Future of /Hosting Mode

With the release of Exchange 2010 SP1, we introduced the /hosting mode switch – a feature which deploys Exchange using an Active Directory structure that affords complete separation between tenant organizations shared on the same underlying platform. /Hosting mode makes the need for a solution like Hosted Messaging and Collaboration largely redundant when hosting multi-tenant Exchange. /Hosting mode does not ship with any automation tools necessary for hosters to operate a service at scale, but it does address the requirements typical of a multi-tenant infrastructure (such as tenant organizations and service plans).

On one hand, /hosting mode solves many challenges inherent to offering this type of service. On the other hand, /hosting mode offers a reduced feature set as compared to the typical on-premises configuration. In the time since we released SP1 and /hosting mode, we have heard from customers and partners alike that many of these features are a fundamental requirement for doing business, and so to this end I announced that hosters would be supported when using the on-premises configuration from SP2 onwards (assuming their configuration meets certain design requirements). In addition, we also provided perspective on which is the right approach for hosters to take.

The purpose of this blog post is to explain the next step in the evolution of our thinking regarding /hosting mode. After hearing feedback about the importance of these features, we have concluded that the best approach to multi-tenant hosting on Exchange is to use the on-premises configuration as the basis for a hosting infrastructure. As such, no additional features will be added to /hosting mode, and it will not be carried forward into the next version of Exchange. Here are a few key facts you’ll need to know:

  • /hosting mode will be supported through the standard support lifecycle for Exchange 2010. It will still be available in SP2 and any future service packs or roll-ups. No additional functionality or features will be added to /hosting mode, however, and we don’t recommend using /hosting mode going forward due to its reduced feature set and the fact that it will add complexity to future upgrades.
  • Multi-tenant hosting on the next version of Exchange will be supported, in a similar fashion to the approach we will take with Exchange 2010 SP2.
  • Migrating from Exchange 2010 /hosting mode to the on-premises configuration of Exchange (2010 or future versions) will require deployment into a separate forest.
  • Microsoft will publish guidelines for hosting a multitenant environment using the on-premises configuration. Microsoft will also publish a step-by-step process for upgrading from Exchange 2007 HMC or migrating from Exchange 2010 SP1 /hosting to Exchange 2010 SP2 using the on-premises configuration.
  • Hosting automation tools and control panel solutions will be provided by our hosting ISV partners. We are working closely with them to ensure their solutions meet our hosting guidelines (and will therefore be supported).

Read more at source: http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2011/10/13/future-of-hosting-mode.aspx

Cheers,
Anderson Patricio
http://blogs.msexchange.org/patricio
Twitter: @apatricio

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