Need a Crash Course in Deploying Exchange Server 2010?

Microsoft Exchange Server rules among the IT pros in our audience, of course. But once you have a stable messaging environment, you sure don't want to mess with it.Windows IT Pro conducts annual reader surveys to determine product adoption and upgrades. And our most recent set of survey data tells us that although it’s no surprise that Exchange Server dominates among our audience in the messaging category, the adoption of Exchange Server 2010 continues to move at a glacial pace. In 2009, 9 percent of respondents were using Exchange Server 2010. In 2010, that number has crept up to 12 percent. 

Windows IT Pro has partnered with two of our stalwart Exchange experts—Tony Redmond and Paul Robichaux—to develop a three-day boot camp that could shake you loose from Exchange Server 2007 (or 2003) and into the present-day benefits of Exchange Server 2010. IT pros who always wait until the first service pack is released will be interested to know that these hands-on workshops will focus on Service Pack 1 (SP1). The workshops will be presented October 13-15 in Boston and October 18-20 in Anaheim, and will include lab materials developed by Exchange MVP Brian Desmond, who worked closely with Tony and Paul to build the materials. The objective of the workshop is that you get your hands on Exchange Server 2010 SP1, ask questions of these experts while they're in the room with you, and go home to execute a smooth migration.

Tony characterized the virtualized, laptop-based labs as short, snappy sessions that let you explore the intricacies of the new technology. "We will create a definite task for you to accomplish during the lab—one that adds real value when you return home from the event," he said.

As you would expect from Tony and Paul, the agenda will be packed with practical advice for rolling out your Exchange deployment (as well as some excellent jokes, of course). In the first session, Tony and Paul will examine the Exchange Server 2010 SP1 architecture, pointing out the differences in this release from earlier versions, including changes in the Remote PowerShell function, Role Based Access Control (RBAC), Client Access server, Hub Transport server, and compliance features. They'll also discuss Microsoft's support for Exchange Server 2010 deployed on premises and as a cloud-based service. They'll dive into some of these topics in depth in later sessions, so you'll get plenty of hands-on experience with Remote PowerShell, for example, and creating and monitoring a database availability group (DAG). Other topics during the three-day deep dive: Exchange management tools, Hub Transport and Edge Transport servers, client options, compliance, and hardware requirements.

If you've been waiting to deploy the newest version of Exchange 2010 because you have too many unanswered questions, the "Become an Exchange Maestro" series will give you a chance to get answers from two of the top Exchange experts—and get your hands on Exchange Server 2010 SP1.