Microsoft Exchange Server 2007

Unified Messaging

MessagingMo acknowledges the ownership of all trademarks and trade names used throughout this document.

Document Version: 1.0

Me

ssaging

Mo S

olutio

ns - Excha

nge S

erver 20

07 U

nified M

essag

ing

Why MessagingMo?

MessagingMo have a wealth of Exchange Server experience gained during the entire lifespan of the product.

Our Microsoft certified consultants are able to plan upgrades and migrations using Exchange 2007 ensuring that there is no unplanned user disruption during the process.

Planning is vital to the

implementation of the new features within the software. MessagingMo’s consultants take the time to realise the full potential of implementing Exchange 2007 by ensuring that all the options are fully explained, demonstrated and considered prior to any of the major installation decisions being made.

As detailed within this document there are many exciting and innovative enhancements which may drive an upgrade decision. MessagingMo have made a long running and significant investment in Exchange technologies, consultancy and training which can be used to ensure that your Exchange upgrade is performed successfully.

2

MessagingMo have highly qualified and trained consultants with a wealth of Exchange Server experience.

Exchange 2007 Upgrade & MigrationMessagingMo plan, implement and support migrations to Exchange 2007 from previous versions of Exchange Server as well as from alternative email software solutions

Me

ssaging

Mo S

olutio

ns - Excha

nge S

erver 20

07 U

nified M

essag

ing

Email …… A Business Critical ServiceThe vast majority of organisations now view their email systems as critical to their operating environment. Users of email systems expect the data held in the mailboxes and public folders to be available to them 24/7 and as a result store vital data and documents within the email environment which historically used to be located exclusively within standard network file shares.

Therefore the availability of e-mail systems is absolutely key.

With all of this in mind, Microsoft has redesigned their ‘Exchange Server’ product. There are now compelling reasons to consider implementing Exchange Server 2007 from all three of the major business considerations...

Security

Availability to Users / Resilience

Return on Investment

MessagingMo have a proven track record of implementing innovative, secure and highly available Exchange e-mail solutions.

Exchange Server 2007 has some very appealing features which will appeal to the majority of organisations. This document is designed to provide an overview.

3

“We can’t afford our Exchange systems to be unavailable”

Deverill understand the importance that companies place on their Exchange email infrastructure and the implications of the service not being available.

The comprehensive feature-set that is available with this latest release of Exchange Server can dramatically improve the reliability of the email and collaboration infrastructure.

Design, planning and skilled implementation are key to the realising the potentials available.

Me

ssaging

Mo S

olutio

ns - Excha

nge S

erver 20

07 U

nified M

essag

ing

Redesigned InfrastructureExchange 2007 has become a very modular system to implement.

As shown in the diagram below, the design allows the separate components to be installed on different hardware thus maximising performance in environments with heavily used email architecture.

However, it is important to note that for the majority of smaller and medium size organisations a single server can be used to host all the seperate internal roles.

64-bit architectureExchange 2007 requires a 64-bit operating system thus providing a superb platform for the predicted rises in future growth of user

4

“Mailbox sizes are becoming a real headache”

This release of Exchange has a radically different design platform which allows organisations of differing sizes to select the most appropriate server and storage configuration for their particular environment.

The move to 64bit architecture will ensure performance is maximised as storage growth increases.

Mail flow within multi-site organisations is simplified and optimised to share existing Active Directory replication connections.

Me

ssaging

Mo S

olutio

ns - Excha

nge S

erver 20

07 U

nified M

essag

ing

mailboxes sizes and use. The move to 64-bit also improves the Server performance and scaleability.

5

Me

ssaging

Mo S

olutio

ns - Excha

nge S

erver 20

07 U

nified M

essag

ing

Resilient SystemsContinued access to e-mail data is vastly improved within the design of Exchange Server 2007.

Replication of Exchange databases was not natively available within previous versions. Currently clustering is by far the most popular method of providing resilient systems.

Whilst standard shared storage clustering is still available with Exchange 2007, there are now an additional three options available which do not rely

upon a single copy of the data.....

Option 1: Local Continuous Replication

The most cost effective manner to provide replicated Exchange data is to

copy it to a separate storage array on the local server. Easy to configure and simple to manage ‘LCR’ makes online replication easily available and affordable for business of any size.

Option 2: Cluster Continuous Replication

This replicates the Exchange data to a separate server node creating a second copy

of the data. This architecture provides resilience for the server hardware in addition to providing protection for the databases. A third ‘witness’ server is used to control the failover with MSCS.

Option 3: Standby Continuous Replication

Standby replication is a huge leap forward in regard to Exchange availability as it

supports the replication to servers located anywhere within the Intranet (clients environment). It is possible to implement local Cluster replication (shown above) and provide an additional layer of security by implementing a remote ‘Standby’ server also.

6

“I need my Exchange systems to be available round the clock”

Protection from database and hardware failure is featured very prominently within Exchange 2007.

Standard clustering is still supported but is now offered alongside some alternative solutions which are applicable within different environments. This means that all well designed Exchange 2007 implementations should now have a form of replicated resilience in place.

Having servers hosting ‘live’ standby versions of the Exchange databases on separate physical sites hugely improves the Disaster Recovery options available.

Me

ssaging

Mo S

olutio

ns - Excha

nge S

erver 20

07 U

nified M

essag

ing

These database replication options are a major attraction for implementing Exchange 2007. It is now possible to protect your valuable email data in a variety of manners to suit any IT budget.

The ability to provide complete site resilience by having a replicated server on an alternative site is also a major improvement.

Improved Administration

Exchange Server 2007 introduces some brand new tools for managing the e-mail infrastructure. A redesigned graphical management console (shown above) has been updated to be more intuitive for the user. In addition, all the troubleshooting and diagnostic tools have been combined into a sensibly laid out toolbox available from the interface.

The introduction of Microsoft’s Powershell scripting language has been completely intergrated into Exchange 2007. Every command issued through the GUI can equally be performed by using the new command line management shell (shown below)......

7

“I’d like to be able to automate some of our Exchange administrative tasks”

Microsoft’s new Windows Powershell scripting language is integrated into Exchange 2008. All tasks can now be easily scripted and scheduled by administrators allowing a new degree of control over the Exchange messaging infrastructure.

The existing GUI interface has been overhauled to provide a more intuitive and useful management tool.

Windows Powershell is completely integrated into the forthcoming Windows 2008 release.

Me

ssaging

Mo S

olutio

ns - Excha

nge S

erver 20

07 U

nified M

essag

ing

Anywhere Anytime Access

Having easy access to email data only within the office is no longer acceptable to most organisations. Indeed Microsoft has offered a growing number of accessibility options during the recent Exchange editions.

Exchange Server 2007 provides a robust and dependable set of access methods which can ensure that your critical email data is available where and when required.

Laptop - Outlook Anywhere (fully synchronised from anywhere)

Mobile Devices - Push email (similar to Blackberry)

Internet Site - Outlook Web Access

8

“Do we need to employ a separate Blackberry server to introduce push email?”

No

The latest version of Exchange Server has some really neat remote and mobile access technologies built into the product.

Mails can be ‘pushed’ out to mobile devices.

Lost and stolen devices can be remotely ‘wiped’ to maximize security.

Laptop users can access and synchronize their standard Outlook folders from virtually anywhere without requiring a separate VPN.

Exchange 2007 offers the ability to have voicemail messages delivered to the users’ e-mail inbox

Me

ssaging

Mo S

olutio

ns - Excha

nge S

erver 20

07 U

nified M

essag

ing

Fully Featured Outlook Web AccessExchange provides a multitude of connection options for users over the Internet. However, one of the most popular is Outlook Web Access.

This has evolved tremendously since Exchange 2000 and is now more of a reflection of the full Outlook 2007 client as seen in the screenshots below...

It is even possible to access voicemail messages using Outlook Web Access as Exchange Server 2007 can offer the ability to implement ‘Unified Messaging’ as shown below......

9

“I’d like Outlook Web Access to more closely match the features and layout of the latest outlook client”

Exchange 2007 has given a whole new look and feel to its web based e-mail client. Many new features have been added including....

Search Ability

Calendar Scheduling

Voicemail Access

Tasks

Auto Complete

LAN Document Access

Client Type Caching

It is now possible for users to access standard LAN based documents (located in a file share) through the OWA client interface.

Me

ssaging

Mo S

olutio

ns - Excha

nge S

erver 20

07 U

nified M

essag

ing

Simplified ConnectivityWhen partnered with Exchange 2007, Outlook 2007 clients can take advantage of the ‘Autodoscover’ functionality within Exchange.

This requires that users only need to know their e-mail address and password in order to fully configure their Outlook client.

Not only can this auto-configuration be used to configure Outlook clients within

the LAN but externally also. Clients using a unconfigured Outlook client

across the Internet can have their connection and configuration automatically setup by simply entering their e-mail address and password when Outlook fires up.

10

“Having to make remote based users come in to the office to initially configure and synchronize their Outlook clients can often be inconvenient”

The Autodiscover service within Exchange 2007 can be a godsend in being able to configure LAN and WAN based Outlook 2007 clients in the minimum possible time.

Mobile devices (such as those based on the latest Windows Mobile operating system) are also supported.

This results in IT administrators being able to talk users through configuring their devices quickly, easily and successfully.

The services offered

Me

ssaging

Mo S

olutio

ns - Excha

nge S

erver 20

07 U

nified M

essag

ing

11

Me

ssaging

Mo S

olutio

ns - Excha

nge S

erver 20

07 U

nified M

essag

ing

Microsoft Top Ten Reasons To Upgrade

12

“WHY?”

Each organisation has different needs, requirements and reliance on their e-mail based systems.

However the vast majority of companies would agree that their e-mail is becoming more business critical as its use increases.

The ongoing development of the Exchange product ensures that users of 2007 can assure their user base of a stable, speedy, resilient and feature rich e-mail environment.

MessagingMo would highly recommend a review of the e-mail systems in place for every organisation in order to evaluate the possible advantages that would come with Exchange 2007. An informed business decision could then be made.

1 Lower running costs and higher availability through the new replication features.

2 Access to e-mail, voice mail, calendar and contacts from virtually anywhere at any time.

3 Integrated enterprise-class mobile messaging using push e-mail technologies.

4 Unified Messaging capabilities. Users can access e-mail, voice mail and faxes from a single accessible inbox.

5 Integrated anti-spam, anti-virus and anti-phishing technologies.

6 Integrated compliance features such as retention rules, the ability to scan and act on messages in transport and comprehensive searching.

7 Rich Outlook Web Access experience. The Outlook 2007 like interface has some major improvements including the ability to navigate to file shares not held within the exchange environment.

8 Newly designed administration GUI, command line management shell, diagnostics and troubleshooting tools.

9 Easier and more modular deployment and management architecture.

10 Optimized for future growth. As a native 64-bit application Exchange 2007 does not suffer from previous hardware and performance limitations.