A version of Exchange 2000 will be included in Microsoft Small Business Server 2000. This allows companies with fewer than 50 computers to easily install a single server that provides an infrastructure with Windows 2000, Active Directory, Internet Security and Acceleration, and Exchange in one simplified installation. For companies who do not use Small Business Server, the fact that Exchange 2000 is integrated with Active Directory still eases administration and overall management overhead. The integration of Exchange 2000 and Windows 2000 reduces costs by providing a single point of administration for all networking and messaging resources. Using Active Directory and MMC reduces the number of administrators needed to run network and messaging systems and simplifies technician and administrator training The integration of Exchange 2000 with Active Directory provides important services such as address book information for e-mail clients, directory information for efficient message routing, and an interface for centralized management.
Administrative policies make changing a wide range of objects, such as mailboxes, quick and easy.
Customizable administration also makes the IT job easier. Finally, a unified Windows 2000 security model results in only one set of permissions and user accounts for administrators to manage. The use of Windows 2000 Active Directory with Exchange also makes system planning and deployment easier, since directory structures are already in place for a unified messaging and network infrastructure. There is no need to deploy this infrastructure separately for the messaging system, which results in a cost reduction in planning, hardware, and software costs. Due to Exchange 2000 and Windows 2000 Active Directory integration, you should plan your deployment of Exchange 2000 before or during your Windows 2000 deployment planning.