Pre-Installation Checklist for NT 4.0 and Exchange 5.5

Before you install Microsoft Exchange, the following hardware and software configuration is recommended.These recommendations are generic, and may be different depending on each site. Before installation, a site information questionnaire will be sent to you by CGNet and should be filled in and returned prior to any installation.

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS:

The following hardware configuration should support 100 - 800 users, depending on drive space allocation per user.We recommend increasing the hard drive capacity from that shown if you're supporting over a hundred users. Because Exchange is resource-intensive, we recommend running Exchange on a dedicated server.

• Pentium Pro 233 or greater
• Minimum 256 MB RAM
• PCI or EISA Bus1 Network Card
• SCSI Hard disks, minimum 8 GB
• Either RAID 5 or mirroring on the hard disks
• CD-ROM Drive
• Network Interface Card, fully configured on your network.
• One working serial COM port for modem. see Footnote 1

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS:

• Windows NT 4.0
• Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6a
• Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack -- for OWA/Internet Information Server
• Microsoft Exchange 5.5, Enterprise edition, including the required site licenses.
• Microsoft Exchange Service Pack 4
• RRAS (Routing and Remote Access Server) , available as a download from Microsoft

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• The Exchange server should be protected by a Universal Power Supply (UPS) and have full tape backup function available.
• Working network, with all clients configured to logon to all servers by TCP/IP.
• TCP/IP configured on all network servers and clients.
• Connection to the IVDN/a leased X.28 line to your local X.25 PSDN provider. Or if you are using dial-up access, one dedicated IDD phone line.
• Modem with associated cables.
• Remote control software package for maintenance access. Approved package: ControlIT by Computer Associates (formerly known as Remotely Possible)

NT Configuration:

• Server with NT4.0 (SP6a , Option Pack 4.0). This server should be a backup Domain Controller (BDC).
• The server should be configured with two NTFS disk partitions.
• The primary partition (1 Gig min) configured as the C: drive, and is exclusively for the NT operation system and system utilities.
• The second partition, configured as D or E, should consist of the remaining available disk space and used exclusively for Exchange. (Core Exchange program will take 250MB; the databases, transaction logs, and directory may take 2G to 40G -- contact CGNET for help estimating disk space needed.)

Naming Conventions:

Before starting the installation, it is important to have the names and IP numbers you will use prepared. Some of these names cannot be changed without re-installation. Please carefully read the naming tips below.

Tips on naming conventions:

• NT Domain name: This is open - decision usually made by the center's network administrative staff.
• NT Server name: We recommend making this the same as the Exchange Site Name with an X appended at the end. For instance, for the site called CIMMYTOBR at CIMMYT, Obregon, the server name would be CIMMYTOBRX.
• Exchange Organization name: You must consult with CGNET on this name - critical for mail flow.
• Exchange Site Name: The convention we like to follow is using the center name. For the sites that are part of the CGIAR, we have included special instructions. see Footnote 2

IMPORTANT: Do NOT put any non-alphabetic characters in the site name, such as "-" ; The X400 connector has trouble with these characters.

Please fill in the following template and forward this information to CGNET and confirm all this information before starting your installation. Please do not start your installation if you have not consulted with AND received a go-ahead from CGNET.

Names:
NT Domain:
NT Primary Domain Server:
NT Exchange Server (if different than PDC):
Exchange Organization:
Exchange Site:

IP Addresses:
NT Primary Domain Server:
NT Exchange Server (if different than PDC):
Router:

Account Information:
Site Connector NT account name and password:
Exchadmin account password:
Remotely Possible account name and password:

Other information to have on hand before installation:
If you are dialing up: phone number and instructions of your local dialup access points; static IP address for your server.
Dial-up networking script file.
LMHOSTS text file.

FOOTNOTES:

1) Hardware note - Notice, the modem and phone line requirements are necessary for an installation connecting via dialup RAS. Although these requirements are not mandatory for an installation connecting via IP over a WAN link, they are recommended, to provide backup connectivity options.

2) CGIAR Naming note - These tips for CGIAR sites only: Make the Exchange Site Name the same as the name of your center if your site is a headquarters site. Otherwise, use your center name with the two-letter ISO code of the country appended, for example, the CIP site in Bogor, Indonesia, would be CIPID ("ID" for Indonesia).

*** A list of ISO codes can be found at ftp://info.ripe.net/iso3166-countrycodes. If you anticipate having more than one site per country, then use a 2 or 3 letter code to identify the city. For example, the CIMMYT site in Obregon, Mexico, would look something like CIMMYTOBR.

Last Updated: September 26, 2000