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Introduction to Exchange Server 2003
Exchange 2003 Server provides a reliable, extensible, and manageable platform with round-the-clock email and team support plus low cost of ownership. Exchange 2003 Server supports a broad array of team activities, including group calendaring capabilities, discussion areas, and group folders, and also makes available data that extends over geographic, organizational, and architectural divisions with features that include IM, real-time information, and video conferencing. Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 delivered enhancements over Exchange 2000 Server in key areas that address protection, performance, and remote and mobile communications.

In 2009 Microsoft ended support for Exchange Server 2003, requiring network managers deal with the issues associated with maintaining an end-of-life email platform. Despite this, many Exchange sites are currently running Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. Progent's Microsoft-certified IT consultants offer in-depth experience maintaining Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 and can assist your company to administer and repair your current Exchange Server 2003 solution or help you to plan and implement an affordable upgrade to a current edition of Exchange. (See Progent's Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 migration planning and support services and Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 expertise.)

Improvements of Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Compared to Microsoft Exchange 2K Server
Exchange Server 2003 offers improvements in capability over Exchange 2000 Server in crucial areas including disaster recovery, performance, security, mobile access, teamwork, and simplicity of management.

• Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server delivers improved recovery by adding support for eight-node clustering, faster failover, the addition of mount points which overcome the 24-drive letter limitation, storage area network compatibility, Volume Shadow Copy Service for backup infrastructure, a Mailbox Recovery Center tool, and a Restore Storage group.
• Exchange 2003 Server enhances responsiveness via innovations that include /3GB and /USERVA startup switches for adjusting the allocation of memory and memory address space, public folder replication improvements, distribution list performance improvements, and control of Out of Office messages.
• Security enhancements offered by Exchange Server 2003 include Internet Protocol security support for front-end and back-end clusters, signed Lightweight Directory Access Protocol requests to Active Directory, front- and back-end Kerberos validation, Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 protection, restriction of distribution lists to authenticated users, up-to-date Safe and Block data, inbound recipient filtering, attachment restrictions in Microsoft Outlook Web Access, and public folders access improvements.
• Exchange 2003 Server offers improved support for remote and mobile workers by adding an Outlook Web Access user interface (UI) and a broader range of capabilities for Web Outlook, Outlook 2003 performance improvements through MAPI compression, HTTP access from Outlook, xHTML aND.htmL smart phone browser capability, plus syncing of notifications for handheld PCs.
• Manageability and service are improved by organizing queues on a per-server system, improving the user interface, exposing all system queues, enabling cookie permission, utilizing Microsoft Exchange System Manager to transfer log and queue data, including a multiple-client Move Mailbox feature, and adding dynamic distribution lists, public folder Send hierarchy, and public folder affinity to control referrals.

Advantages of Microsoft Exchange 2003 Vs. Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 offered major improvements in capability over MS Exchange 5.5 Server in important areas including access, manageability, protection, stability, scalability, and speed.

• Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server offers a dramatic improvement in functionality compared to the Microsoft Exchange 5.5 web client. MS Exchange 2003 Server provides an almost complete version of the older MS Outlook interface that features scheduling and tools. Because of this, remote and mobile workers have the benefit of complete, protected availability of email even if they don't have a laptop. All mobile users require is a web-attached PC with a conventional browser.
• In contrast to Exchange 5.5, which incorporates its own directory, MS Exchange Server 2003 takes advantage of Active Directory (AD), providing a greatly streamlined administration and protection model. This makes MS Exchange Server 2003 simpler to manage and maintain and in addition allows better protection.
• Exchange Server 2003 has a strong architecture for seamlessly adding third-party utilities including anti-virus and anti-spamming tools. MS Exchange Server 2003's strong Application Programming Interface (API) solves the instability often found with MS Exchange Server 5.5 when integrating third-party utilities.
• Exchange 2003 Server delivers significantly improved capacity and performance over MS Exchange Server 5.5. Improvements allow more and larger mailboxes and speedier remote connectivity.
• MS Exchange 2003 Server also provides improved searching ability, making it easier and faster to find vital data when you need it.

Benefits Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Compared to an ISP-provided or POP3 Email System
If your organization is now running an email system hosted by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or if you are operating your Microsoft Outlook clients in POP3 mode, MS Exchange 2003 Server offers a wealth of enhanced capabilities in the areas of manageability, responsiveness, capacity, reliability, and collaboration:

• Unlike the store-and-forward model utilized by POP3 email systems, Exchange Server 2003 is based on a central-store model that frees users from reliance on a specific desktop computer or laptop, lowers susceptibility to computer breakdown or viruses, and permits both on-line and off-line email, automatic backup, and advanced groupware.
• Exchange 2003 Server offers powerful collaboration capabilities that permit teams to improve productivity by sharing calendaring, address groups, messages, and data.
• The versatility of MS Exchange Server 2003 makes it possible to install non-Microsoft security add-ins or support wireless devices such as the BlackBerry smartphone.
• MS Exchange Server 2003 works with powerful management and monitoring tools so you can verify that your email environment is running smoothly.
• MS Exchange 2003 Server allows complete on-line archiving without hurting performance, enabling round-the-clock availability by eliminating routine maintenance blackouts.

How Progent Can Help You to Migrate Your POP3 E-Mail Users to Microsoft Exchange 2003
Progent's experience and tested best practices can help you to manage a quick, seamless move of your POP3 users to Exchange 2003 Server. Progent pays attention to vital issues such as managing domain names so that both local and off-site users make a smooth transition from the restrictions of POP3 email. Progent can help you with setting up a local Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server system or help you to locate and administer your Exchange 2003 Server in an external datacenter. Progent's disaster recovery experts can assist you to create and execute a comprehensive workplace recovery plan that incorporates Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) consulting for continuous online backup and rapid system restoration.

How Progent Can Help You to Upgrade to MS Exchange 2013 or Exchange 2016 from Exchange Server 2003
Progent's Microsoft Exchange consultants can help your company to upgrade to MS Exchange 2013 Server or move to Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 from Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server at minimal expense or disruption of business. Progent can assist your organization to enhance Microsoft Exchange security, speed, dependability, and availability and simplify management. Progent's CISM-certified system security specialists can review and upgrade your security environment and Progent's Cisco-premier network engineers can upgrade your network infrastructure to improve network performance and reduce operating expense.

Microsoft Office 365 Exchange Online Integration with On-premises Exchange
Microsoft allows you to create seamless hybrid ecosystems that combine Microsoft 365 and local Exchange deployments. This allows you to have some Exchange mailboxes hosted at your physical datacenter and other mailboxes resident on Office 365. Progent's certified Exchange consulting team can assist you with any facet of planning, implementing and troubleshooting your hybrid Microsofte 365 solution. Progent's Exchange consultants can provide occasional expertise to help you resolve stubborn technical problems and also offer extensive project management outsourcing or co-sourcing to ensure your hybrid Office 365/Exchange initiative is carried out on time and within budget. For more information about Progent's consulting support for integrating Office 365 and on-premises Exchange environments, go to Microsoft 365 integration with on-premises Exchange.

To get in touch with Progent about professional support for MS Exchange Server, call 1-800-993-9400 or refer to Contact Progent.

Progent's Support Services for Microsoft .NET Servers
For small and mid-sized businesses throughout the U.S., Progent's Microsoft-certified experts can provide network help and IT consulting services for the entire array of Microsoft .NET Enterprise Servers and Windows Servers. Progent's migration, installation, update, and consulting services include system design, deployment, and management outsourcing for project analysis and documentation, on-site and remote technical support and network troubleshooting, Standard Help Desk Support or Co-managed Help Desk Call Center Support, certified security consulting, IT outsourcing, and ProSight Virtual Hosting services.

If your business requires immediate remote support from a Microsoft certified network expert, visit Progent's Urgent Remote Technical Support.

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