Using
the Best Practices Analyzer after Exchange is installed is simple
because it is located in your Toolbox within your Exchange Management
Console (EMC). However, on a system that doesn’t have Exchange, you
need to download and install the tool. Here are the steps, from
beginning to end.
1. | To begin with, because the tool is not installed, go to www.exbpa.com and download the latest version of the tool onto the server you wish to install Exchange on.
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2. | Install the tool.
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3. | After installation, click Start, and then click Best Practices Analyzer Tool.
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4. | The
first thing the tool does is check for updates from Microsoft. The tool
might have updates, or the configuration files might have updates. The
configuration file is what contains all the properties that the tool
retrieves and the rules it uses to analyze those properties. You can
select Cancel This Check or allow it to complete. We recommend you
allow it to complete.
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5. | If
a new version of the tool or configuration file is found, you are asked
whether you want to download the latest updates or continue without
making any updates. We recommend you download the latest updates.
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6. | After
the download is complete, you see the Welcome screen. From here, you
can perform a new scan by choosing Select Options For a New Scan or
view a preexisting scan by choosing Select a Best Practices Scan To
View. In this case, you want to have a new scan performed.
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7. | You
are asked to connect to an Active Directory Server. Ordinarily one is
already in the box, but you can change it if you like. You can also
select the Show Advanced Login Options down arrow to make adjustments.
Or, simply click Connect to the Active Directory Server.
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8. | First network and permissions are checked. Then you are taken to the options for the New Best Practices scan.
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9. | Enter an identifying label for the scan. You can name it something simple like Scan1.
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10. | Scroll
down to the Select The Type Of Scan To Perform section. Note that this
tool can be useful for other tests later on and throughout the lifetime
of your Exchange organization. However, you want to select the last
option, Exchange 2007 Readiness Check, as seen in Figure 1.
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11. | You
can choose the speed of the network (although this is usually
determined automatically). Then select the Start scanning option unless
you wish to schedule a scan time.
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12. | After
scanning completes, you are offered the option to view a report of this
Best Practices scan. The report is easy to read, with a tab for
Critical Issues (that is, issues that will prevent the installation
from going forward), All Issues (includes both warning and
informational items), and Informational Items.
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13. | Based
upon any critical issues that come back, make the needed and
recommended adjustments so that you can go forward with the
installation process.
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The
Exchange Best Practices Analyzer Readiness Check is prepared to perform
a host of checks against your Active Directory, the system you are
trying to install Exchange on, and, in the case of a transition, checks
on the existing legacy Exchange organization. Here are a few checks
that might cause problems for installation if you aren’t prepared:
Checks to ensure the Schema Master is Windows 2003 SP1 or later.
Checks to make sure AD domains are in native mode, not mixed mode.
Checks to make sure the Global Catalog servers run Windows 2003 SP1 or later.
