hi,i need to redesign our existing exchange server and would appreciate any help. here is our current design: FE Blackberry mail filter appliance Exchange Server BE dmz OWA / Exchange (2 clustered exchange servers) | \ / /internet ----- firewall------------------LAN--------------------------/ | | mail filter appliance 3 - DC's dmzwe currently have 3 locations that need to be taken into account. right now they are all hosted in 1 information store:- db size over 200gb- 650 users- no mailbox quotas- no archiving solution present- less than 10 public folders- no GAL synchonization b/w our parent company who hosts their own exchange serveri'd like to keep the design above, unless there is a reason why i should change it. I think the major task is breaking out the information store. Ideally we'd like to the design to be replicated in AD (we are redesigning the AD structure as well)proposed plan:- 3 information stores - office, warehouse, branches- implement mailbox quotas of 100mb- automate email archiving every 60 days (Veritas Enterprise Vault)- implement MIIS to sychronize GAL with parent companywhat am i missing? any help or feedback would be greatly appreciated.Thanks

If your only business requirement is to reduce the size of the mail store then you don't need any great design overhaul. Your idea of splitting the mail stores in 3 and then moving the users will accomplish this. Adding extra functionality such as archiving and mail quotas will fit your existing solution. The only element that I can see that is missing from a best practice setup is publishing the OWA through an ISAserver.AstheExchange configuration is stored in AD I am not sure what you mean about replicated the design in AD. If your users in the different mail stores are in separate OU's in AD then that will just make them easier to move initially. If you want to read more on Exchange design check this link on Planning an Exchange 2003 Messaging System: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=9FC3260F-787C-4567-BB71-908B8F2B980D&displaylang=en If you want a common GAL you can use the IIFP which is a free simplified version of MIIS just for synchronising the GAL's of different companies. Cheers, Rhys