NHSmail - Largest Exchange 2007 Server in the World

[Skeeter]

Just checked my NHS email account, expecting it to be closed (it isnt) as I left 2 months ago, and found an NHSmail newsletter. Being a self taught NHSmail guru i find this information quite scary considering the shoddy effort the current IMAP/Web portal based email system is.

NHSmail is changing
An update on the transformation of your service
The programme to move NHSmail to Microsoft Exchange 2007 is progressing well. As you may imagine it’s not without its challenges:
• The new service will be the largest Exchange 2007 implementation of its type in the world
• We will move 200,000 active accounts to the new service from the old one whilst maintaining service continuity.
• We’ve engaged with end users throughout the design process, ensuring that those who will use NHSmail have a service that meets their needs
• Over 500 servers have been purchased and new accommodation built to house them in the two NHSmail data centres
• All the servers and services have to be built, installed and configured in advance of the next stages of the project
• Storage purchased so far amounts to over four quadrillion bytes
• The design requirements list is over 1,300 items long resulting in design documents totalling more than 2,000 pages

Im not so familiar with Exchange, so what is 200,000 users on 500 servers like in the ways of setups? It will aparently be the largest Exchange 2007 Server setup in the world.... which scares me considering the Government and NHS's history with IT

 

[Skeeter]

Largest of its type. I'm not sure what they mean by that, but it isn't the largest in the world full stop.

With Flex coming down the line I don't expect it to be the largest of its type for very long either.

Yeah, im not entirely sure what 'of its type' means? Im assuming Exchange 2007 as its the newest incarnation.

 

[Skeeter]

Ok, multi quote isnt working well for me, so ill answer from memory:

Most accounts are innactive because in theory everyone in the NHS should have one, and they should be listed on the NHSmail Directory, but this does not mean they use it as a main account. Most NHS organisations have their own Exchange or other solution with an nhs.uk address. I worked for Devon PCT and we were the first county in the country to roll out NHSmail fully to all GP practices. HQ and locality buildings are still using a mix. Thats why a lot of accounts are empty.

NHSmail inboxes are 200mb atm, but there is the option to quota them between 50 and 500.

The email system is encrypted and eventually will be used for electronic transmission of all sorts of patient information. It must be secure and resilient, somethign is currently isnt.

Wasting money in the NHS is nothing new

The people in charge dont know what they are doing. Often when rolling out NHSmail in GP practices we would phone them to tell them which servers were down, they wouldnt have noticed themselves (the system is administered by Cable and Wireless).

They have set a target of continued continuity, but there is a major issue as far as I can see. All users currently using Outlook for NHSmail are using IMAP, which as far as I know, doesnt work with a link to an exchange? I assume there will be some 'link' server in the middle to avoid having to reconfigure every machine (Devon PCT, 107 practices, average 30 users a practice, average 20 machines, often a users on many machines = a LOT!)

NHSmail is crud, very crud, but I dont think this will fix it.

Most NHSmail projects are late, under performing, or just simply buggered.

A shiny new forum... cool!