Released: New & Improved Exchange 2010 Mailbox Server Role Requirements Calculator
Published Apr 01 2010 10:00 AM 1,495 Views

By now many of you have leveraged the Exchange 2010 Mailbox Server Role Requirements Calculator. And my name is forever cursed as a result. Why wouldn't it be with over 116 questions that have to be answered and nearly 30 results tables? Yes, the calculator was complicated; I'm sure many of you have thought, "what in the hell were we thinking?"

And let's face it, there are a number of smart folks that have used the calculator and hats off to you guys for questioning our formulas. Yes, I hate to admit it, but we made up a bunch of the calculations (and by we, I really mean Greg Taylor; that guy doesn't know anything about storage, but loves Excel and has coveted owning the storage calculator for a long time). Honestly, we didn't try to make it that difficult, but there were some back room deals with certain vendors that resulted in our hands being tied (yes there were some awkward photos of the ESE and HA teams that sealed our doom).

But times have changed. A few weeks ago, the Exchange team managed to procure some free-lance ninjas. Last night, they successfully infiltrated the vendors in question and retrieved the compromising photos. I never saw so many high fives in my life last night in the Outlook Live datacenter (aka the command center)! That's right folks! Not only does Exchange rock, but we also have some silent ass-kicking ninjas now. That's some epic awesomeness right there. I dare say that we shouldn't expect any future versions of Windows to block upgrades of Exchange any longer! Greg Thiel was so happy he started jumping up and down yelling "I'm going to Disney World!" over and over, and at this very second is boarding a plane to Florida with his family.

But I digress. I'm finally pleased to provide you with the calculator that I've wanted to release since we dreamed up Exchange 2007. This calculator is very streamlined - it only asks a handful of questions and provides you with the data you need in an easy to read manner.

All of us in Exchange are really sorry for all the endless nights and loss of hair we caused all of you over the years with these ridiculous calculators. Hopefully one day you'll forgive us (or me since part of those backroom deals required my name to go on the calculators. Don't ask).

Now, go tryout the new version of the calculator and let us know what you think.

-- Ross Smith IV

21 Comments
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That is just sofa king awesome.
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You got me.  I even went down to the question about storage capacity!
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Now that's the kind of design process I like!
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Very niceeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!
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That is so amazing, I love it - best version yet!

:D
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At long last something is simple!
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Me loves it! Is this the Apple/Steve Jobs/Austin Powers version?
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This works as well as the Exchange 2010 JetStress Beta - great work!
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hahaha well done!
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lol    Excellent, I love it as well!   :)
I am going to show it to my boss as a way to justify the new storage for the Exchange 2010 project and I'll let you know his response!
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Hey, you hiring out your ninjas or are they strictly for internal matters?
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I love the new features and can really tell Greg Taylor had his hand in this.  Someday, ask him to show you his ESP app he wrote and the documentation behind it.  Just another quality app from the former Exhange Head Master.
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Nice one Ross :)
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What is a lance ninja? And if you managed to get them for free, how much do they usually cost?

(sent from Excel, in the cloud)
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And come to think of it, a kicking ninja with a silent ass? Is that like a mute donkey?
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Can we not get some Britney Spears music in the background while I do my calculations please?  I always have to put a CD on.  Can we not integrate it in to the spreadsheet?  Please!
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Apple could learn a great lesson from this simplicity....so user friendly and so simple. Great job!!!!!!!!!
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Not there yet. Still too complicated Ross ;)
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Love.
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So easy, even a project manager could do it!  :)
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I love it :D "It's full of win" ... hahahahahaha :D
Version history
Last update:
‎Apr 01 2010 10:00 AM
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