Exchange box or Cached mode?

[MrBitsy]

Main office has W2000 server/Exchange 2000. 2Mb ADSL internet link.
Branch office has Outlook clients connecting to head office over a 1mb
adsl. The real killer is the 256k upload at either end on a 20:1
contention ratio.

Clients (up to 20)at the branch office are very frustrated at the slow
response they get in Outlook. We have a content management addon in
Outlook that accesses public folders for data (currently 12mb)

Upgrading to W2003/Exchange 2003 and using Outlook Cached mode is very
tempting, because we wouldn't need to upgrade the connection to main
office, however, I am worried about the contact management system based
on public folders.

Would cached mode be a good option over adsl or would we be better in
putting another Exchange box in the branch office? Would the ADSL links
we have be fast enough for the two exchange boxes to replicate?
Ray Keattch

 

[Roady [MVP]]

You can choose to cache Public Folder Favorites as well so no need to add an
extra Exchange server for that. Just a reminder; don't have all your clients
built the initial cache at the same time or you'll kill your connection

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
www.howto-outlook.com

Tips of the month:
-What do the Outlook Icons Mean?
-Create an Office 2003 CD slipstreamed with Service Pack 1