Exchange Server 2010 SP1 Beta Plan, Deploy and Manage Help

Earlier this week, Microsoft made available for download the first Beta Build of Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 1, inviting early adopters to test-drive the release. Companies running Exchange Server 2010 RTM that decide to take SP1 out for a spin can access free resources from the Redmond giant offering guidance throughout the testing process. Exchange Server 2010 SP1 Beta Help is now available via the Microsoft Download Center, and is designed to streamline the planning, deployment and management of Exchange 2010 SP1 Beta in an organization.

According to Microsoft, planning and deployment for Exchange 2010 SP1 involve a range of steps that need to be taken. Testers will have to check for system requirements and prerequisites, and subsequently tailor installation to certain scenarios. In this sense, the Redmond company offers guidance on performing clean installs of Exchange Server 2010 SP1, but also on upgrades from previous versions of the product and for coexistence situations in which the latest iteration of Exchange needs to run side by side with Exchange 2003 or Exchange 2007.

Early adopters can choose to download the standalone Exchange Server 2010 SP1 Beta Help, which offers guidance even on machines that are offline, or visit TechNet for the same content. The bits for Exchange Server 2010 SP1 Beta are already available for download from Microsoft. The Redmond company has asked testers running Exchange Server 2010 SP1 Beta to provide feedback on their experience and help shape the first major upgrade to the product.

“Before you install Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, we recommend that you review this topic to ensure that your network, hardware, software, clients, and other elements meet the requirements for Exchange 2010. In addition, make sure you understand the coexistence scenarios that are supported for Exchange 2010 and earlier versions of Exchange,” Microsoft noted.

Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta is available for download here.