Dumb question about Exchange Server!
Discussion
I'm not in any way a whizz with computers but do maintain and build our network and administer our website which is hosted by Register1. we have a network of six offices that use the website and our email is run from the controls within the admin sector of Register1.
Question is, I am part of the Microsoft Partner Program and as such have versions of Exchange server and other supposedly hugely powerful web based tools? thing is I don't really know what they do, despite reading Wikidpedia to try and understand it goes in and straight out again! Therefore could someone explain in Numpty whether I could have any benefit from any of these programs or should I just leave well alone (its worth the program for the free Office and Vista upgrades!)
Cheers
Nick
Question is, I am part of the Microsoft Partner Program and as such have versions of Exchange server and other supposedly hugely powerful web based tools? thing is I don't really know what they do, despite reading Wikidpedia to try and understand it goes in and straight out again! Therefore could someone explain in Numpty whether I could have any benefit from any of these programs or should I just leave well alone (its worth the program for the free Office and Vista upgrades!)
Cheers
Nick
If you are responsible for the network etc then sooner or later the questions about upgrades will crop up, and you are in a better position for a payrise if you don't answer "uh?"
Get it, get some play kit to install it on and have a fiddle, find out whats what etc.
DO NOT USE IT IN THE LIVE ENVIRONMENT!
Have fun.
Get it, get some play kit to install it on and have a fiddle, find out whats what etc.
DO NOT USE IT IN THE LIVE ENVIRONMENT!
Have fun.
Ah, OK. And re-reading the post, I note that you are currently using the R1 mail servers.
You can use any of the functions as far as I am aware, and that does include Exchange, though you would have to have a server in one of the offices, and bandwidth may become an issue. Best bet is to get it and have a play, see if connections are good enough, or have a quick chat with BliarOut see if he can do you a quick consultancy job
You can use any of the functions as far as I am aware, and that does include Exchange, though you would have to have a server in one of the offices, and bandwidth may become an issue. Best bet is to get it and have a play, see if connections are good enough, or have a quick chat with BliarOut see if he can do you a quick consultancy job
What I'd check first is the licensing situation.
1) Do you have an Exchange server license?
2) Do you have Exchange Server Client Access licenses (one for each employee)
If the answer to (1) and (2) is yes, then considering the following:
1) Do you have any servers at work?
2) Do you have a user account to login to the computers across your 6 sites? Does the same username and password work across different computers?
3) What are you trying to achieve by changing from your current setup? Is it time to employ someone to do this, and if not, and you prepared for the associated hassle?
if (1) is no, then do you really want to spend money on servers, backup devices etc?
if (2) is no, then you probably don't have a Windows domain. You need one to run Exchange, and it'll be a nightmare in its own right
Consider (3) carefully. At best you'll need to pay a consultancy firm/IT guy to help you in some regard whilst you find your feet. At worst, you'll need to employ someone to look after the monster you create, and for what?
Exchange is great for communication, meeting scheduling etc etc. A broken Exchange server is just a nightmare.
Have you considered moving to a hosted Exchange solution? For a small(ish) company you could get the benefits of Exchange without the nightmare of worrying about supporting it.
I've been involved in Exchange design and rollout for about 10 years so if you really decide you want to go ahead with this, then I'll provide whatever free online help I can!
D
1) Do you have an Exchange server license?
2) Do you have Exchange Server Client Access licenses (one for each employee)
If the answer to (1) and (2) is yes, then considering the following:
1) Do you have any servers at work?
2) Do you have a user account to login to the computers across your 6 sites? Does the same username and password work across different computers?
3) What are you trying to achieve by changing from your current setup? Is it time to employ someone to do this, and if not, and you prepared for the associated hassle?
if (1) is no, then do you really want to spend money on servers, backup devices etc?
if (2) is no, then you probably don't have a Windows domain. You need one to run Exchange, and it'll be a nightmare in its own right
Consider (3) carefully. At best you'll need to pay a consultancy firm/IT guy to help you in some regard whilst you find your feet. At worst, you'll need to employ someone to look after the monster you create, and for what?
Exchange is great for communication, meeting scheduling etc etc. A broken Exchange server is just a nightmare.
Have you considered moving to a hosted Exchange solution? For a small(ish) company you could get the benefits of Exchange without the nightmare of worrying about supporting it.
I've been involved in Exchange design and rollout for about 10 years so if you really decide you want to go ahead with this, then I'll provide whatever free online help I can!
D
We are also in the Partner Programme - brilliant. Helps to keeps us legal at low cost.
We run an SBS system with Exchange server which I administer.
Its (mostly) a piece of piss to look after these days. Like SQL Server, which went from being an utter pig to looking after itself so well end-users have it on their machines and don't even notice, Exchange has got lots better.
Question is - what would it get you to run it in house when someone else is doing your e-mail for you. Not a lot, really, unless you want total flexibility in how you process your 'mail.
All those other "servers" like Biztalk and Sharepoint - I leave 'em in the box.
We run an SBS system with Exchange server which I administer.
Its (mostly) a piece of piss to look after these days. Like SQL Server, which went from being an utter pig to looking after itself so well end-users have it on their machines and don't even notice, Exchange has got lots better.
Question is - what would it get you to run it in house when someone else is doing your e-mail for you. Not a lot, really, unless you want total flexibility in how you process your 'mail.
All those other "servers" like Biztalk and Sharepoint - I leave 'em in the box.
Nick,
Sorry for the sales pitch approach but as an Exchange techie I'm a bit passionate about the technology I work with (Sad, I know) and like to see people and businesses getting the most out of it.
If you have more than a handful of staff and email is important to your business, then Exchange is certainly something you should look into, as it would most likely improve on your existing ISP based (I assume) mail system in many different areas.
Some basic examples (bear in mind I don't know what you're currently using):
* Your users Outlook folders/contents would all be stored centrally on a server. That means users always see the same stuff no matter which machine or location they log on from
* Exchange has some great features for remote access, e.g. from laptops, mobile devices, web browsers
* Collaborative features - users can easily share/access each others mail, book appointments in each others calendars, have central contact lists, etc.
* As all your business email is coming in/out of one central location you get much more control over filtering, monitoring and securing it
Of course there are potential downsides, such as cost and the fact that you are responsible for managing your email server and therefore getting it fixed it if it goes belly up! As others have said a small Exchange system is generally straightforward to manage - if installed and configured properly to begin with, it tends to look after itself as long as it isn't 'fiddled' with. The most significant costs would be the initial server hardware, software licenses and some consultancy to get it installed effectively.
The amount of work required to install Exchange would largely depend on the state of your business's existing IT infrastructure, I presume you all have PCs, networks linking them together and links between your offices but do you have any servers?
Anyway I hope this is serves as food for thought - there are loads of people on here including myself that can help if you do choose to take things a step further.
Neil
Sorry for the sales pitch approach but as an Exchange techie I'm a bit passionate about the technology I work with (Sad, I know) and like to see people and businesses getting the most out of it.
If you have more than a handful of staff and email is important to your business, then Exchange is certainly something you should look into, as it would most likely improve on your existing ISP based (I assume) mail system in many different areas.
Some basic examples (bear in mind I don't know what you're currently using):
* Your users Outlook folders/contents would all be stored centrally on a server. That means users always see the same stuff no matter which machine or location they log on from
* Exchange has some great features for remote access, e.g. from laptops, mobile devices, web browsers
* Collaborative features - users can easily share/access each others mail, book appointments in each others calendars, have central contact lists, etc.
* As all your business email is coming in/out of one central location you get much more control over filtering, monitoring and securing it
Of course there are potential downsides, such as cost and the fact that you are responsible for managing your email server and therefore getting it fixed it if it goes belly up! As others have said a small Exchange system is generally straightforward to manage - if installed and configured properly to begin with, it tends to look after itself as long as it isn't 'fiddled' with. The most significant costs would be the initial server hardware, software licenses and some consultancy to get it installed effectively.
The amount of work required to install Exchange would largely depend on the state of your business's existing IT infrastructure, I presume you all have PCs, networks linking them together and links between your offices but do you have any servers?
Anyway I hope this is serves as food for thought - there are loads of people on here including myself that can help if you do choose to take things a step further.
Neil
I'd leave Exchange alone if you already have a hosted email solution. Bringing the email server on site won't do much for you.
Sharepoint server on the other hand ... you have 6 offices, I suspect you could probably get something of value from setting up Sharepoint and getting up to speed with collaborative working, if people in those 6 offices share any data. Share documents, announcements, blogs, wikis, set up KPIs, task lists; all sorts of good stuff.
Have a look at it on the 'net here, see if ther's anything in there of use before you spend any time trying installs.
Sharepoint server on the other hand ... you have 6 offices, I suspect you could probably get something of value from setting up Sharepoint and getting up to speed with collaborative working, if people in those 6 offices share any data. Share documents, announcements, blogs, wikis, set up KPIs, task lists; all sorts of good stuff.
Have a look at it on the 'net here, see if ther's anything in there of use before you spend any time trying installs.
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