Exchange 12: The 64-Bit Question

ISVs' Dilemma
Whether Microsoft likes the idea or not, few Exchange servers run just Exchange. Is Microsoft trying to change this behavior by building more and more functionality into the base product? Perhaps. Still, I suspect that third-party software add-ons will remain a vital part of the Exchange ecosystem for many years to come. And that means that vendors for all those third-party messaging and fax connectors, antivirus products, and reporting and analysis tools that we rely on will need to upgrade their code to work with a 64-bit version of Exchange. Then you'll have to test those new versions to make sure they work smoothly with Exchange before you commit to the combination in production.

Every release of Exchange has seen a delay between the time that Microsoft ships the final version and the time that third-party software for that version appears. This delay ranges from a couple weeks to a couple quarters and is a natural consequence of the need for the ISVs' developers to test their products against the final version of Exchange. I expect the delay to be longer than usual for Exchange 12, even if Microsoft puts substantial effort into helping third-party developers upgrade their products. Given the complexity of the new version, the new platform, and new APIs (e.g., Exchange 12 won't support connectors that are built with the Microsoft Exchange Development Kit—EDK, Exchange 12 will include a new version of the Virus Scanning API—VSAPI), I think it's fair to assume that third-party products won't appear until 3 to 6 months after Exchange 12 ships.

Moving on Up—with or Without You
Microsoft's decision to move Exchange 12 to the 64-bit platform is sure to generate a lot of passion. The company insists that this fundamental change has the potential to deliver increased scalability, performance, and functionality. It might seem like early days yet, but you need to start studying the facts now to get a clear idea of what the decision will mean for your deployment. Microsoft's direction is clear: upward and onward to 64-bit Exchange. Whether and when you get on board is another matter.

Tony Redmond (exchguru@windowsitpro.com) is a contributing editor for Windows IT Pro, a senior technical editor for Exchange & Outlook Administrator, vice president and chief technology officer for HP Services, and author of Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 with SP1( Digital Press).