[sjdorst]

I'm the IT manager for a small business who is looking to evaluate Google Apps - Most likely Premiere - to replace both our Exchange Server and most of our MS Office applications. I'm concerned about testing.

I have a domain that is currently unused that I'd like to use for testing/eval so as not to upset our current email setup. Assuming I recommend (and the boss agrees) to go with Google Apps, will I be able to "cut over" that Google Apps setup - including users - to the REAL domain name that we're currently using?

[reckoner]

I have a domain that is currently unused that I'd like to use for testing/eval so as not to upset our current email setup. Assuming I recommend (and the boss agrees) to go with Google Apps, will I be able to "cut over" that Google Apps setup - including users - to the REAL domain name that we're currently using?

Hi!

As long as you're keeping your primary domain's MX record your current e-mail setup is not affected. However, if you will proceed with Google Apps in the future you will not be able to change your primary domain name. So I advice you to register Google Apps for your primary domain and add an alias domain or secondary domain for testing purposes. For example, test.primary.com or completely different like secondary.com.

Google Apps Premier Edition has a great set of features for testing. First of all you have a 30-day trail period where you are free to purchase as many users as you need for testing with a money-back. Second, you can adjust your setup in the way that certain users will have their e-mail boxes in Google Apps and the rest will have a current e-mail solution. Settings for custom e-mail routing are very flexible.

For additional info see these help articles:

Domain management - http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/topic.py?topic=14579
Piloting and routing - http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?answer=77183

[sjdorst]

OK. I see the path here. Given that the answer to my OTHER question requires Premium or Enterprise access, I'm wondering if the same is true here!

What I'd LIKE to do is open a FREE account on my primary domain (I doubt I'll be able to free up the time to fully investigate during the 30 day free Premium trial), then go Premium only when I'm fully convinced Google Apps will work for my situation.

Is the domain alias/secondary domain available to NON Premium Apps domains?

In any case, I'm a big believer in SPF. What should I add to my SPF DNS entry to allow sending from Google's servers?

Thanks in advance! Again!

Hi!

As long as you're keeping your primary domain's MX record your current e-mail setup is not affected. However, if you will proceed with Google Apps in the future you will not be able to change your primary domain name. So I advice you to register Google Apps for your primary domain and add an alias domain or secondary domain for testing purposes. For example, test.primary.com or completely different like secondary.com.

Google Apps Premier Edition has a great set of features for testing. First of all you have a 30-day trail period where you are free to purchase as many users as you need for testing with a money-back. Second, you can adjust your setup in the way that certain users will have their e-mail boxes in Google Apps and the rest will have a current e-mail solution. Settings for custom e-mail routing are very flexible.

For additional info see these help articles:

Domain management - http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/topic.py?topic=14579
Piloting and routing - http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?answer=77183

[reckoner]

Is the domain alias/secondary domain available to NON Premium Apps domains?

In any case, I'm a big believer in SPF. What should I add to my SPF DNS entry to allow sending from Google's servers?

Domain aliases available for all editions, secondary domains are for Premium/Education only.

An article about SPF records here: http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?answer=178723