Exchange Server 2007 is available in three different editions -- the commercial version, the self-extracting version and the .ISO version. The manufactured DVD that ships with the product contains the commercial version, but there are two other ways you can obtain Exchange 2007.
If you have a Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) subscription that includes Exchange 2007 (the MSDN Operating Systems subscription doesn't include Exchange Server), you can download Exchange 2007 from MSDN as an .ISO file (a DVD image).
The .ISO file can then be burned to a physical DVD and installed in any number of systems in which you have license keys. It is important to note that the .ISO file itself is larger than 4.7 GB. In other words, it won't fit on a single conventional DVD.
If you burn the .ISO file to DVD, you'll need a DVD burner that can write to dual-layer media, and a blank dual-layer disc. Not all DVD burners can do this.
There are two ways to get around this problem, however:
- You can mount the .ISO image with a utility that lets you read an .ISO file as if it were a mounted file system. Daemon Tools is one of the best and most highly regarded utilities for accomplishing this. Once you have the .ISO mounted, you can then copy the files to a directory on your target system's hard drive and install it from there. Or, you can share it across a network. It may also be possible to use the most recent version of the WinRAR file archiving utility to read and extract the files on the .ISO.
- You can download Exchange Server 2007 (the trial version) from Microsoft.com, where it comes in the form of a self-extracting archive. This, too, can be downloaded to any folder and installed or shared as needed.
Note: If you supply a valid full edition license key when installing the trial version, it becomes the full edition of Exchange 2007.
About the author: Serdar Yegulalp is editor of Windows Insight, a newsletter devoted to hints, tips, tricks, news and goodies for all flavors of Windows users.
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Related information from SearchExchange.com:
Step-by-Step Guide: Test driving Exchange Server 2007
Testing Exchange Server 2007 on a virtual machine
What to expect in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
Architectural changes in Exchange Server 2007
Exchange Server 2007 Reference Center
