Hardware that can be used with MSMQ ranges from single-processor 486 computers to the most powerful configuration that Windows NT Server supports. Therefore, you could have an organization of 10,000 users, with 100 users on 100 servers, or with 500 users on 20 servers. This decision depends on your organization's needs and budget.
The following table lists the advantages and disadvantages of using more, less powerful computers.
Table 6.4
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| It's less expensive to increase capacity. | There is more hardware to maintain. |
| There are more hardware choices available. | Customized hardware increases support costs. |
| Each server can be physically close to the users, reducing network traffic for dependent client/server interactions. | Minor increases in users or load require more hardware. |
The following table lists the advantages and disadvantages of using fewer, more powerful computers.
Table 6.5
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| The system is designed for upgrades. | Network adapters must be able to handle more traffic to each server. |
| There are less storage requirements. | |
| Fewer replication changes are required. |