Using 32-bit Exchange Server 2007 in a production environment

Exchange Server 2007 is supposed to be deployed on 64-bit hardware for use in a production environment. It is generally believed that the 32-bit Exchange 2007 can only be used for testing, evaluation and training purposes. But this isn't entirely true.

It is possible to deploy the 32-bit version (or "E2K7/32" for short) as a live server in a supported fashion -- it's just that many of the things you would normally be able to do with Exchange 2007 are limited or restricted.

Here's a quick rundown on what's possible and what's not with the 32-bit version 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.

MEMBER FEEDBACK TO THIS EXCHANGE 2007 TIP

If the 32-bit version of Exchange Server 2007 doesn't have an EMC to enter a product code, and the 32-bit version only has a 30-day trial, how can you keep the 32-bit version running longer than 30 days?

If I want to run only the 32-bit version in a lab and have it continue running and not have to reinstall every 30 days, how can I enter a product key?
—Scott B.

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If you want to use the 32-bit version of Exchange 2007 in a regular way (that is, without using the 30-day limited trial versions -- e.g., the .VHD trial that Microsoft has available), your best bet is to get the MSDN Premium subscription (with some version of Visual Studio). Che

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ck out the MSDN website for more details about which edition to use.

The 32-bit edition of Exchange 2007 is not sold anywhere; it's only available on MSDN as a download.
—Serdar Yegulalp, tip author

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Can I deploy Exchange Server 2007 32-bit in a production environment as an edge server situated on a network perimeter? (I have already purchased a full 64-bit version which is sitting inside the network.)
—Mike M.

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I would be inclined to think that an edge server counts as a production server. In fact, it seems to be more a production server since it's an Internet-facing server. Everything I've read or heard supports this.

You could set up a 32-bit Exchange 2007 box as an edge server, but it wouldn't be a Microsoft-supported configuration. One important aspect of 32-bit vs. 64-bit -- that isn't talked about much, but which might buzz out here -- is that load tuning for Exchange 2007 is optimized for 64-bit environments and may actually degrade somewhat on the 32-bit implementation.
—Serdar Yegulalp, tip author

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