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Conference chefs::ms-exchange

Title:Microsoft Exchange Server
Notice:
Moderator:FLASK2::SYSTEM
Created:Fri Feb 17 1995
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Thu Jun 05 1997
Number of topics:1099
Total number of notes:5174

887.0. "Exchange planning questions" by VAXRIO::63011::VAXRIO::ALCIDES (Technical Sales Support) Tue Feb 18 1997 20:54

A big Telecom customer in Brazil is planning the implementation of Exchange.

They have 150 buildings all over the country, and will implement a single 
Exchange Organization and 28 Exchange Sites. They already have Mailbus 400 and 
X.500 running on Digital UNIX, and want to integrate the Exchange network with 
the current environment.

I'm helping them to define the preliminary specifications. The distribution of 
sites and servers is based on the network links available, and the size of 
each server is based on some documents that I found in the Internet/Intranet 
(Performance Characterization of MS-Exchange - 20-DEC-1996, PPT presentation 
from ASE Performance Group - 10-JAN-1997).

As I don't have much experience with Exchange and X.400, I have some questions 
about the plan:

1) They want to dedicate a bridgehead server in the biggest site to 
create a one point connection to the Mailbus 400 MTA. They want to define only 
one "Peer MTA" within the Mailbus 400 for this bridgehead server, so that all 
messages from any Exchange server will be routed through this bridgehead 
server to Mailbus 400. Is it correct?

2) The documentation says that the Exchange Directory is automatically 
replicated between servers in a site, and the replication is scheduled by 
bridgehead servers between sites.
They want to implement Exchange directory information using a hierarchical 
style, like DDS in Message Router: The biggest server in a site have all 
Exchange user entries stored, smaller servers have only local user entries, 
and a client can search the local server or a big server to find a user entry.
Is it possible?

3) From previous notes of this conference, I see that until now Exchange 
cannot use X.500 as a user directory. Replication is necessary using XDSU or 
the clients can use a MAPI driver to X.500 directory.
Is it correct?


Thanks in advance,

Alcides Rocha
Technical Sales Support
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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887.1Some answers.FLASK2::SYSTEMNigel Bridport @REOWed Feb 19 1997 10:5825
Hi Alcides,

	Re. 1
	Yes, they can do this if they want.  Remember though that all
	messages destined for recipients served by MAILbus400 will be routed
	through the messaging bridgehead.  You will need to make sure that you
	have sufficient bandwidth to cope with the likely traffic.

	Re. 2
	You can use messaging bridgehead servers between sites or you can
	set-up Exchange to use any server between sites.  You can search
	for recipients in the local site from the address book or use the
	Global Address Book (GAL).  All recipients will be placed in the GAL.
	The GAL is available in all sites.  It is not quite like an X.500
	database where each site owns it's little piece and will search other
	databases based on superior/subordinate references though.

	Re. 3
	I do not really understand your question *8-(  You are correct in
	saying that Exchange cannot use Digital's X.500 database.  Replication
	to where ?  Which MAPI driver are you referencing ?  The ALL-IN-1
	MAPI driver cannot access an X.500 database but the DEC MAILworks one
	can.

Nigel.
887.2Question #3 in .0 is correctGOBUCS::COOLEYMegan and Michelle's DaddyWed Feb 19 1997 18:0511
    Hi,
    
    I think I understood Question #3.  He wants to send mail to
    non-exchange users and those users have their addresses in X.500.
    
    So, either 1) move the users into the Exchange GAL as custom recipients
    (which can be done by exporting them from x.500 with XDSU and importing
     them into exchange with the admin /i utility)  OR  2) use something like
    the ELF MAPI driver to look up recipients in X.500.
    
    Warren
887.3More questions ...VAXRIO::63011::VAXRIO::ALCIDESTechnical Sales SupportWed Feb 19 1997 21:4242
> I do not really understand your question *8-(  You are correct in
> saying that Exchange cannot use Digital's X.500 database.  Replication
> to where ?

Sorry for the confusion, Nigel. I meant synchronization, not replication.

> Which MAPI driver are you referencing ?  The ALL-IN-1
> MAPI driver cannot access an X.500 database but the DEC MAILworks one
> can.

I was talking about the driver referenced in note 73.20

> I think I understood Question #3.  He wants to send mail to
> non-exchange users and those users have their addresses in X.500.
>    
> So, either 1) move the users into the Exchange GAL as custom recipients
> (which can be done by exporting them from x.500 with XDSU and importing
>  them into exchange with the admin /i utility)  OR  2) use something like
>  the ELF MAPI driver to look up recipients in X.500.

Yes, you understood correctly, Warren


Now, I have two more questions:

1) From reply .1, I understand that there is at least one server in each site 
holding a copy of the GAL. If any change is made to the directory of a server 
holding a GAL, this change will be replicated to all other sites according to 
a planned schedule.
The question is: After directory synchronization between X.500 and one 
Exchange server, this server will hold many X.500 entries (Mailworks users). 
Will those entries be replicated to other sites just like directory changes, 
or each site must synchronize with X.500 database?

2) For a company with 10,000 employees, the GAL will hold 10,000 entries. 
What's the disk space required to hold all those entries? What is the impact 
to the server holding a GAL with so much entries?


Thanks for the previous replies,

Alcides
887.4RE: GAL questionsGOBUCS::COOLEYMegan and Michelle's DaddyFri Feb 21 1997 19:1522
> Now, I have two more questions:
>
> 1) From reply .1, I understand that there is at least one server in each site 
> holding a copy of the GAL. If any change is made to the directory of a server 
> holding a GAL, this change will be replicated to all other sites according to 
> a planned schedule.
> The question is: After directory synchronization between X.500 and one 
> Exchange server, this server will hold many X.500 entries (Mailworks users). 
> Will those entries be replicated to other sites just like directory changes, 
> or each site must synchronize with X.500 database?

It's my understanding that Custom Recipients can be loaded onto only one
site server and they will be replicated to all the other sites.  (I'll be
trying this theory out in a few weeks - so I'll let you know if doesn't work)

> 2) For a company with 10,000 employees, the GAL will hold 10,000 entries. 
> What's the disk space required to hold all those entries? What is the impact 
> to the server holding a GAL with so much entries?

Can anyone tell us what the size of the GAL in Digital is?  How many entries?

Warren
887.5How about the directory sizeSNOFS1::OP_RTRICHARD TOZERSat Feb 22 1997 04:449
    Hi,
    
    I dont know the MB size of the GAL but I can tell you the size of the
    Exchange directory, which includes the GAL. It is currently 164MB.
    
    The GAL currently contains 32000 visible entries and 9600 hidden ones.
    
    Hope this helps
    Richard