Mail Call - 31 Jul 2002

What all organizations require in addition to basic file-server support is email support. When email goes down, even for a short period, everyone in an organization is affected. Therefore, I highly recommend that students and IT professionals concentrating on Microsoft products tackle Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server and Exchange Server 5.5 after studying Windows Server and Windows Professional products. Exchange not only increases your overall familiarity with Active Directory (AD) and Windows services, it also forces a deeper understanding of antivirus and backup products and greatly increases your employability.

The place to start is the Microsoft Exchange Server Web site. At this site, you'll find white papers, instructions, marketing materials, security resources, and extremely useful trial software.

The requirements for a solid home lab are a bit more strenuous for Exchange than for other products. As a minimum, you need a machine capable of running Windows 2000 and Exchange 2000 plus at least one other computer to act as a client. A more effective setup would include two server-capable machines for multisite practice, two clients, and a static IP address with a registered DNS domain name attached. Vmware's VMware Workstation is virtual-machine software that can help you with hardware challenges; a dynamic DNS service will help you resolve most static IP deficiencies.

A dynamic DNS service lets you link a real DNS domain name to your Internet connection, even when your connection isn't an always-on static IP connection. By installing a small client on your computer that periodically sends in the current IP address, the service maintains the connection between your DNS name and your constantly changing dynamic IP address. This service is handy for email, Web sites, FTP services, or practice. Search Google for "dynamic dns service" to find a plethora of candidates.

If companies are dependent upon anything, it's email. Make sure your expertise is up to the challenge.