The Japan Page

Being a big messaging geek, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the 32 bit testing version of Exchange 2007 RTM. In case you haven't read up on the latest, there is a 32 bit version of Exchange 2007 - but only for testing.

After hovering over the MSDN download site for a few weeks, I started bugging our TAM for the bits. So, here's the 411.

Exchange 2007/32 is available for download off the Microsoft web site in two formats

Here's the gotcha's:

• Starting with Exchange 2007, all Exchange versions ship in 120 day "eval" mode. By entering your product key, you convert it to the MSDN or full production version.
• The two versions of Exchange 2007 32 bit above lack the licensing code functions. They operate only in 120 day eval mode, after 120 days you are officially in "Sorry Charlie" mode.
• There's no Ex2k7/64 VHD download yet because MS Virtual PC and Virtual Server don't support 64 bit yet.
• I suspect that an Microsoft internal use only version of Ex2k7/32 that doesn't time out exists, but it is not publicly available.

Microsoft marketing is being a little paranoid in refusing to release a non-crippled version of Ex2k7/32 to the public. Our test lab has older hardware that isn't ESX 64 bit capable, so Ex2k7/64 on ESX is not an option now. That limits us to installing Ex2k7/32 and rebuilding the test lab every 120 days, or finding a Intel dual core workstation (like an Optiplex 745) and installing Win2k3-R2-64 and Ex2k7/64 on it.

It's a shame to steal a shiny new workstation from a deserving (read revenue generating) end user to test new technology. Hopefully no one will notice one little missing workstation. :-)

I'd love to listen in on the MS Support telephone call when someone reports their production Exchange server just expired after 120 days of use. You know it's going to happen...