Future of /Hosting Mode - Microsoft Changed Game Rules Again

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 theapproach 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).