Server Hardware

Your hardware decisions will have a significant effect on the performance of your Microsoft Exchange Server system. Carefully consider the following hardware issues:

• Disk quantity, capacity, and speed
• Memory
• Type and number of processors
• Type and number of network adapter cards
• Outside communications hardware, such as modems or X.25 adapters
• Number of users or services on the server
• Expandability
• Type and number of tape drives for backup

With the user information gathered during site and organization planning, determine the maximum number of simultaneous users on your server. If the server provides other services, such as connections to MS Mail (PC) or the Internet, such services may require more server resources or may support fewer users per server.

For more information about performance, see Appendix A, "Optimizing Performance," or the Microsoft Exchange Server Resource Guide, Supplement.