Introduction to Exchange 2003 Server
Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server delivers a dependable, scalable, and easy-to-manage infrastructure offering round-the-clock email and collaboration as well as low cost of ownership. Exchange Server 2003 enables a broad array of collaborative activities, including group calendaring abilities, discussion areas, and group folders, and also makes available data that crosses geographic, logical, and architectural divisions with productivity enhancers such as Instant Messaging (IM), on-demand information, and video conferencing. MS Exchange 2003 Server delivered improvements over MS Exchange Server 2000 in key areas that address protection, performance, and remote and mobile communications.

Microsoft has ended support for Exchange Server 2003, making information technology management deal with the problems associated with supporting a legacy messaging system. Still, many Exchange users are now operating Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. Progent's Microsoft-authorized IT engineers have extensive backgrounds supporting Exchange 2003 and can help your business to administer and troubleshoot your current Exchange Server 2003 environment or help you to plan and carry out an affordable migration to an up-to-date version of Microsoft Exchange. (See Progent's Exchange 2016 migration support services and Exchange 2013 expertise.)

Improvements of MS Exchange 2003 Vs. Microsoft Exchange Server 2K
MS Exchange Server 2003 offers improvements in functionality over MS Exchange 2K Server in key areas such as recovery, throughput, security, mobility, teamwork, and simplicity of management.

  • Exchange 2003 Server delivers superior recovery by adding support for 8-node clustering, quicker failover, the addition of mount points which eliminate the 24-drive designation limit, SAN compatibility, Volume Shadow Copy Service for database backup, a Mailbox Recovery utility, and a Restore Storage group.
  • Exchange 2003 Server enhances responsiveness through features that include /3GB and /USERVA startup switches for tuning the allocation of use of memory address space, public folder replication improvements, distribution list performance improvements, and suppression of Out of Office notices.
  • Security enhancements introduced by Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server include Internet Protocol security support for front-end and back-end clusters, signed LDAP requests to Microsoft Active Directory, front- and back-end Kerberos validation, Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 security, limiting of distribution lists to authenticated users, real-time Safe and Block lists, download filtering, attachment blocking in Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access (OWA), and public folders permissions improvements.
  • MS Exchange Server 2003 offers improved accommodation of mobile users by adding an Outlook Web Access (OWA) user interface and a broader range of capabilities for Web Outlook, Outlook performance enhancements via MAPI compression, HTTP access from Outlook, xHTML aND.htmL smart phone browser capability, and synchronization of notifications for handheld computers.
  • Management and serviceability are simplified by organizing queues on a per-server system, enhancing the user experience, revealing all system queues, enabling cookie authorization, utilizing Microsoft Exchange System Manager to transfer log files and queue data, including a multi-user Move Mailbox feature, and adding dynamic distribution lists, public folder Search capabilities, and public folder affinity to manage referrals.

Advantages of MS Exchange 2003 Over Microsoft Exchange 5.5 Server
MS Exchange Server 2003 offered major improvements in functionality over MS Exchange 5.5 in key areas including accessibility, ease of management, protection, stability, capacity, and speed.

  • Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server brings a significant increase in capability compared to the MS Exchange 5.5 web client. Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server offers a nearly identical version of the traditional Microsoft Outlook GUI interface including scheduling and tools. As a result, mobile users can have full, secure access to email even if they don't have a notebook. All mobile users need is a web-attached computer with a standard web browser.
  • In contrast to MS Exchange 5.5, which incorporates its own directory, MS Exchange Server 2003 takes advantage of Active Directory, providing a greatly simplified management and security model. This makes MS Exchange 2003 Server less expensive to manage and support and in addition allows tighter security.
  • Exchange 2003 Server has a powerful foundation for transparently adding non-Microsoft applications including anti-virus and anti-spamming software. MS Exchange Server 2003's strong Application Programming Interface (API) eliminates the technical risk associated with Exchange 5.5 when integrating third-party utilities.
  • Exchange 2003 Server offers greatly improved capacity and performance in comparison to Exchange 5.5. Improvements include more and larger mailboxes and speedier remote access.
  • MS Exchange Server 2003 also has better search capability, making it simpler and faster to retrieve vital information when you have to have it.

Advantages MS Exchange Server 2003 Vs. an ISP-provided or POP3 Email Environment
If your business is currently running an email environment hosted by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or if you are operating your Outlook clients in POP3 mode, Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 provides a wealth of enhanced features in the areas of ease of management, responsiveness, capacity, availability, and collaboration:

  • Unlike the store-and-forward model utilized by POP3 email systems, MS Exchange 2003 Server is based on a central-store architecture that liberates users from dependence on a specific PC or laptop, lowers vulnerability to computer breakdown or virus attacks, and allows both on-line and off-line operation, programmed backup, and advanced groupware.
  • Exchange 2003 Server has powerful collaboration capabilities that allow teams to maximize productivity by sharing scheduling, address books, correspondence, and files.
  • The flexibility of Exchange Server 2003 allows you to install non-Microsoft security add-ins or support wireless devices such as the BlackBerry smartphone.
  • Exchange 2003 Server supports powerful administration and monitoring utilities so you can confirm that your messaging system is running smoothly.
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 permits complete on-line backup without disrupting productivity, supporting 24x7 availability by eliminating routine downtime.

How Progent Can Assist You to Migrate Your POP3 E-Mail Clients to Exchange 2003
Progent's background and tested best practices can help you to manage a fast, seamless move of your POP3 e-mail clients to Exchange Server 2003. Progent pays attention to critical details that include managing domain names so that both local and off-site workers enjoy a smooth transition from the restrictions of POP3 messaging. Progent can help you with setting up an on-site Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 solution or help you to set up and manage your Exchange 2003 Server in an external Data Center. Progent's disaster recovery consultants can help your organization to design and execute a comprehensive business continuity strategy that includes Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager consulting for continuous remote backup and fast data recovery.

How Progent Can Assist You to Upgrade to MS Exchange Server 2013 or Exchange 2016 from Exchange 2003
Progent's Microsoft-certified experts can help you to upgrade to Microsoft Exchange 2013 Server or migrate to Microsoft Exchange 2016 Server from Exchange 2003 Server at the least possible cost or disruption of business. Progent can assist you to improve Microsoft Exchange security, speed, reliability, and fault tolerance and simplify management. Progent's CISSP-certified system security specialists can review and improve your security environment and Progent's Cisco-certified network engineers can enhance your network infrastructure to increase network performance and lower support expense.

Office 365 Exchange Online Integration with On-premises Exchange
Office 365 Exchange Online Integration Solutions with On-premises ExchangeMicrosoft supports transparent hybrid ecosystems that combine Office 365 Exchange Online and local Exchange. This permits you to have some Exchange mailboxes hosted at your corporate datacenter and other mailboxes hosted by Office 365. Progent's Microsoft-certified Exchange consulting team can assist you with any phase of designing, integrating and troubleshooting your hybrid Office 365/Exchange network. Progent's Exchange consultants can provide occasional support to help you resolve stubborn technical issues and also can provide extensive project management outsourcing to make sure your hybrid Office 365 solution is successfully completed on time and on budget. To find out more about Progent's consulting support for hybrid Office 365 and on-premises Exchange environments, see Office 365 integration solutions with on-premises Exchange.

Hosting Services for Microsoft Exchange
Progent also can provide Exchange Hosting and Management Services centered around on a world-class facility for Exchange and featuring fast Internet access, dedicated firewall protection, security update and revision control, Contact Center support, spam protection, routine data backup, continual analysis of security and responsiveness, and comprehensive Exchange administration services. While you are moving from an earlier version of Exchange is an ideal occasion to consider moving to a remote managed environment for Microsoft Exchange 2016 Server or MS Exchange 2013 Server in order to economize on cost associated with computer hardware, fail-safe infrastructure, and messaging system administration.

In order to contact Progent about consulting help for Microsoft Exchange Server integration or to learn more about Progent's Microsoft Exchange hosting services, call 1-800-993-9400 or visit Contact Progent.

Progent's Consulting and Support Services for Microsoft Server Products
For small and mid-sized businesses across the U.S., Progent's Microsoft-certified experts can provide computer help and IT consulting support for the whole family of Microsoft .NET servers and Windows Servers. Progent's planning, integration, optimization, and support capabilities cover system design, configuration, and management help for project analysis and documentation, local and off-site IT help and network diagnosis, Standard Help Desk Support or Co-managed Help Desk Call Center Services, certified security expertise, full-service outsourcing, and ProSight Virtual Hosting services.

If your business requires fast remote support from a Microsoft certified consultant, visit Progent's Urgent Remote Computer Support.

Read more about Progent's Consulting and Support Services for Microsoft .NET Servers.

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