I currently have a single exchange 2007 box with all the roles installed. Most of my users are connecting outlook via outlook anywhere over the autodiscover public internet certificate. (cached exchange mode) I have a remote office that is connected via a slow satellite link. It is a site-to-site VPN that has domain controllers on site. All the users are using OUTLOOK Anywhere with cached exchange mode. My problem is, all the departments there have shared mailboxes they need to access daily. As you know, the shared mailbox works in online mode and cannot work in cached exchange mode. So it is PAINFULLY slow. My thought is to put another exchange server at this site and move the shared mailboxes to that server. What roles would this server needs? CAS, Hub Transport and mailbox? Will I need to move all the users mailboxes as well to this server? I'm thinking I would have to uncheck outlook anywhere and give them a MAPI connection to the local exchange server. Otherwise they will always be connecting over the sat link, to the autodiscover server, then routed right back into the local exchange box, correct? Or is there a way to allow the shared mailbox to be access on the local server and the user e-mail account on the main exchange server?

I think an identical exchange server as your first one would be great, so clients can query from local server. For the shared mailboxes, do you use public folder? It would be an option if you put the data into public folder, and replicate between sitesJames Luo TechNet Subscriber Support (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/ms788697.aspx) If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.com

We do not use public folders. What roles would the downrange exchange server need? Once it's setup, would I just do a move-mailbox and choose that server/information store? Am I correct in the routing groups are no longer needed, mail will route automatically?

Hi-You'll need to install MBX/HT/CAS locally. You can just do a move-mailbox however factor in that it is going to be VERY slow over the satellite link and mailboxes won't be accessible during that time. You also very likely want a domain controller locally. You don't need routing groups but you'll need to configure an additional AD site to put that server in and you'll want to setup the CAS for proxying I assume.Active Directory, 4th Edition - www.briandesmond.com/ad4/

OK the site has two domain controllers and is already created with its subnet in sites and services. What do you mean by "setup the CAS for proxying" Can you elaborate?

Resources: Overview of Exchange Server 2007 CAS Proxying and Redirection Understanding Proxying and Redirection Exchange Server 2007 CAS-CAS Proxying Guidelines..James Luo TechNet Subscriber Support (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/ms788697.aspx) If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.com

Take a look at the links James posted - they're probably the best docs out there on this.The short summary is that your clients will continue to access OWA via the CAS servers in your main site. In the event the client's mailbox is actually in the downstream site, Exchange will relay ("proxy") all the requests to the downstream CAS server and then return the response to the client. The key here is that the CAS server generally (not always) will not talk to a mailbox server out of its site so it contacts a CAS server local to the mailbox and goes from there.Active Directory, 4th Edition - www.briandesmond.com/ad4/