Should I upgrade Exchange 2003 or just upgrade the hardware?

Posted by JohnyD on Server Fault See other posts from Server Fault or by JohnyD
Published on 2010-12-21T19:05:02Z Indexed on 2010/12/21 19:55 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 308

Filed under:

exchange-2007

|

exchange-2003

|

exchange-2010

|

exchange-transition

|

server-hardware

My organization currently has a 4 y/o Exchange 2003 email server (32-bit, Intel Pentium D @ 3GHz, 3GB RAM). It's run very well over the past 4 years but it is time to upgrade its hardware. This server would handle email for approximately 30 clients, a few OWA users with iPhones.

My (somewhat ambiguous) question is, when I receive the new hardware should I build out a new Exchange 2003 deployment or should I look at Exchange 2007 / 2010? I've heard that Exchange 2010 requires Sharepoint 2010 (which I am currently not running). Are there benefits that a small-medium sized business can or can't do without? Am I making a horrible mistake staying with antiquated software?

Other details:

Exchange 2003 (v6.5 + SP2)
single front-end server

All opinions and thoughts are very much appreciated.

© Server Fault or respective owner

Related posts about exchange-2007

when using exchange 2010 it complains of not talking to Information Store service on exchange 2007

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I am attempting to do an upgrade in my org from exchange 2007 to exchange 2010. I moved all the mailboxes and made sure my certificates were setup in exchange 2010. I then changed my ip forwarding rules to forward mail to my exchange 2010 box. I can receive email. I then powered off my exchange 2007… >>> More
Disk I/O error copying a Exchange 2007 database

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
Hi all, A short time ago due to disk space I moved our Exchange database onto an external drive, the drive was new and the database was being backed up daily. I've now discovered the database is corrupt, I've run the Exchange utils to fix the database and this works but it corrupts again as soon… >>> More
Do I have to prepare Active Directory prior to installing an Exchange service pack?

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I'm having trouble determining the proper procedure for installing Exchange 2007 sp3 on a Server 2008 R2 box running Exchange 2007 sp1. It is not clear on websites I have consulted (Microsoft TechNet and others) whether preparing Active Directory is only required on a NEW install of Exchange 2007… >>> More
Exchange 2007 Owa (OnlineVersion) can not authenticate

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
Exchange Authentication dll: https://red002.mail.emea.microsoftonline.com/owa/auth/owaauth.dll sending style is: request.Method = "POST"; request.ContentType = "application/x-www-form-urlencoded"; And sending following message destination=https://red002.mail.emea.microsoftonline.com/owa/testuser@xxxserver… >>> More
Issues with doing a P2V on Exchange 2007

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I shutdown all Exchange services on the physical box and did a convert. Everything converted fine. Server booted up no issues and I could receive email from the outside world with no issues. But I am unable to send emails internally or externally. They just sit in the Outbox. I also disabled the… >>> More

Related posts about exchange-2003

Migrating from "partial" Exchange 2003 to full Exchange 2003 usability

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I have a client that is using Exchange 2003 on SBS 2003 R2, but only for calendar sharing and contacts sharing. Their email is still coming to their clients via a POP3 account on each client's Outlook. I'd like to move them over to using Exchange for both email and the other things they are utilizing… >>> More
Exchange 2003: Fresh install, couple noob questions.

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
Hi All, Thanks for reading! I have a small network set up for a local office here, and have a fresh install of Exchange 2003 on our sole-server PDC. The network uses one domain, call it ourdomain.net, which is DNSed locally, but not DNSed for the actual domain, so ourdomain.net works from within… >>> More
Upgrade Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2010 – Part II

as seen on Simple Talk - Search for 'Simple Talk'
In Jaap's second article on upgrading straight from Exchange Server 2003 to 2010, he explains how to move the various services from Exchange Server 2003 to Exchange Server 2010 and fully decommission the Exchange Server 2003 servers. >>> More
Export Message Tracking in Exchange 2003

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
Hello everybody How can to export message tracking from exchange 2003 for month with user >>> More
Exchange 2003 SP2 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Domain Controllers

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I'm looking at adding two Windows Server 2008 R2 Domain Controllers into our Windows Server 2003 domain to support our Exchange 2003 SP2 server and replace a retiring Windows Server 2003 Server. Our Domain and Forest functional levels are currently Windows Server 2003, which supports domain controller… >>> More