Hi, all I have just started to learn Exchange Server. And now I want to build the environment. I asked some friends what I should do before, but I still not know it. So I look for help here. My question is simple for you maybe, but I should know them clearly. I already know how to to use the VMware to bulid the virtual environment. And about Exchange server environment what I should have? (I use Exchange 2007, Outlook 2010 in Win7) Question 1: How many virtual machines I should build? What virtual machines I need? DC? Exchange ? Win7? Outlook? Question 2: Tell me the process among all the virtual machines when one outlook user send one e-mail to another one who is also in the same organization? Question 3: How many methods to create one e-mail account? If there will be so much information to write, you can also give me some material's links. Here thank you very much. Regards

Q1: It depends which scenario you want to test - lab should be similar to your production env, or if it's only for test purpouses it can be different. Number of virtual machine depends also on host resources - to test Exchange you should assign at least 2GB of RAM and 30-40GM od disk. You need also domain controller - at least one and it should be separated from Exchange. You can use Outlook in lab on DC or separate virtual machine with Win7. If you want test mail flow u can install one outlook on Win7 and second on DC. Q2: Q3: One or two mailboxes u can create from EMC console, if you want to create more, it would be better to use power shell and some script - there are plenty of such a scripts in the internet - e.g. https://sites.google.com/site/assafmiron/ExchangeScripts/createtestmailboxesRegards, Konrad Sagala, MCT, MCSE+M, MCITP: Exchange 2007/2010, Lync 2010, Office365, Windows 2008, Virtualization

Hi Pinocchio well done on choosing exchange. i'm sure you won't regret that decision. Your environment will depend on what you want to achieve. if you just want to see the interfaces, play around with a bit of power shell etc then a single multi-role exchange 2010 server installed onto a DC will work, using owa for mailbox access - although that would be unsupported in production. i find a working lab that i can use to examine most things my clients are likely to come across consists of one DC, one windows 7 workstation machine, two mailbox servers with a DAG configured and two CAS/HT servers using windows network load balancing. This doesn't cover edge transport or UM, though, but it's about as large as my lab setup will handle. the answer to question two will depend on your lab and the access method you choose to use - if you have a single server, in my first scenario, then a http connection is made to the local host, and obviously everything then takes place locally - in the second scenario an RPC connection is made to to the NLB address of the CAS/HT servers... finally there are two recommended methods to create an email account - using the console, or using the shell: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb123809.aspx

Hi, Konrad Your suggestion is helpful to me and I get some ideas from you. Thanks. Regards

Hi, I could not make sure whether your name is Ishmael. But I am sure that your words make me learn more. And Exchange is so large and I will have a long way to learn. Thank you for your encouragement. I will keep on studying... Regards