Exchange Server 2010 compatibility?

Is Exchange Server 2010 compatible with Windows 7 Ultimate? The system requirements are listed below which doesn't include 7 Ultimate but it does include 7 Professional. Are they that different to where it wont be compatible?

• Supported Operating Systems:Windows 7 Professional 64-bit;Windows Server 2008;Windows Server 2008 Enterprise;Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise;Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard;Windows Vista 64-bit Editions Service Pack 1

Actually do I need Server 2008? I'm confused as to what OS is required. Anyone know? Thanks

I would not suggest putting Exchange Server on a workstation based operating system. Put it on Server 2008 R2...that is your best bet.

If we use the online version of Exchange server, do I still need a server OS?

You are asking for major trouble if you DO NOT load Exchange 2010 on a Server OS. I would also like to note that in testing Exchange 2010 works best on Windows Server 2008 R2.

Not sure what you mean by on line version of Exchange 2010. If you are asking about using the Client Side via a web browser only then you still have to have Exchange and a Server, unless you are asking if someone else is hosting your email. Then you would not need your own server, Server OS and Exchange 2010. -WS

Well here's what we're ultimately trying to do... maybe I'm going about it the wrong way:

We're currently on a workstation network using Windows 7 Ultimate.

We have some programs that we'd like to have all workstations accessing the same database for (i.e. QuickBooks with everyone accessing same company data file, everyone accessing same Access database, etc.).

Also we'd like a streamline way to share calendars (currently we use godaddy online file folder & upload our outlook calendars, then use google sync to sync them with our outlook, but we can't currently edit other's calendars but would like to).

We also want to switch from POP3 to IMAP, & understand we need an online hosting service right?

Yes you can use an Internet Hosted Service to do everything you want to do. If you are a small group under 100 people this can be very cost effective. If you have 75 or over 100 people you may want to look at 2 Servers to do everything in house. 1st Server for email and alike services (shared calendars), 2nd Server for shared Data, Quickbooks, other files, etc.

Please note that when your Internet Connection is DOWN you don't have access to anything if you have it Hosted for you. Many places I have setup this way have some form of back up Internet Connection (i.e. Cell Phone Internet Connection 1 or 2 cards on KEY Systems). -WS

DeaconFrost said:

You would still need a local file server to handle the documents and data.

Nope, the Hosted services can do this too.

Thank you all for your replies!