Distributing or Concentrating Servers

Hardware that can be used with Microsoft Exchange Server ranges from single processor 486 computers to the most powerful configuration that Windows NT Server supports. Therefore, you can have an organization of 10,000 users, with 100 users on 100 servers, or with 500 users on 20 servers. This decision depends on your organization's needs and budget.

The following table lists the advantages and disadvantages of using more computers that are less powerful:

Advantages	Disadvantages
Fewer users are affected when a server fails. Each server can be customized to meet user needs. It's less expensive to increase capacity. More hardware choices are available. Each server can be physically close to the users, reducing network traffic for client/server interactions.	There is more hardware to maintain. Customized hardware increases support costs. Minor increases in users or load require more hardware. Bottlenecks increase with fewer users per server.

The following table lists the advantages and disadvantages of using fewer computers that are more powerful:

Advantages	Disadvantages
The system is designed for upgrades. There is less network traffic. With more users per server, there is more local delivery. There are less storage requirements. Fewer replication changes are required.	Network adapters must be able to handle more traffic to each server. Larger information stores take longer to back up and restore. More users are affected when a server fails.