System administrators are always worried about upgrades to major, critical systems. The email server is one such system, and Microsoft has overhauled its Exchange Server software to make it easier to manage. Even with all of its promises to create a better interface, Microsoft is known for its buggy initial releases. It’s something any administrator worries about when the organization decides to upgrade.
System administrators will be happy to know that the conversion to Exchange 2016 has proven to be much smoother. Here are some reasons why you should upgrade to Exchange 2016 and why upgrading this time will be much easier.
CAS Role and Mailbox Role
Older Exchange versions required the administrator to decide between the Client Access Server (CAS) role and Mailbox role. In Exchange 2016, Microsoft has combined these two roles into one. Now, Exchange administrators just need to deploy one mailbox role. This role also contains CAS, but deploying one role removes the hassles of hybrids and one-role installations.
Better Coexistence with Previous Versions
Prior to Exchange 2016, administrators were forced to wait for patches before newer Exchange server versions would work with older servers. Microsoft promises that the new Exchange Server 2016 offers better compatibility across any other versions.
Hopefully, you haven’t let your Exchange mail server farm age too much. Exchange 2007 won’t be supported, but you should easily be able to integrate anything newer including Exchange 2010 and 2013.
Setting Up-Version Proxy
Introducing any new system to the environment is a delicate situation. The solution must be well thought out and document to avoid introducing any critical issues that could lead to downtime.
Up-Proxy is a Microsoft technology that lets the administrator introduce Exchange in a way that they feel is best for the system. They can set up components of the environment such as DAGs and mailboxes before actually installing Exchange 2016 itself. They can also install Exchange 2016, and the 2013 Client Access Server will naturally connect to the new email server.
Combining Up-Version Proxy and the aforementioned ease in coexistence, administrators can also configure both Exchange 2016 and Exchange 2013 behind the same load balancer without even so much as a hiccup in traffic and services.
The advantage of slowly introducing different versions to your network is that Exchange 2016 lets you create heterogeneous environments while you plan to retire any older services. You can introduce the new version, keep 2013 or 2010 active, and then monitor the new version. After you’re satisfied with performance and results, you can seamlessly retire the older email servers and leave only the updated Exchange 2016 servers.
If you’ve been wondering when it’s the best time to upgrade your email server, now is the perfect chance to take advantage of Microsoft’s ease in upgrading towards Exchange 2016. They’ve also introduced numerous features in addition to the migration tools and integration options. Any network that relies on older versions such as 2007 should look into a more stable and reliable email upgrade.
