Hi all,

We'd like to install HMC 3.5 in a exclusively lab configuration. I have run into the consolidated Server HMC deployment guide and have few very basic questions related to that:

1. Reference architecture in the guide talks about 4 servers, if I ignored the 'optional' ones. Exchange Front End, Exchange Back-end, MPS SQL DB and ActiveDirectory/DC.

• Which of these 4 roles can co-exist on the same box?
• How many physical boxes would we minimally require to run these 4 components.
  

2. Consolidated deployment guide states Exchange server is required and LCS component is optional. However, for what we are trying to do, it is more important to have the LCS 2005 deployed.

• Is it legal to deploy LCS2005 and not exchange server?
  

I'd greatly appreciate the help

thanks

MM

I would have 5 machines:

AD01, MPS01, MPSSQL01, EXBE01 and EXFE01

The documentation says that SQL can be installed onto MPS01, however over the last few years we have run into certain conflict issues regarding this and I would suggest you seperate them.

All these 5 can be run under virtual server, which would mean you would only require one physical PC. Although this may not be best for everyone due to a decrease in performance.

LCS has some quite extensive licensing, so not, it would not be legal in the slightest. If you contact your local MS representietive they will be able to tell you more regarding LCS and it's licensing.

Cheers,

Steve

Thanks for the reply, Steve.

I was looking at the Consolidated HMC deployment guide and it indicates that HMC3.5 can be deployed with just FE01, BE01, AD01 and MSSQL are required and others are optional.

 Given, what I want to do is a purely lab environment where hardly 10 folks will be using it, I wanted to see how I can use minimum number of physical boxes. Also, license for LCS is not a concern, since we have it, so I need to know, if I can replace Exchange server with LCS?

Thanks in advance,

MM

Yes, the documentation does state you can install MPS and SQL onto the same physical machine.

However, over the past few years I have seen this cause a conflict and the only fix we have found is to remove the MPS engine from the SQL box and install on it's own seperate one.

That why I suggested you use seperate boxes to begin with as this could save you a lot of hassle further down the line.

Have you ever concidered using virtal server? This would mean you only required one physical box to run all 4/5 svrs on.

Steve

Thanks again,

 My plan is to use virtual servers.. but my PC can handle only 2  of 'em at a time .

 Do you know if I can NOT install exchange server instead use LCS. (We have licenses for either).

MM