My company of 1,000 users is looking to move from Exchange 2007 to Exchange 2010 next year, and it's budget time now. Is there a set of Microsoft guidelines for recommended hardware topology of # and type of distributed servers? (on 2007, we currently have a load balanced pair of servers acting as both CAS and Hub Transport. We also have 2 mailbox servers (each with their own CCR cluster). I can only find the mailbox calculator on the MS site. Can anybody point me in the right direction for determining how many servers, in what role and recommended HD/RAM/Proc? Many thanks, Rob

The 2010 calculator has all of what you need built in. For a 1,000 seat solution you could fit it all into a PC class Dell desktop with a few gig of RAM and a couple of SATA disks. So, punch your numbers into the calculator and it will tell you how much memory you need. You're going to get choices on drives and processor. And I just ran your numbers for you. Yes, you're going to say "Is that it? really?" "Shrimp Eating Champion" wrote in message news:cae76134-da8e-4fd9-80db-62f7e4089777... My company of 1,000 users is looking to move from Exchange 2007 to Exchange 2010 next year, and it's budget time now. Is there a set of Microsoft guidelines for recommended hardware topology of # and type of distributed servers? (on 2007, we currently have a load balanced pair of servers acting as both CAS and Hub Transport. We also have 2 mailbox servers (each with their own CCR cluster). I can only find the mailbox calculator on the MS site. Can anybody point me in the right direction for determining how many servers, in what role and recommended HD/RAM/Proc? Many thanks, Rob Mark Arnold, Exchange MVP.

Have you looked at the HP and Dell Sizing tools -- I don't believe that Dell has one for Exchange 2010 yet - But HP does. THis is also typically a free service that HP/IBM and Dell will help you out with. What I like about dealing with the vendors is you get their recommendations on exactly what hardware you will require. Have a look at the HP tool - It is pretty good. http://h71028.www7.hp.com/ActiveAnswers/us/en/sizers/microsoft-exchange-server-2010.html I have engaged with the pre-sales engineering with all of the above companies and they are all really good. Also as a customer you can get this service directly from Microsoft Pre-Sales support -- I assume that with 1000 users you are probably on an enterprise agreement. If you want to take it further Microsoft offers a Deployment Planning Service called: Exchange Deployment Planning Services. You can find a Microsoft Certified Partner of your choice to deliver this and the best part is Microsoft Allows you to use your SA Vouchers to pay for it. Check out the EDPS Site. http://www.microsoftedps.com/edps/ Hope all of this helps you out. Thanks, Dave Kawula Principal Consultant TriCon Technical Serivces Inc. www.triconts.com www.insidetheregistry.com dkawula@triconts.com

Hi Rob, Some information for you: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa995902.aspx http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd351197.aspx Regards! Gavin

Thanks for all the suggestions. Lots of good info on those links. I also downloaded the HP sizing tool for exchange which has been helpful as we're an all HP shop.