Hi everyone,I presently have configured two Exchange servers and I would like to make one of them a front-end server and the other a back-end server. Once of the servers is a two-node cluster and the other is a standard non-clustered box. What are the configurations that Microsoft recommends?Thanks all,Duncan.

HI, Please let me to describe your requrement.You have 3 Servers and 2 servers configured as a mailbox cluster. Now you want to know what is Microsoft best practice to implement backend ,Front topology of Exchange 2003.If I am off road please let me know. You can configure 2 backend servers as clustered mailbox servers and other server as a Front end server. You can place your front-End server at Perimeter Network or internal network. Some organization doesnt allow initiating active directory connections between Perimeter Network and internal network. In that case you wont be able to place Front-End server at Perimeter Network because Exchange front-end server and back-end server must be a member of same active directory domain. Please refer below articles which I mention below for more information. Resources========= Front-End and Back-End Server Topology Guide for Exchange Server 2003 and Exchange 2000 Server================================================================================http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69352 How to Set Up a Front-End and Back-End Topology with an Advanced Firewall in a Perimeter Network==================================================================================http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124162(EXCHG.65).aspx Front-End Server in a Perimeter Network=================================http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa996948(EXCHG.65).aspxHow to Set Up a Front-End and Back-End Topology with a Front-End Server behind a Firewall==========================================================================http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa996787(EXCHG.65).aspx How to Set Up a Front-End and Back-End Topology with a Front-End Server in a Perimeter Network===============================================================================http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa996212(EXCHG.65).aspx Configuring Exchange Front-End Servers=================================http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa997801(EXCHG.65).aspx Configuring a Back-End Server=========================http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124951(EXCHG.65).aspx Here is a good article from Henrik Walther Dual or Pass-Through Authentication in an Exchange 2003 Front-End/Back-End Setup=====================================================================http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Dual-Pass-Through-Authentication-Exchange-2003-Front-EndBack-End.html Regards Chinthaka

Well, Chinthaka has provided lots of the materials about FE/BE deployment. Im sure that you will find the procedure among them