Implementing Microsoft Exchange Server in a Cluster Environment

The following are typical scenarios for implementing Microsoft Exchange Server into a cluster environment:

• Installing a new Microsoft Exchange Server computer into a cluster.
• Moving users from an existing Microsoft Exchange Server computer to a new Microsoft Exchange Server computer in a cluster.
• Migrating an existing Microsoft Exchange Server computer to a cluster.

The following guidelines apply, regardless of how Microsoft Exchange Server is implemented in a cluster environment:

• Microsoft Exchange Server must be installed into an operational cluster. It is not possible to install Microsoft Cluster Server onto an existing Microsoft Exchange Server installation.
• Nodes in the cluster must have these common attributes:
  • Memory, local hard drive, and processor configurations must be identical because Microsoft Exchange Server assumes symmetrical performance of both nodes of the cluster.
  • Before installing Microsoft Exchange Server, you must create a cluster resource group for use by Microsoft Exchange Server clustered resources.