If you are regularly deploying or administering Exchange Server 2010 environments then chances are there are some pieces of software and documentation that you regularly need to make use of.
Here are the items that I keep with me in my own Exchange 2010 toolkit.
Software
Operating Systems
Physical DVD media as well as ISO files for:
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 64-bit, with Service Pack 2
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 64-bit R2
Pre-Requisites
Download the following pre-requisite components:
- Windows Installer 4.5
- 2010 Office System Converter: Microsoft Filter Pack
- Register Filter Pack IFilters with Exchange 2010 (a copy of the instructions on this web page and the script it contains)
- Automated prerequisite installation via PowerShell for Exchange Server 2010 on Windows Server 2008 R2 (useful script)
It is also useful to have the Exchange Server 2007 SP3 source and pre-requisites on hand for running the Exchange 2007 SP3 schema update in 2003 orgs prior to applying the 2010 schema update.
- Exchange Server 2007 with Service Pack 3
- .NET 2.0 with Service Pack 1 (x86 and x64)
- MMC 3.0 (x86 and x64)
- PowerShell (x86 and x64)
If you are installing Exchange Server 2010 SP1 there are some additional hotfixes required.
Exchange 2010 Installation Source
Download the Exchange Server 2010 installation files.
- Exchange Server 2010
- Update Rollup 4 (latest at time of publishing)
- Exchange Server 2010 SP1
- Update Rollup 1 (latest at time of publishing)
- Exchange Server 2010 Language Pack Bundle
- Exchange Server 2010 UM Language Packs
Planning, Deployment and Troubleshooting Tools
Useful tools for assisting with the planning and deployment of Exchange Server 2010.
- Exchange Pre-Deployment Analyzer
- Mailbox Server Role Storage Requirements Calculator and usage notes
- Exchange Server Profile Analyzer (x86 and x64)
- Jetstress 2010
- Load Generator 2010
- Baretail (free version)
- Log Parser
- Exchange Log Analyzer
- Exchange 2010 PerfWiz
- EMTShooter
Documentation
Microsoft provides downloadable help files for Exchange 2010 that are invaluable when out in the field, especially if you happen to be without internet access and need information fast.
About Paul Cunningham
Been looking forward to this one! Thanks.
Thanks for the link to my prereq script. Just as an FYI, it installs the Filter Pack, so you don’t need to do that separately. A pending release will also install the PDF iFilter Pack as well.