Introducing Exchange Server 2003
Exchange Server 2003 delivers a dependable, extensible, and manageable infrastructure with round-the-clock email and collaboration plus affordability. Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server enables a wide range of collaborative functions, such as group scheduling capabilities, discussion areas, and group folders, and also provides access to information across geographic, organizational, and technology divisions with productivity enhancers that include IM, real-time data, and video conferencing. Exchange Server 2003 incorporated enhancements over Microsoft Exchange Server 2K in key technologies that cover protection, performance, and remote and mobile communications.

Microsoft has terminated support for Exchange 2003 Server, requiring network management face all the issues associated with maintaining an end-of-life messaging platform. Still, a large number of Exchange sites are currently operating Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. Progent's Microsoft-certified IT consultants have extensive experience supporting Exchange 2003 and can assist your business to administer and repair your existing Exchange 2003 environment or help you to design and carry out an economical migration to a current edition of Exchange. (Refer to Progent's Microsoft Exchange 2016 migration planning and support and Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 expertise.)

Improvements of Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Compared to MS Exchange Server 2000
MS Exchange 2003 Server offers improvements in functionality over Exchange Server 2000 in important areas such as recovery, performance, protection, mobile access, collaboration, and manageability.

  • Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 delivers improved recovery by adding the capability of eight-node clustering, quicker cluster failover, support for mount points which eliminate the 24-drive designation limitation, storage area network compatibility, Volume Shadow Copy Service for backup infrastructure, a Mailbox Recovery utility, and a Restore Storage group.
  • Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server enhances performance through innovations such as /3GB and /USERVA startup switches for tuning the allocation of memory, public folder replication enhancements, distribution list caching enhancements, and suppression of Out of Office messages.
  • Security enhancements offered by MS Exchange Server 2003 include Internet Protocol security compatibility for front- and back-end clusters, signed LDAP requests to Microsoft Active Directory, front-end and back-end Kerberos authentication, Internet Information Services 6.0 protection, limiting of distribution lists to authenticated users, up-to-date Safe and Block data, download filtering, attachment restrictions in Microsoft Outlook Web Access, and public folders access improvements.
  • Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server includes improved support for remote and mobile users by adding an Outlook Web Access (OWA) user interface and a broader feature set for Web Outlook client, Microsoft Outlook performance improvements through MAPI compression, HTTP compatibility from Outlook 2003, xHTML aND.htmL mobile phone browser support, and syncing of notifications for Pocket PCs.
  • Management and serviceability are improved by organizing queues on a per-server basis, enhancing the user experience, exposing all system queues, enabling cookie permission, utilizing Microsoft Exchange System Manager to move 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 Server 2003 Vs. Exchange Server 5.5
MS Exchange Server 2003 delivered major improvements in functionality over MS Exchange 5.5 Server in important areas including accessibility, manageability, protection, stability, scalability, and speed.

  • MS Exchange 2003 Server offers a dramatic improvement in capability compared to the Exchange 5.5 web client. MS Exchange Server 2003 offers an almost complete version of the traditional Microsoft Outlook GUI interface including scheduling and tools. Because of this, remote and mobile users have the benefit of full, protected access to email even if they don't have a notebook. All mobile users need is a web-attached PC with a conventional browser.
  • In contrast to Exchange Server 5.5, which uses a built-in directory, Exchange Server 2003 uses Active Directory (AD), providing a more simplified management and protection structure. This makes MS Exchange 2003 Server simpler to manage and maintain and in addition allows tighter protection.
  • MS Exchange 2003 Server has a strong foundation for seamlessly integrating third-party applications including virus and spam scanning tools. Microsoft Exchange Server 2003's strong API eliminates the technical risk often found with Exchange Server 5.5 when adding independent utilities.
  • Exchange Server 2003 offers greatly increased capacity and performance in comparison to Exchange Server 5.5. These improvements allow more and bigger mailboxes and faster offsite connectivity.
  • Exchange 2003 Server also provides better searching ability, making it simpler and faster to retrieve vital information when you have to have it.

Benefits Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server Compared to an ISP-provided or POP3 Email Environment
If your organization is now running an email system hosted by an Internet Service Provider or if you are operating your Outlook users in POP3 mode, Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 provides a wealth of improved capabilities in the areas of ease of management, responsiveness, size, availability, and collaboration:

  • Unlike the store-and-forward technique used by POP3 email environments, Exchange 2003 Server is based on a central-store architecture that liberates users from dependence on a specific desktop computer or laptop, reduces vulnerability to hardware failure or viruses, and permits both on-line and off-line operation, automatic backup, and advanced sharing and collaboration.
  • MS Exchange 2003 Server offers an array of groupware features that permit teams to maximize productivity by sharing scheduling, address groups, messages, and data.
  • The flexibility of MS Exchange 2003 Server allows you to integrate third-party security add-ins or support wireless devices such as the BlackBerry.
  • Exchange 2003 Server supports advanced administration and tracking tools to confirm that your email environment is running smoothly.
  • Exchange Server 2003 allows complete on-line backup without hurting productivity, supporting 24x7 availability by avoiding routine maintenance blackouts.

How Progent Can Help You to Migrate Your POP3 E-Mail Clients to Microsoft Exchange 2003
Progent's background and tested methodologies can help you to manage a quick, non-disruptive migration of your POP3 clients to Exchange Server 2003. Progent attends to vital details that include coordinating domain names so that both on-site and remote users enjoy a hassle-free upgrade from the restrictions of POP3 messaging. Progent can help you with setting up an on-site Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server system or help you to set up and manage your Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 in an external Data Center. Progent's workplace recovery consultants can assist your company to create and implement a comprehensive workplace recovery strategy that includes Microsoft Data Protection Manager consulting for continuous online backup 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 you to move to Exchange Server 2013 or migrate to Microsoft Exchange 2016 Server from MS Exchange Server 2003 at minimal expense or disruption of business operations. Progent can assist your organization to enhance Exchange security, speed, dependability, and availability and streamline administration. Progent's certified system security specialists can evaluate and upgrade your security strategy and Progent's Cisco-premier network consultants can enhance your network architecture to improve network efficiency and reduce support expense.

Microsoft Office 365 Integration with On-premises Exchange
Office 365 Exchange Online Integration with On-premises ExchangeMicrosoft has made a strong effort to enable seamless hybrid environments that integrate Office 365 and on-premises Exchange deployments. This allows you to have certain mailboxes located on your corporate datacenter or private cloud and other mailboxes resident on Office 365. Progent's Microsoft-certified Exchange consultants can assist your organization with any facet of planning, integrating and debugging your hybrid Exchange solution. Progent's Exchange consultants can deliver occasional expertise to help you resolve challenging technical bottlenecks and also offer extensive project management outsourcing or co-sourcing to make sure your hybrid Office 365 initiative is completed on time and within budget. To learn more about Progent's online consulting expertise for integrating Office 365 and on-premises Exchange systems, visit Office 365 integration solutions with on-premises Exchange.

Hosting Services for Exchange
Progent also offers MS Exchange Hosting Services based on an enterprise-class data center for Exchange and offering fast Internet access, dedicated firewall security, patch and service pack control, Helpdesk services, spam and virus filtering, routine backup, automated analysis of security and performance, and full Exchange administration services. While you are moving from an earlier version of Microsoft Exchange is a great occasion to consider moving to a remote managed environment for Microsoft Exchange 2016 Server or MS Exchange 2013 Server so you can save on cost associated with capital equipment, reliable infrastructure, and email management.

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

Progent's Consulting and Support Services for Microsoft .NET Servers
For small businesses throughout the U.S., Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can provide network help and professional consulting services for the entire array of Microsoft .NET Enterprise Servers, Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2008, and Windows 2003 Server. Progent's planning, integration, optimization, and support services cover system design, deployment, and management help for project analysis and documentation, local and off-site technical support and network diagnosis, Help Desk Call Center Services, certified security consulting, full-service outsourcing, and ProSight Virtual Hosting services.

In case your business needs immediate remote help from a certified consultant, refer to Progent's Emergency Remote Computer Support.

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

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