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Overview of Exchange Server 2003
Exchange Server 2003 provides a reliable, extensible, and easy-to-manage platform with round-the-clock email and collaboration as well as quick return on investment. Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 supports a broad array of team functions, such as group scheduling capabilities, discussion areas, and team folders, and furthermore gives access to data that crosses territorial, organizational, and technology divisions with features that include IM, real-time information, and video conferencing. Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 incorporated improvements over MS Exchange Server 2K in important technologies that address protection, speed, and mobility.

In 2009 Microsoft ended support for Exchange 2003 Server, requiring network management deal with all the issues associated with maintaining a legacy email platform. Despite this, a large number of Exchange sites are still operating Exchange Server 2003. Progent's Microsoft-authorized IT engineers have extensive backgrounds supporting Microsoft Exchange 2003 and can assist your organization to manage and troubleshoot your existing Exchange 2003 solution or help you to plan and implement an economical upgrade to a current edition of Microsoft Exchange. (Refer to Progent's Exchange Server 2016 migration planning and support services and Exchange 2013 consulting.)

Improvements of Exchange 2003 Over Exchange Server 2K
Exchange Server 2003 features improvements in capability over MS Exchange Server 2K in crucial areas such as recovery, performance, security, mobile access, teamwork, and simplicity of management.

• Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 offers improved disaster recovery by adding the capability of eight-node clustering, quicker failover, support for mount points which eliminate the 24-drive designation limit, storage area network compatibility, Volume Shadow Copy Service for database backup, a Mailbox Recovery Center utility, and a Restore Storage group.
• MS Exchange Server 2003 enhances responsiveness via features that include /3GB and /USERVA startup switches for tuning the allocation of memory and memory address space, public folder store replication enhancements, distribution list performance improvements, and suppression of Out of Office messages.
• Security enhancements introduced by MS Exchange Server 2003 include IPsec compatibility for front- and back-end clusters, signed Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) requests to Active Directory, front- and back-end Kerberos validation, IIS 6.0 security, limiting of distribution lists to authenticated users, real-time Safe and Block lists, inbound recipient filtering, attachment restrictions in OWA, and public folders access improvements.
• MS Exchange 2003 Server offers improved support for remote and mobile workers by including an Outlook Web Access (OWA) user interface (UI) and a more extensive range of capabilities for Web Outlook client, Microsoft Outlook performance enhancements through MAPI compression, HTTP compatibility from Microsoft Outlook, xHTML aND.htmL smart phone browser capability, and syncing of notifications for handheld PCs.
• Management and service are simplified by centralizing queues on a per-server basis, improving the user experience, revealing all system queues, controlling cookie authorization, utilizing Exchange System Manager to transfer log and queue data, including a multiple-client Move Mailbox function, and adding dynamic distribution lists, public folder Search capabilities, and public folder affinity to manage referrals.

Advantages of Exchange 2003 Over Exchange 5.5
Exchange Server 2003 delivered significant enhancements in functionality over MS Exchange 5.5 Server in important areas affecting accessibility, ease of management, security, stability, scalability, and speed.

• Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server offers a significant increase in functionality over the Microsoft Exchange 5.5 web client. Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 offers an almost complete implementation of the older Outlook GUI interface including calendaring and utilities. As a result, mobile workers can have full, protected availability of email even without a notebook. All they require is a web-connected PC with a conventional web browser.
• In contrast to MS Exchange 5.5, which has a built-in directory, Exchange Server 2003 utilizes Active Directory, providing a more simplified management and security model. This makes Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server easier to manage and support and in addition allows tighter security.
• MS Exchange 2003 Server has a strong foundation for transparently adding non-Microsoft utilities including anti-virus and anti-spamming tools. MS Exchange Server 2003's versatile API eliminates the technical risk often found with Exchange 5.5 Server when adding third-party software.
• MS Exchange 2003 Server offers significantly improved scalability and performance in comparison to Exchange 5.5 Server. These improvements include more and larger mailboxes and speedier remote connectivity.
• Exchange Server 2003 also offers improved search ability, making it simpler and quicker to retrieve vital data when you need it.

Advantages MS Exchange Server 2003 Over an ISP-based or POP3 Email Environment
If your organization is now using an email system hosted by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or if you are running your Outlook users in POP3 mode, Exchange 2003 Server provides a wealth of improved features in the areas of ease of management, performance, capacity, reliability, and group support:

• Unlike the store-and-forward model used by POP3 email systems, MS Exchange 2003 Server uses a central-store model that liberates users from reliance on a specific personal computer or notebook, reduces vulnerability to computer failure or virus attacks, and permits both on-line and off-line email, programmed backup, and sophisticated collaboration.
• Exchange Server 2003 offers powerful collaboration features that allow teams to improve efficiency by sharing scheduling, address books, correspondence, and data.
• The flexibility of Exchange Server 2003 makes it possible to integrate third-party security add-ins or support wireless devices such as the BlackBerry.
• MS Exchange Server 2003 supports advanced administration and tracking tools to make sure your messaging system is operating efficiently.
• Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server permits full on-line backup without disrupting productivity, enabling round-the-clock availability by eliminating routine downtime.

How Progent Can Help You to Migrate Your POP3 Clients to Exchange Server 2003
Progent's experience and proven methodologies can enable you to manage a fast, non-disruptive migration of your POP3 e-mail users to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. Progent pays attention to vital issues that include managing domain names so that both local and remote users make a hassle-free transition from the limitations of POP3 messaging. Progent can help you with setting up an on-site Exchange Server 2003 solution or assist you to set up and administer your Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 in an off-site Data Center. Progent's business continuity consultants can help you to develop and implement a complete workplace recovery plan that includes Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) support for ongoing remote archiving and rapid system recovery.

How Progent Can Assist You to Upgrade to MS Exchange Server 2013 or Exchange 2016 from Exchange Server 2003
Progent's Exchange consultants can help your company to upgrade to Exchange 2013 Server or upgrade to Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 from MS Exchange Server 2003 at the least possible expense or interruption of business. Progent can help you to enhance Microsoft Exchange security, speed, dependability, and fault tolerance and simplify administration. Progent's certified security consultants can review and upgrade your security environment and Progent's Cisco-certified network consultants can upgrade your network infrastructure to increase network performance and lower operating expense.

Microsoft Office 365 Integration with On-premises Exchange
Microsoft has made a strong effort to enable seamless hybrid environments that combine Microsoft 365 Exchange Online and local installations of Exchange. This permits you to have specific mailboxes hosted at your physical datacenter or private cloud and other mailboxes hosted by Microsoft 365. Progent's certified Exchange consulting team can help your organization with any phase of designing, integrating and debugging your hybrid Microsofte 365 network. Progent's Exchange specialists can deliver occasional expertise to help you resolve challenging technical problems and also offer comprehensive project management outsourcing to ensure your hybrid Microsoft 365 solution is completed on schedule and within budget. To find out more about Progent's consulting services for hybrid Office 365 and on-premises Exchange environments, see Office 365 integration with on-premises Exchange.

To ask Progent about engineering assistance for Microsoft Exchange Server integration, phone 1-800-993-9400 or see Contact Progent.

Progent's Consulting Services for Microsoft Server Technology
For small and mid-sized companies throughout the United States, Progent's Microsoft-authorized experts can provide computer assistance and professional consulting services for the whole array of Microsoft .NET Enterprise Servers and Microsoft Windows Servers. Progent's planning, installation, update, and support capabilities cover network architecture, configuration, and administration help for project management and documentation, local and off-site IT help and system diagnosis, Standard Help Desk Call Center Support or Co-managed Help Desk Call Center Services, certified security consulting, turn-key outsourcing, and ProSight Virtual Hosting services.

If your business is looking for immediate remote support from a Microsoft certified network expert, visit Progent's Emergency Remote Technical Help.

Read more information about Progent's Consulting Services for Microsoft Server Technology.