Chapter 5 - Designing a Basic Messaging Infrastructure with Exchange 2000 Server

Chapter 5

About This Chapter

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server and Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server are so tightly integrated that it is surprising that Microsoft decided to separate their design elements. Windows 2000 domains and organizational units (OUs), for instance, allow you to group network resources together for the purpose of structured administration, and Windows 2000 sites define areas of well-connected Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) subnets, where network connectivity is highly reliable and fast. The developers could have mapped the administrative structures of Exchange 2000 Server to domains or OUs and the routing topology to Windows 2000 sites. For the sake of greater flexibility, however, Microsoft loosened the system integration and opted to separate the platforms.

Is it necessary to separate the topologies of Windows 2000 Server and Exchange 2000 Server? Frankly, no. Exchange 2000 servers are domain resources and should be managed as such. If your sites do not reflect your network topology sufficiently to meet the minimal routing requirements of Exchange 2000 Server, you should optimize your Active Directory service design before deploying Exchange 2000 Server. Simplicity is the secret to success in planning and design. Neither administrators nor users appreciate an overcomplicated architecture. Therefore, use the system’s flexibility only where it is really needed and keep your environment as straightforward as possible. If feasible, outline an Exchange 2000 organization that precisely mirrors the Windows 2000 environment. Don’t make the job more difficult than it has to be.

This chapter addresses the various tasks that have to be accomplished when designing a basic Exchange 2000 organization. Lesson 1 tackles the structuring of system administration and Lesson 2 focuses on implementing sophisticated routing topologies. Lesson 3 then explains the various roles an Exchange 2000 server can assume in a messaging organization. Lesson 4 concludes this chapter with a discussion about public folder strategies.

Before You Begin

To complete the lessons in this chapter, you must have

• Knowledge of the various dependencies of Exchange 2000 Server on the underlying network infrastructure and Active Directory, as discussed in Chapter 3, "Assessing the Current Network Environment"
• Knowledge of the technical features of Exchange 2000 Server, as explained in Chapter 1, "Introduction to Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server "