A number of tools are available to help with long-term Exchange Server capacity planning. Although utilities such as LoadSIM, JetStress, and Stress and Performance are suitable to determine how an existing server will handle future workloads, they're not ideal for planning an initial Exchange Server deployment. Microsoft's System Center Capacity Planner is a tool designed specifically to assist administrators in this area.
Capacity Planner is a powerful tool that can be used to test the design for a new Exchange architecture and deployment, or gauge the effects of growth on an existing Exchange organization.
In this SearchExchange.com step-by-step guide, Exchange MVP Brien Posey explains how System Center Capacity Planner works and how to use it to design an Exchange Server architecture model that best suits your network topology, hardware setup, estimated email traffic and expected user activity.
If you have any comments or questions about the information presented herein, please send an email to editor@searchexchange.com.
Brien M. Posey, MCSE Brien M. Posey, MCSE, is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for his work with Exchange Server, and has previously received Microsoft's MVP award for Windows Server and Internet Information Server (IIS). Brien has served as CIO for a nationwide chain of hospitals and was once responsible for the Department of Information Management at Fort Knox. As a freelance technical writer, Brien has written for Microsoft, TechTarget, CNET, ZDNet, MSD2D, Relevant Technologies and other technology companies. You can visit Brien's personal Web site at http://www.brienposey.com.
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