Upgrading Exch 5.5/Win2K Srv to 2003 versions

  • From: Gene O'Brien <Gene@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "'exchangelist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'" <exchangelist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2003 11:03:45 -0400

Hi All,
 
I've reached the end of my patience with our current Exchange 5.5 server
running on a very old Compaq Proliant with Windows 2000 Server (Dual 600MHz
machine).
 
I took over administration of this thing about 6 months ago - over the years
it has had so much crap put onto it... all sorts of demo programs (4 or 5
different anti-virus programs, 3 different backup demos, etc), and it's just
gotten to the point where I can't fumigate it enough to keep it running
without drastic slowdowns and crashes all the time.
 
We're a relatively small shop - 30 users.  I want to upgrade us to a nice
new inexpensive Dell server, running Windows 2003 Server with Exchange 2003,
and basically start all over again with a nice clean install - hopefully
leaving the nightmares behind me!
 
Problem is, the boss is the type who complains if you spend $20 on a cable
without having a damned good reason for it.  I've tried talking sense to him
about how Exchange 5.5 is not a current product, Microsoft is retiring
regular support for it in a few months, the server is old and in bad shape,
etc.. but what I really need is a 'wow' list.  What can I show him that
makes him realize it's worth investing several thousand dollars to ring out
the old and ring in the new?  
 
Does anyone have a 'highlights' chart or list like this?  I'm not looking
for something that shows me how much easier it is to manage, how it
integrates better with our AD structure, or anything like that... his answer
to that is that 'i'm the administrator, i should be able to make it work'.
What i'm looking for is - what will the end user see as benefit?  What great
new 'can't live without features' will they see?
 
Anyone have an input for me on this one?
 
Thanks very much!
 
Gene O'Brien
Network Administrator
Three Cities Research
(212)605-3229
gene@xxxxxxxxxx
 

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