High Availability in Exchange 2007 Is Well Within Your Reach

Executive Summary:

In Exchange Server 2007, high availability comes in three flavors: cluster continuous replication (CCR), single copy cluster (SCC), and local continuous replication (LCC). Learn about high availability and asynchronous log shipping and replay in this primer on Exchange 2007 high availability options.

High availability has traditionally carried a hefty price tag. A few years ago, I taught a class at EMC's Boston headquarters. I was surprised to learn that the typical-looking computer setup for the class was actually valued at a hefty $12 million—the cost of a system that, in EMC’s words, “you cannot bring down, even with an ax.” As you consider what your organization might need in terms of high availability, perhaps you're already worried about the cost of the hardware and software required, not to mention support for such a solution. In the past, these were viable concerns, but with Exchange Server 2007 you can find solutions that won’t break your budget and won't require your Exchange team to pursue PhDs in clustering. We’ll start our exploration of Exchange 2007 high-availability solutions with an overview here, then in upcoming articles we'll delve into the topic in more detail by walking through how to configure Local Continuous Replication (LCR) and Cluster Continuous Replication (CCR) in Exchange 2007. . . .