Exchange 5.5 Obsolete?

[tinajoe7]

We are a small (50 user) company running a mix of NT 4.0, Win 2000, and XP. Our hardware/networking guy says that Exchange 5.5 and Windows NT are obsolete and wants to buy a new server and upgrade to Exchange 2000 and Win 2000. So far, he hasn't given any good, concrete reasons for this. He just says that they're obsolete, unsupported, and "can't handle all the new and exciting viruses and worms out there now". We are about to launch a new website, and management is scared about spam and security issues, so he has their ear. I am not opposed to migrating, but business is not great, and I just want to make sure it is really necessary and urgent. We do have solid antivirus and antispam programs in place (Trend Micro).

What do you guys think? Are there real, valid security concerns posed by Exchange 5.5 & NT that antivirus/antispam programs alone can't fix?

Thanks in advance

 

[dennisbbb]

Since business is not doing well, I would hold off on the upgrade. The reasons given for the upgrade is not strong like you said.

The newer bells and whistles will not justify the upgrade.

 

[N0ktar]

I continously support Exchange 5.5 on NT4.0 - it is as quick and reliable as ever and those who had a chance to use the network services share a common thing - a good experience.
The Exchange Server is shileded from the Internet with an SMTP firewall (XWall - filters Spam and viruses) and PIX (blocks all external access to the server).

The current setup works well and does not call for an upgrade.

 

[Dyadmin]

He is right Exchange 5.5 is on extended support life cycle which means it's on the twilight of being retired. Windows 2000 will be reaching end of active support in December 2005. Windows 2000 will then enter an extended support life cycle until 2010.

I don't know what your tech is saying but there Exchange 5.5 is still a very good mail server, and it can handle all the latest threats out there, you just need a good antivirus like Groupshield a good filter I would recommend is XWALL or GFI Mail Essentials. Windows NT is fine and as long as it has sufficient antivirus and all it's updated patches.

No upgrade is currently needed. You can sustain what you have with minimal problems, provided you have a good spam filter and antivirus.

 

[teash]

My boss says if its not broke, don't fix it.
But I wish I could break it, because I am sick of working with outdated software and hardware.

But nevertheless, I can't give him a strong enough reason to upgrade either....I agree with all above!

I'm trying to talk him into Apache/PHP...but again..no dice.
(even if it's free).

I really don't know what I am talking about, I just talk!

 

[Zelandakh]

Exchange 5.5 is robust, tested and stable. It works. Stick with decent hardware and get NT4 fully patched and behind a firewall (SMTP firewall is not a real thing). Stick plenty of RAM in and it should fly.

 

[zbnet]

It's getting increasingly difficult to load NT4 on the latest hardware.

 

[N0ktar]

True, getting the right drivers for NT could be a nightmare.
I think if your current setup works that's great but if you need to upgrade your hardware than get a new version of Exchange as well.

 

[Dyadmin]

..or you can make an upgrade to new hardware to support exchange 2k or 2k3 and upgrade exchange 5.5 later. Your possibilities are endless. Still, exchange 5.5 is fine to have in this day in age, but look to upgrade within 2 years.

 

[tinajoe7]

Thanks to all for the valuable input!

 

[gpa3]

I would also hold off if business is not doing well at all. But make sure management is not blowing smoke up your behind. If they have the money they should CERTAINLY upgrade to Exchange 2003 **Not Exchange 2000*. The reason being, Exchange 2000 is also nearly *obsolete*. Anyone upgrading 5.5 should migrate to Exchange 2003/Windows 2003 Server. The tools are all there in 2003 to migrate the email as well.

But if they truely are BROKE as they claim, you can stick with 5.5, but don't expect any admin type to feel to sorry for you and be jumping for joy to work with your company if you have any problems. I personally would probly not touch it if you called me and told me your NT4 500Mhz (or whatever) junker box died and took your Exchange with it. It would be too time consuming to recover and by the time you spent all that time and money, you could have paid for a new server with Exchange 2003. (see the SBS bundle deals from Dell)

Good luck