Is a exchange server the way to go?

[Edge Tech NY]

I have a client who does corporate branding.. His whole business is email. Literally 200+ a day in and out. There are 4 employees who email just as much working for him. Most of their PST files are 30gb+. All emails have attachments with proofs etc. that are sometimes 5mb+ each.

Outlook is choppy or freezes when 3+ emails are being downloaded at once, especially if they have attachments. They arnt having emails backed up.

Would you say its beneficial for them to have a SBS server with exchange so I can backup emails realistically and hopefully stop the choppiness with multiple emails coming in at once?

All PC's are 8gb of ram etc.

 

[krtechsolutions]

I would look into a cloud hosted vendor, no need to bring a server in unless you really what to handle the hardware/software support, such as backups, issue when its running slow etc..

Just wondering what internet speeds do they have?

Also you really should break up their PSTs files, 30GBs is huge!!!

 

[rsarceno]

For Outlook 2003 and 2007 keep the PST under 20GB for performance and stability reasons (MS has a whitepaper about it) By default I think it is setup for 50GB.

 

[drpcfix]

I think you'll have mailbox limitations on sbs that you probably won't want to deal with..

Microsoft 365 dealio can handle that pretty well - I would do that any day of the week

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I think you'll have mailbox limitations on sbs that you probably won't want to deal with..

Such as what limitations?

BUT...for the OP, because of "costs" and "maintenance" and "mail volume"...I also recommend going with Office 365 rather than hosting your own.

For only 4x people...the costs of doing SBS properly for high volume IMO would be high. You need someone to frequently maintain Exchange, deal with the smart smtp mail host/bastion host, deal with spam/virus filtering, deal with DNS records, deal with outgoing hosts for sending bulk e-mail to keep them off of spam lists. And backup.

For 4x people with high volume and frequently dealing with large attachments, you'll want a broadband connection of higher speeds. And a proper business grade router that deals with many concurrent sessions...since Outlook Anywhere is very "needy". And a good local antivirus with good support for Outlook....so it doesn't lock it up much or corrupt those OSTs. If you have a good e-mail filtering service you can even exclude those OSTs.

 

[nesrinamb]

Well I usually go for hosted exchange for small companies unless they really need a server.

I am worried about the pst size because of the outlook recommendations that pst files should not go above 20gb or you get performance issues. The slowness may be because their getting close to reaching it.

I say archive any of their old stuff but do it by 3 or 6 month or yearly increments.(just dont end up with 100 archives) That should show some type of a speed boost.

I would go with stonecat on this one and also say use office 365 or some good hosted exchange provider.

 

[drpcfix]

Such as what limitations?

BUT...for the OP, because of "costs" and "maintenance" and "mail volume"...I also recommend going with Office 365 rather than hosting your own.

For only 4x people...the costs of doing SBS properly for high volume IMO would be high. You need someone to frequently maintain Exchange, deal with the smart smtp mail host/bastion host, deal with spam/virus filtering, deal with DNS records, deal with outgoing hosts for sending bulk e-mail to keep them off of spam lists. And backup.

For 4x people with high volume and frequently dealing with large attachments, you'll want a broadband connection of higher speeds. And a proper business grade router that deals with many concurrent sessions...since Outlook Anywhere is very "needy". And a good local antivirus with good support for Outlook....so it doesn't lock it up much or corrupt those OSTs. If you have a good e-mail filtering service you can even exclude those OSTs.

I was confusing a limit from SBS2003 - 75GB on the datastore or something - a quick google didn't turn one up for anything more recent

 

[Edge Tech NY]

where can i find the page to become a partner with 365?

And do you charge what 365 does or more per month? Pretty much how can I make money off it?

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

where can i find the page to become a partner with 365?

And do you charge what 365 does or more per month? Pretty much how can I make money off it?

Client pays Microsoft....you get your spiffs from Microsoft.

You can sign up through your Microsoft Partner rep....or through your wholesaler channels Microsoft licensing reps, such as Ingram Micro.

Due to increasing complaints about Microsofts office 365 support....I recommend considering going through another big reseller....Appriver. They are top notch! Excellent support. They cost a tiny bit more than Microsoft..but IMO it's worth it. And they still give you some cabbage for reselling for them. PM me if you want the info for a rep.

 

[marley1]

I would not be doing hosted Exchange.

You mentioned 30gb pst. For one most hosted exchange providers plans are 25gb. So right away you are gonna spend more than a base plan.

And in my opinion that much mail deserves on prem server.

You will spend about $4000 on a sbs server in hyper v. Use gfi or mcaffee for spam protection and be done

You will be much happier with the performance

 

[marley1]

If you are going hosted the best I have used is Intermedia. Approved was annoying. MS one is cheap but I hear bad support.