Chapter 28. Deploying the Client for Microsoft Exchange

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Understanding Deployment Options

• Planning Considerations and Best Practices

• Preparing the Deployment

• Installing the Exchange Client

• Pushing Client Software with Windows 2003 Group Policies

• Deploying with Microsoft Systems Management Server

• Managing Post-Deployment Tasks

• Best Practices

Whether you are implementing Exchange 2003 Server for the first time, or upgrading an organization from previous versions of Microsoft Exchange Server, client deployments are always a major component when planning and implementing Exchange messaging functionality to client systems in the enterprise.

With many options available for deploying the Microsoft Exchange Outlook client, administrators can plan and leverage multiple options and technologies when configuring and pushing the Exchange 2003 Server Outlook client.

To assist in the planning and deploying of the Outlook client, this chapter provides information about the different options and the best practices when using them to deploy clients to the desktop, how to automate and configure the Exchange client profile, and how to work with automated configuration files ”that is, Microsoft Outlook Profile (PRF) files. In addition, the basic tools are available for managing and administering the deployment of Exchange 2003 Server clients to the desktop.