I don't think you'd want them the same, no, but you're free to choose. J Since the users' Outlook profiles will connect to the CAS array, it makes sense to me to choose a meaningful name like outlook.domain.com. But the NLB name is really only a management name and you can potentially configure different DNS A records for different services to point to the VIP.
From: Ehren Benson [mailto:benso...@pa.msu.edu] Sent: 29 January 2010 16:28 To: MS-Exchange Admin Issues Subject: RE: Exchange 2010 CAS/HT reduandancy/load balance I actually finally found a couple really good blog posts (I will check out those others also) and this thinking out loud at everyone's expense has helped also (sorry, lol). http://blogs.kraftkennedy.com/index.php/2009/11/25/configuring-nlb-for-excha nge-2010-cas-load-balancing/ http://blogs.kraftkennedy.com/index.php/2009/09/09/exchange-2010-rpc-client- access-service-and-the-clientaccessarray/ The only question I think I have left is do you set the FQDN and IP address for the NLB cluster AND the CAS array to the same thing. IE: NLB CLUSTER: FQDN = exchcas.domain.local, IP = 35.10.10.10 (fake internet routable ip) CAS ARRAY: FQDN = exchcas.domain.local, IP=35.10.10.10 (fake internet routable ip) Also, for external users could I then just point my external dns (for IMAP) for say exchcas.domain.edu to that same IP (35.10.10.10)? (NOTE: all our servers have internet routable IP's with no NAT) Thanks for the help and being a sounding board ;) Ehren J. Benson, MCSE Windows Systems Administrator benso...@pa.msu.edu 517-884-5469 From: Neil Hobson [mailto:nhob...@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 11:10 AM To: MS-Exchange Admin Issues Subject: RE: Exchange 2010 CAS/HT reduandancy/load balance You'd create a CAS array for RPC client access, since that's what Outlook (MAPI) connects to. It might be worth reading Brian's post below as it contains a lot of background info as well as the NLB stuff. Also, Google for Henrik Walther's NLB article at msexchange.org which although for Exchange 2007 should help you out. http://www.exchange-genie.com/2009/09/momt-mapi-on-the-middle-teir/ From: Ehren Benson [mailto:benso...@pa.msu.edu] Sent: 29 January 2010 15:49 To: MS-Exchange Admin Issues Subject: RE: Exchange 2010 CAS/HT reduandancy/load balance I've been doing some reading and have a clarification to ask. Would you use a CAS array along with windows NLB or would you use only one or the other? I'm not fully understanding the interaction between a CAS array and NLB. Thanks, also if anyone knows of any blogs or docs that describe a CAS NLB setup that would be most valuable. Thanks again Ehren J. Benson, MCSE Windows Systems Administrator benso...@pa.msu.edu 517-884-5469 From: Ehren Benson [mailto:benso...@pa.msu.edu] Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 10:00 AM To: MS-Exchange Admin Issues Subject: Exchange 2010 CAS/HT reduandancy/load balance Hi, I am currently designing our new exchange 2010 infrastructure and am looking into ways to load balance (make redundant) two CAS/HT servers since DAG does that for the mailboxes. I just wondered if there was anyone out there who had something like that in place who wouldn't mind me picking your brain for a few minutes to get some ideas of ways that work and ways that don't. I'd like to get some ideas obviously before I get too far so I don't have to do a 180 and redo a bunch of stuff. Thanks! Ehren J. Benson, MCSE Windows Systems Administrator Department of Physics and Astronomy Michigan State University 1209 A Biomed Phys Sci benso...@pa.msu.edu 517-884-5469