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Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Help: Consulting, Support, Troubleshooting

Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 delivers a reliable, scalable, and manageable infrastructure with 24×7 messaging and collaboration plus low cost of ownership. It supports a wide range of collaborative activities, including group scheduling capabilities, discussion groups, and team folders, and also provides access to information across geographic, organizational, and technology barriers with features such as Instant Messaging, real-time data, and video conferencing. Exchange Server 2003 offers improvements over Exchange 2000 Server in many important areas that include security, performance, and mobility.

Years of experience with Microsoft's email technology makes DCI one of the most qualified IT consulting firms in the Arizona, Southern Nevada, Southern California and Colorado Area and California Central Valley for integrating messaging solutions based on Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. DCI can help small businesses get the full benefits of Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 under these common scenarios:

• Updating from Microsoft Exchange 5.5 Server
• Updating from Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server
• Migration to Exchange Server 2003 from an ISP-based or POP3 Email System

Benefits of Updating from Microsoft Exchange 5.5 Server
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 offers major improvements in functionality over Exchange 5.5 Server in key areas including accessibility, manageability, security, stability, capacity, and performance.

• The 2003 version of Microsoft Exchange Server brings a dramatic increase in functionality over the Microsoft Exchange 5.5 web client. Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 offers a nearly complete implementation of the familiar Outlook interface, including calendaring and tools. This means that mobile workers can have full, secure access to email even without a notebook. All they need is an Internet-connected computer with a standard web browser.
• Unlike Microsoft Exchange 5.5, which has its own directory, Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 uses Active Directory, providing a greatly simplified administration and security model. This makes Exchange Server 2003 easier to manage and support and also offers tighter security.
• Exchange Server 2003 has a strong foundation for seamlessly integrating third-party applications such as virus scanning packages and anti-spamming tools. Exchange Server 2003's strong Application Programming Interface (API) eliminates the instability associated with Exchange 5.5 when adding third-party utilities.
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 offers significantly improved capacity and performance over Exchange 5.5. This means that you can have more and bigger mailboxes and faster remote access.
• Upgrading to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 also brings better searching ability, making it easier to retrieve vital information when you need it.

Benefits of Updating from Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 offers improvements in functionality over Exchange 2000 Server in key areas including disaster recovery, performance, security, mobility, collaboration, and manageability.

• The 2003 version of Microsoft Exchange Server features improved disaster recovery by adding support for eight-node clustering, cluster fallover time improvements, support for mount points which overcome the 24-drive letter limitation, standard storage area network (SAN) connectivity, Volume Shadow Copy service for database backup, a Mailbox Recovery Center tool, and a Restore Storage group.
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 enhances performance via features such as a /USERVA memory switch, public folder store replication improvements, distribution list caching improvements, and suppression of Out of Office messages.
• Security enhancements offered by Exchange Server 2003 include Internet Protocol security (IPSec) support for front-end and back-end clusters, signed Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) requests to Active Directory, front-end and back-end Kerberos authentication, Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 security and dedicated application mode, restriction of distribution lists to authenticated users, real-time Safe and Block lists, inbound recipient filtering, attachment blocking in Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access, public folders permissions improvements for unknown users, and restricted submissions improvements.
• Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server includes better support for mobile workers by adding an Outlook Web Access user interface (UI) and a broader Web Outlook feature set, Outlook 2003 performance improvements via MAPI compression, HTTP access from Outlook 2003, cHTML, xHTML and HTML mobile phone browser support, plus up-to-date notifications synchronization for Pocket PCs.
• An advanced managed, remote accessible application programming interface (API) enhances collaborative development.
• Manageability and serviceability are improved by centralizing queues on a per-server basis, improving the User Interface, exposing all system queues, enabling cookie authorization, using Exchange System Manager to move log files and queue data, including a multi-user Move Mailbox function, and adding dynamic distribution lists, public folder Send hierarchy, public folder Search capabilities, public folder Send Contents, and public folder affinity to control referrals.

How DCI Can Help You Upgrade to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
DCI's field-proven methodologies can help you define and implement an efficient in-place upgrade strategy that avoids business disruption, reduces long-term support requirements, and makes your Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 easy to administer. For complex multi-server or multi-site upgrades, DCI has the experience to complete your project quickly and affordably. DCI's Microsoft Exchange help, troubleshooting and consulting services include assistance with the configuration of third-party enhancements that are best aligned to your business goals.

Benefits of Migration from an ISP-based or POP3 Email System
If your small business is currently using an email system hosted by an ISP or if you are running your Outlook clients in POP3 mode, Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server offers an array of improved features in the areas of manageability, performance, capacity, availability, and collaboration:

• Unlike the store-and-forward model used by POP3 email systems, Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Server uses a central-store model that frees users from dependence on a specific desktop or notebook computer, reduces vulnerability to hardware failure or virus attacks, and allows both on-line and off-line email, automatic backup, and sophisticated sharing and collaboration.
• Exchange Server 2003 has powerful collaboration features that allow work groups to increase productivity by sharing calendaring, address books, messages and files.
• The flexibility of Exchange Server 2003 makes it possible to add third-party security enhancements or accommodate wireless devices such as the RIM Blackberry wireless handheld.
• Exchange Server 2003 supports powerful management and tracking tools so you can make sure your email system is operating efficiently.
• Exchange Server 2003 allows full on-line backup without affecting users, enabling 24x7 operation by eliminating scheduled downtime and maintenance blackouts.

How DCI Can Help You Migrate from a POP3 Email System
DCI's experience and field-proven methodologies can help you implement a quick, seamless migration to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. DCI attends to critical details such as coordinating domain names so that both local and remote users make a smooth transition from POP3 email.

DCI's Consulting Services for Microsoft Technology
For small businesses and mid-sized businesses in the Arizona, Southern Nevada, Southern California and Colorado Area, Arizona, Southern Nevada and Southern California, DCI's Microsoft-certified consultants offer computer help and IT consulting services for the entire family of Microsoft .NET Enterprise Servers, Windows Server 2003, and Microsoft line-of-business applications. DCI's migration, integration, update, support, and custom programming services include planning and system design, installation and deployment. Find out more about DCI's Microsoft technology consulting services.