RELEASED: Updated Mailbox Server Role Requirements Calculator, Jetstress 2010 RTM and Load Generator 2010 RTM

  • Article

It's only Wednesday, and it's been quite a week for Exchange tool releases.  Seems like only yesterday we released Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan).  But, alas, that was Friday.  Since then, we've had three major updates to some Exchange "must-have" tools:

  • Mailbox Server Role Requirements Calculator - We actually updated the calculators for both Exchange Server 2007 and Exchange Server 2010.  You can review the updates we've made to the Exchange 2007 calculator at https://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2007/07/05/445802.aspx, and download it from https://msexchangeteam.com/files/12/attachments/entry438481.aspx.  You can review the updates we've made to the Exchange 2010 calculator at https://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2010/01/22/453859.aspx and download it from https://msexchangeteam.com/files/12/attachments/entry453145.aspx.  If you're not familar with the Mailbox Server Role Requirements Calculator, you can read all about it at https://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2009/11/09/453117.aspx.
  • Microsoft Exchange Server Jetstress 2010 - Jetstress 2010 is used to verify the performance and stability of a disk subsystem prior to putting an Exchange Server server into production. Jetstress helps verify disk performance by simulating Exchange disk I/O. Specifically, Jetstress simulates the Exchange database and log file loads produced by a specific number of users. You use Performance Monitor, Event Viewer, and ESEUTIL in conjunction with Jetstress to verify that your disk subsystem meets or exceeds the performance criteria you establish. After a successful completion of the Jetstress Disk Performance and Stress Tests in a non-production environment, you will have ensured that your Exchange disk subsystem is adequately sized (in terms of performance criteria you establish) for the user count and user profiles you have established. We strongly recommend reading the included documentation before using Jetstress.
  • Exchange Load Generator 2010 - Microsoft Exchange Load Generator 2010 (LoadGen) is a simulation tool you can use to measure the impact of MAPI, OWA, ActiveSync, IMAP, POP and SMTP clients on Exchange 2010 and 2007 servers. LoadGen allows you to test how a server running Exchange responds to e-mail loads. To simulate the delivery of these messaging requests, you run LoadGen tests on client computers. These tests send multiple messaging requests to the Exchange server, thereby causing a mail load. LoadGen is a useful tool for administrators who are sizing servers and validating a deployment plan. Specifically, LoadGen helps you determine if each of your servers can handle the load to which they are intended to carry. Another use for LoadGen is to help validate the overall solution. Note, though, that LoadGen should be used only in laboratories that have no connection to the production environment. This tool should never be used in any way in a production environment, an environment that is mission-critical, or an environment that contains important information of any kind anywhere on the network.

Enjoy!