Microsoft KB Archive/837852

= Windows Clustering is not supported on front-end servers in Exchange Server 2003 =

Article ID: 837852

Article Last Modified on 11/14/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Exchange 2000 Enterprise Server
 * Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server Standard Edition

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INTRODUCTION
This article discusses an installation limitation of Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server or Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 in a clustered environment. The installation of an Exchange 2000 or Exchange 2003 front-end server is not supported on a server cluster.



MORE INFORMATION
When you configure Exchange 2000 or Exchange 2003 in a front-end and back-end configuration (FE/BE), the Exchange front-end server typically relays Internet client protocol commands to the back-end Exchange mailbox server. A server cluster provides failover capability for Exchange mailbox servers if they are connected to a shared storage location. Because the Exchange front-end server does not store mailbox information, there would typically be only a small benefit to having an Exchange front-end server installed on a server cluster.

To help increase the fault tolerance of Exchange front-end servers, use more than one front-end server, and configure these servers by using a clustering technology such as Network Load Balancing.

For additional information about the Windows Clustering technologies in Microsoft Windows Server 2003, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/technologies/genclust.mspx

For additional information about the Windows Clustering technologies in Microsoft Windows Server 2000, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/2000/default.aspx

For additional information about how to deploy Exchange 2003, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/fa02f087-7fe7-4eb7-b859-12632d762f9e.aspx

For additional information about how to deploy Exchange 2000, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/techinfo/deployment/2000/

Additional query words: MSCS

Keywords: kbclustering kbinfo KB837852

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