Exchange Server 2003 Server

Introduction to Exchange Server 2003

As you may know, Exchange 2007 is now Microsoft's flagship mail server.

Most of the big changes in directory services came between Exchange 5.5 and Exchange 2000.  Nevertheless, there are lots, and I emphasise lots, of neat improvements in Exchange 2003 that were missing in Exchange 2000. For example, RPC over HTTP, ExDeploy, ExMerge and Query Based Distribution Groups.

My goal for this section is to give you advice on how to: Configure, Migrate and Troubleshoot Exchange 2003.  The first point to note is that it is better to install Exchange 2003 on Windows Server 2003 (rather than W2K).

This page represents my site map for Exchange 2003.  I divided the Exchange 2003 topics into 4 sub-sections:

Guy Recommends: The SolarWinds Exchange Monitor

Here is a free tool to monitor your Exchange Server.  Download and install the utility, then inspect your mail queues, monitor the Exchange server's memory, confirm there is enough disk space and check the CPU utilization. This is the real deal - there is no catch.  SolarWinds provides this fully-functioning product for free, as part of their commitment to supporting the network management community.

Free Download of SolarWinds Exchange Monitor

Exchange 2003 is a 0.5 upgrade over Exchange 2000 (Exchange Version 6.0 --> version 6.5).   My guess is that those who have not yet migrated from Exchange 5.5, will now go straight to Exchange 2003 (rather than Exchange 2000).  If you already have Exchange 2000, then you need a really good reason to upgrade to 2003, for example, you are upgrading from Windows 2000 to Server 2003.

My mission, is two fold, getting you started with Exchange 2003 server and to supply you with tips.  Here are are a selection of features new in Exchange 2003

• RPC over HTTP Proxy Service
• Query Based Distribution Groups
• 8 Node Active / Passive Clustering
• OMA (Outlook MOBILE Access)

Guy Recommends:  A Free Trial of the Orion Network Configuration Monitor (NCM) v6

Config management of routers, switches and firewalls is fun with NCM (Network Configuration Manager.  Furthermore, it can help to achieve your compliance policy, for example, pinpoint devices not backed up and discover access infringements or even weak passwords.  This Solarwinds NCM suite can not only detect violations, but also upload scripts to correct the problem.

Most computer problems arise from configuration changes.  Thus it makes sense to get a proper monitoring system so that you can double-check that that all the settings confirm to your security policy.

Download your free trial of Orion's Network Configuration Monitor.

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