my bias on this subject, your initial reaction to citing hardware problems with your Exchange server as a leading cause of downtime would be to lament that the problem is not your hardware, but how you are using it or the vendor you have selected. The truth is, the leading causes of downtime just don’t make a huge case for hardware as a big problem when it comes to building mission critical servers. The “three-legged stool” here is people, process, and technology, and when it comes to downtime, it isn’t technology that should be your biggest area of concern. While this is arguable, the reality is that availability is about the weakest link in the chain. If the server and storage technologies you leverage are your weakest links, you had better put some thought into building Exchange servers utilizing the best hardware technologies you can afford. I won’t further argue the merits of focusing on hardware technologies to build more mission-critical Exchange deployments. This chapter assumes that hardware may be your most critical area for investment and a likely leading cause of downtime. With that in mind, I will try to focus on the key server and storage technologies available, how they impact Exchange deployments, and how you can leverage them to build mission-critical Exchange servers. In addition, if you select the right hardware, hardware should not end up being a significant cause of downtime. This being the goal, we will endeavor to focus on selecting and configuring the right hardware.

Okay, I lied. We really need to ask ourselves some serious questions about our Exchange deployments and look at some anecdotal points before deciding to spend money and time on hardware for our Exchange servers. The anecdotal evidence I have gathered working with Exchange Server over the last 7-plus years since it has been available leads me to believe that properly configured and specified hardware subsystems are not a very frequent cause of Exchange outages. However, hardware (most of it) is not bulletproof and does represent a potential failure point. Therefore, as Exchange administrators assess the risks of downtime across their Exchange Server environment, it is prudent to look at both the server and the storage technology upon which you choose to build your deployment.

7.1.1 Choosing your hardware vendor

In my opinion, half of the battle with regard to reliable hardware lies in the vendor selection you make. If you are one of those IT people who honestly believes that all hardware is created equal, I would challenge that you have not been in IT long enough to recognize that this simply is not the case. For those of you who know my background (previously, I worked for more than 10 years at the largest PC server manufacturer), you may think that my opinion is a product of that experience. However, I would tell you that this opinion formed long before I worked for a vendor when I was an IT person too. My experience has shown me that all hardware is not created equal— you cannot build a mission-critical system based on parts and pieces that anyone could buy off the “spot” market. Nowadays, many IT folks are motivated in their hardware purchases strictly by price—the lowest-priced server product wins. If this is how you work, I would suggest that you are penny wise and dollar foolish. Over the long haul, you will find that, in most cases, any amount of money you save upfront by buying the cheapest server pales in comparison with the extra costs you will incur supporting and maintaining that server or storage system. Does this mean you should always buy the most expensive hardware? That is not my suggestion at all. So how should you choose a hardware (or software, for that matter) vendor? I believe the following qualities are more important than price for hardware. If you can find all these qualities in a vendor at a reasonable price point, buy now!

Vendor support —Identifying a vendor that provides world-class support that includes rapid resolution of issues and a quick time to market for new drivers, firmware, and utilities is a must. This is not just about tech support. I also include here a vendor’s ability to respond quickly to new technologies. For example, does your server vendor support hot-plug PCI or how quickly will your storage vendor provide Windows VSS support? A well-rounded vendor that can provide enterprise-class support on a worldwide basis is a must for mission-critical Exchange servers. You can judge vendors based on their past track record in this regard; just look at how long it took given vendors to provide Windows 2000 support for their hardware and you will have some idea of what may lie in store for your adoption of Windows Server 2003.

Vendor innovation quotient —If you are looking for a hardware or software vendor that will be there for the long haul, look for the ones that are actively involved in innovation with their products and industry standards. You need a vendor that can find way to differentiate its products from the masses and one that is an industry technology leader—not follower. For example, in how many standards bodies is your server or storage vendor involved? Does it actively participate in bringing new technology to the industry, or does it just build servers or storage based on pieces, parts, and technology that someone else invented? How many partnerships does it have with other industry leaders? All these qualities make for a vendor and partner for IT that will be there for the long haul.

Vendor expertise —If you had to choose between a hardware vendor that knows a lot about Exchange Server or one that knows very little, which would you choose? The level of knowledge has in the areas you care most about is an important quality. For example, does your hardware vendor publish benchmarks and develop targeted solutions for Exchange Server or does it let you go it alone? Does it have engineers, technical support professionals, and professional services consultants on staff that are trained and knowledgeable in deploying mission-critical Exchange servers? When the going gets tough, you want a vendor that knows Exchange.

Whether you take the above qualities for granted or not, they are important when selecting a server and storage vendor on which you will build your Exchange deployment. The degree to which a vendor exemplifies these qualities tells an Exchange administrator how much skin in the game their vendor or partner has toward ensuring reliable hardware. Any vendor can put together a server using part and pieces. It is what happens before and after that will make all the difference. If you thought I was leading you in the direction of a certain hardware toward which I am biased, don’t worry—I believe there are several vendors out there that meet the above expectations (some better than others, of course). The important thing here is for you to demand this level of commitment from your vendor. If you recognize the value and cost of these qualities, you will also realize that the cheapest vendor may not be the best.




Mission-Critical Microsoft Exchange 2003. Designing and Building Reliable Exchange Servers
Mission-Critical Microsoft Exchange 2003: Designing and Building Reliable Exchange Servers (HP Technologies)
ISBN: 155558294X
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 91
Authors: Jerry Cochran

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