Dell on Thursday debuted a turnkey package of hardware, software, and services for enterprises that want to leave Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 before the aging mail server exits support at the end of the year.

The pre-configured server, storage, software, and professional migration services target companies currently running Exchange Server 5.5, which want to move up to Exchange Server 2003, said Dell. The migration packages can be customized to fit the needs of businesses with as few as 100 e-mail users or as many as 5,000, said Linda York, a vice president in Dell's product group.

All packages include three years of support and the upfront migration services, which include needs-assessment, deployment, and training. Prices for the packages start at $5,000.

Dell uses a variety of its server and storage hardware in the packages, ranging from its PowerEdge 2800 server to its PowerVault 136T tape backup system.

On December 31, Microsoft will end support for Exchange Server 5.5 Standard and Enterprise, both of which debuted in February, 1998.