Question

SBS2003 and exchange configuration for multiple offices.

Asked by: stevenvel

I need to setup sbs2003 with exchange (at branch office) to provide for local e-mail, calander, contacts and to make use of information store. We are not hosting mail server locally, instead, outlook clients  will be set-up with pop accounts to check mail at main office. Can you please advise on the best configuration for this scenario? Please provide a detailed/point form description of steps I need to take in setting up the local exchange server and which services I need to disable (SMTP?). Can I use a wizard to configure (I don't have advanced exchange skills)? Note: longterm, we plan to create a WAN setup where branch offices will be able to access company shared data but in the short term each office runs independently. I am aware of RPC over HTTP, is this another option?

This Question has been solved and asker verified All Experts Exchange premium technology solutions are available to subscription members.

Subscribe now for full access to Experts Exchange and get

Instant Access to this Solution

  • Plus...
  • 30 Day FREE access, no risk, no obligation
  • Collaborate with the world's top tech experts
  • Unlimited access to our exclusive solution database
  • Never be left without tech help again

Subscribe Now

Asked On
2009-11-05 at 23:51:43ID24877271
Topic

SBS Small Business Server

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
4

Trusted by hundreds of thousands everyday for fast, accurate and reliable tech support.

  • "The time we save is the biggest benefit of Experts Exchange to Warner Bros. What could take multiple guys 2 hours or more each to find is accessed in around 15 minutes on Experts Exchange." Mike Kapnisakis, Warner Bros.
  • "Our team likes having a resource that is more secure than just using Google and most experts using this service really know their stuff. It's nice to look here first versus using Google." Dayna Sellner, Lockheed Martin
  • "Anytime that I've been stumped with a problem, 9 out of 10 times Experts Exchange has either the accepted solution or an open discussion of the potential solution to the problem." Kenny Red, eBay Inc.

See what Experts Exchange can do for you.

Got a question?

We've got the answer.

Experts Exchange has been collecting answers to technology questions since 1996…3 million and counting! If you have a question, chances are we already have your answer.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Need individual assistance?

Our experts are ready to help.

If you can't find the exact answer you're looking for, ask our exclusive community of 50,000 experts. You’ll get a personalized answer from a trusted professional.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Want to learn from the best?

Read articles from industry experts.

Thousands of free tech tips, tricks, how-to’s and tutorials are available in our peer reviewed articles section. See for yourself how smart our experts are, no login required.

Screenshot of an Article

Working on a long term project?

Store your work and research.

Save solutions to your questions, answers you’ve discovered through searching plus helpful articles in your personal knowledgebase for easy future access.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Access the answers to your technology questions today.

Subscribe Now

30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.

What Makes Experts Exchange Unique?

Members of the expert community talk about why the experience at Experts Exchange is different than what you will find anywhere else.

Trusted by the world's most respected brands.

image of each brand's logo

Faithfully serving IT professionals since 1996.

Experts Exchange Logo

Try it out and discover for yourself.

Subscribe Now

30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.

Related Solutions

  1. Adding Exchange 2003 to existing domain vs. New SB…
    I need advice please. I intend to add an Exchange server to my W2k AD network. I currently manage a Windows 2000 AD domain with about 20 users. I want to add Exchange 2003 to my environment and am torn between a couple of options. What do you think would be a more benefic...
  2. Antivirus for SBS2003?
    I'm considering building a small server for an office of 4 client PCs and using SBS2003. I want to calculate the costs first, I'm happy that I can build the server and that it won't be heavily loaded (because 3 of the client PCs are mine and I can only use one at once!). It...
  3. No Trusts with SBS2003
    We have a new client that has a Windows Standards 2003 domain. We would like to put in a SBS2003 for the other computers in the office but need access to an application on the other server. Sbs 2003 does not do domain trusts is my understanding. Any one know a work around to ...
  4. SBS2003 SMTP Authentication Required
    I have setup an sbs2003 server with exchange, I configured the pop3 connector to pickup individual mails, I get this error whenever any one tries to send out email <mail.domain.com #5.5.0 smtp;530 SMTP authentication is required.>
  5. RPC-HTTP Grey'd out on SBS2003
    Hi, Im trying to implement Outlook to access the SBS2003 box using RPC-HTTP for my client. I can confirm my SBS Server is upto the correct service pack level but for some reason, the option to enable the server as a front end RPC-HTTP server is not selectable. Any ideas why...

Free Tech Articles

  1. WARNING: 5 Reasons why you should NEVER fix a computer for free.
    It is in our nature to love the puzzle. We are obsessed. The lot of us. We love puzzles. We love the challenge. We thrive on finding the answer. We hate disarray. It bothers us deep in our soul. W...
  2. SCCM OSD Basic troubleshooting
    SCCM 2007 OSD is a fantastic way to deploy operating systems, however, like most things SCCM issues can sometimes be difficult to resolve due to the sheer volume of logs to sift through and the dispe...
  3. Migrate Small Business Server 2003 to Exchange 2010 and Windows 2008 R2
    This guide is intended to provide step by step instructions on how to migrate from Small Business Server 2003 to Windows 2008 R2 with Exchange 2010. For this migration to work you will need the fo...
  4. Create a Win7 Gadget
    This article shows you how to create a simple "Gadget" -- a sort of mini-application supported by Windows 7 and Vista. Gadgets can be dropped anywhere on the desktop to provide instant information, ...
  5. Outlook continually prompting for username and password
    There have been a lot of questions recently regarding Outlook prompting for a username and password whilst using Exchange 2007. There are a few reasons why this would happen and I will try to cover t...
  6. Backup Exchange 2010 Information Store using Windows Backup
    There seems to be quite a lot of confusion around the ability to backup Exchange 2010 using the built in Windows Backup feature. This stems from the omission of this feature prior to Exchange 2007 s...

Cloud Class Webinars

  1. Avoiding Bugs in Microsoft Access
    Alison Balter takes and in-depth look at avoiding bugs in Access. In this webinar you will learn about using the immediate window to debug your applications, invoking the debugger, using breakpoints to troubleshoot, stepping through code, setting the next statement to execute, ...
  2. Top 10 Best New Features in Visio 2010
    Scott Helmers gives live demonstrations of the top 10 new features in Visio 2010. This webinar will teach you how to create compelling diagrams by adding shapes to the page with a single click, linking the shapes in a diagram to data in Excel (or SQL Server, or SharePoint), ...
  3. IT Consultant Business Secrets Revealed
    Michael Munger, Experts Exchange tech pro and IT consultant, pulls back the curtain on his very successful businesses and answers question on every IT consultant and business owner should know about. He shares secrets on what he did to solve the 5 most common problems in IT, ...
  4. Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
    Quest CTO, Mike Billon, gives an overview of the steps involved in building a dunamic disaster recovery plan. Through case studies and an examination of software/hardware tooles for monitoring and testing, you'll gain a better understandin of where you are, where you want ...
  5. Organize Your Visio Diagrams with Containers and Lists
    Scott Helmers uses cross functional flowcharts, wireframe diagrams, data graphic legends and seating charts to teach you: how to ustilize all three new structured diagram components in Visio 2010, the best practices for organizeing shapes in previous version of Visio, how to organize ...
  6. How to Us Objects, Properties, Events and Methods in Microsoft Access
    Alison Dalter gives an in-depbth look at objects, properties, events and methods in Microsoft Access. In this webinar you will learn about using the object browser, referring to objects, working with properties and methods, working with object variables, understanding the ...

Join the Community

Give a Little. Get a Lot.

Join the community of experts here and help other tech pros by answering question in your area of expertise. You can earn FREE access to all Experts Exchange's premium features and resources.

Join the Community

Answers

 

by: RancyPosted on 2009-11-06 at 00:22:13ID: 25757489

I would recommend setting up Exchange with the wizard in SBS and giving local users normal MAPI access to Exchange and Brance office access over Outlook (RPC over HTTPS) and OWA ....
This means you can take Exchange Database backups !!
This would mean that the data would not be lost even if something happens you can restore !!
You have your data so noone can see that somewhat personal !!

If you have a POP3 setup then you have some issue, i have seen many
Emails lost neither with the ISP nor delivered to user !!
You dont have backup and dat can be lost !!
You have to created mailboxes and accounts with ISP !!
Have to be heavily dependent on ISP for mails !!

 

by: davorinPosted on 2009-11-06 at 00:28:59ID: 25757518

Do just normal setup of sbs2003. Wizards will complete anything for you, but using exchange only for storing/backup mails received from pop3???
Another really important thing - SBS AD does not allow estabilish trustes with other domains. You will have lot of trouble, when you will try to connect brach to main office!!!
But if you still want to do that, maybe is the best scenario to download mails from main site using pop3 connector in exchange - just put in external server address, acout name, password and in which maibox  mails will be stoted.
But again, if you want to connect ofices in the future, do not use SBS.

 

by: davorinPosted on 2009-11-06 at 09:06:24ID: 25760942

Hi again,
Maybe you could tink about this steps (I don't know about numer of PCs and internet connection speeds):
1. Configure outlooks at branch office to connect to main office exchange using RPC over HTTP.  Use cached mode! (You will not have local mails, but you will be able to use shared contacts and calendar.)
2. Estabilish site-to-site VPN between branch office and main office and join computers into domain. (you will be able to access to shared data at main office)
3. To speed up things, install additional DC server at branch office. (PCs could authentificate locally)
4. To furher minimize traffic between sites you can install additional exchange server on remote site. Estabilish connection between exchange servers.

 

by: stevenvelPosted on 2009-11-09 at 04:25:40ID: 31650928

Looks like RPS over HTTPS is the way to go.
I appreciate the comments about the limitations of SBS in a multi branch scenario.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

3 Ways to Join

30-Day Free Trial

The Experts

98% positive feedback on 31,087 answers since March 2000. angeliii is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for his work with MS SQL Server & Develoment.

He has also proven his knowledge of Visual Basic Programming, PHP Scripting and Oracle Databases.

The Experts

97% positive feedback on 10,752 answers since July 2000. lrmoore has more than 18 years experience in the networking industry.

The six-time Mircosoft MVPs specialties include firewalls, virtual private networking, and network management.

Testimonials

"...and excellent source for support... Kind of like having your very own IT dept." Electriciansnet

Testimonials

"I was apprehensive at signing up at first. However... it has already made my life as an IT administrator much easier." JaCrews

Testimonials

"WOW! You guys have great, active, and knowledgeable people on here." moore50

Business Clients

Business Clients

In the Press

"If you’ve got a question... Experts Exchange can supply an answer.”

In the Press

"...an invaluable aid for both IT professionals and those who require tech support."

In the Press

"where IT professionals provide quick answers on just about any topic"

Business Account Plans

Loading Advertisement...