The following are best practices from this chapter:
Use the site consolidation strategies to reduce the number of Exchange servers to deploy.
Separate the Exchange log and database files onto separate physical volumes whenever possible.
Install Exchange Server 2003 on Windows Server 2003.
Use the \3GB and \USERVA:3030 switches in the boot.ini file of any Exchange Server 2003 server with greater than 1GB of RAM.
Integrate an antivirus and backup strategy into Exchange Server design.
Keep a local copy of the Global Catalog close to any Exchange servers.
Implement quarterly or semiannual maintenance procedures against Exchange databases by using the ISINTEG and ESEUTIL utilities.
Keep the OS and Exchange up to date through service packs and software patches, either manually or via Software Update Services.
Keep the Active Directory design simple, with a single forest and single domain, unless a specific need exists to create more complexity.
Identify the client access methods that will be supported and match them with the appropriate Exchange Server 2003 technology.
Implement DNS in the environment on the AD domain controllers.
Use an external (published) Active Directory DNS namespace if simplicity is important, or use an internal (nonpublished) Active Directory DNS namespace if security is more important.
