Exchange Server 2007 – Unifying Email, Fax and Voice
Two-thirds of the world's business email runs on Microsoft Exchange. Now, with Exchange Server 2007 SP1, companies can expand their communications abilities by sharing messages between email, fax, and even voice.
Exchange Server 2007 SP1 is the latest version of the award-winning Microsoft email system. While the Exchange line has traditionally focused on email access, Exchange 2007 goes further with a new Server Role-based architecture. These 5 Server Roles – Mailbox, Client Access, Hub Transport, Edge Transport, and Unified Messaging – either expand on the core email capability, or protect it from break-ins.
The Server Roles
- MAILBOX – This Server Role holds the Exchange databases. It's the core of Exchange 2007.
- CLIENT ACCESS – This server handles all incoming connections, whether they're from Outlook or a mobile phone, and routes them to the appropriate Exchange destination.
- HUB TRANSPORT – This server directs internal mail flow. So your message ends up where it should.
- EDGE TRANSPORT – Installed on the edge of your network, this Role protects the other Exchange servers from viruses, spam, phishing attempts and unauthorized logins.
- UNIFIED MESSAGING – This server connects VoIP infrastructures with your Exchange setup. This is the one that combines email, fax and voice into one Inbox. And allows access to all of them from multiple interfaces, like mobile phones and remote logins.
Multiple Roles, Multiple Purposes
What kind of functions would you expect from this new architecture? A few examples:
--A critical email is sent to XYZ Corp.'s top salesperson. He's on the road and can't check it. But thanks to Client Access & Unified Messaging, he can listen to a voice transcription of the email dictated through his Bluetooth-enabled phone.
--Office A gets a virus in their desktops. But the Edge Transport server in Office B blocks the virus from entering the Exchange core server. So no one else gets it.
--In order to save paper, 2 branch offices set a policy. Instead of printing all received faxes, they're directed to the appropriate Inboxes and auto-archived. Instead of printing each out for filling file cabinets.
Benefits of Exchange 2007's New Capabilities
CUT DOWN ON INFORMATION OVERLOAD. Exchange now funnels all types of business communication into one Inbox. Collect, store, and backup things like faxes and voicemails along with your email.
ACCESS E-MAIL, VOICE MAIL, CALENDAR, AND CONTACTS VIRTUALLY ANYWHERE. Thanks to Unified Messaging and mobile policy, you can access your information on your PC, via remote login, your mobile device, or even a basic phone.
LOWER TOTAL COST. Exchange 2007's new architecture has the ability to host more users, and larger mailboxes, on fewer servers than Exchange 2003. It also provides 3 recovery methods, delivering failover capacity inside Exchange’s system without third-party software.
SAFER EMAIL. Exchange 2007's server roles lower the risk of spam and viruses getting near your network. Local or mobile, Exchange delivers important messages where they need to go.
Simplifying Communications Capability
- Email by Phone: The new Unified Messaging Role adds Outlook Voice Access and Auto-Attendant. These two services allow users to perform standard tasks (read email, check calendars, compose messages) using a phone.
- Built-in Spam/Virus/Phishing Protection: The new Edge Transport Server Role secures the Exchange infrastructure against outside threats. While it cleans out spam, Hub Transport routes legitimate messages where they need to go.
- 64-bit Server Architecture: Exchange Server 2007 was designed as a full 64-bit application. It takes advantage of the greater processing power in 64-bit hardware for functions such as continuous data replication (auto-copies in case of a crash). SP1 added full support for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista.
- New Management: The Exchange Management Console has been redesigned to a simpler 3-level interface. A new tool called AutoConnect now automatically sets up user email accounts.
What's This "Unified Messaging" Do?
With Service Pack 1, each of the Exchange server roles received new features. Unified Messaging in particular. The UM server role now interoperates with other Microsoft applications, such as Office Communications Server 2007. This extends Exchange's operation into the field of actually providing VoIP capability.
These are some technical points which show off Unified Messaging's thorough VoIP capabilities.
- Support for additional UM dial plan types
To interoperate with Office Communications Server 2007, Exchange 2007 SP1 Unified Messaging supports SIP URI and E.164 dial plans. You can configure these UM dial plans using the Exchange Management Shell or Management Console. The Management Console lets you create SIP URI and E.164-type plans through the New Dial Plan wizard. The Management Console will also supply Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs) when you enable users and associate them with the plan. - Additional logic for resolving internal calling numbers
The scope of internal calling number resolution is greatly increased in Exchange 2007 SP1. Previously, Exchange resolved internal extension numbers against only 2 sources: extension numbers for other users in the same dial plan, and the contact list of user being called. In SP1, Unified Messaging also resolves internal extension numbers against users in the Active Directory forest. - Office Communications Server 2007 has extended the Active Directory schema, so your numbers are stored in E.164 format.
Read an overview of Exchange Server 2007's capabilities in our Exchange Server 2007 Datasheet here. PlanetMagpie Exchange Services
Readiness Assessment – Will your current servers support Exchange 2007? Is virtualization an option (it reduces the number of servers needed)? We address these questions in our Readiness Assessment – the first part of any reliable Exchange 2007 install.
Planning & Implementation – Once the Readiness Assessment is checked off, we move on to Planning & Implementation. We design a structure for the new server architecture, and a plan for building it into your existing network. When we're done, the new Exchange 2007 setup is in place and running.
Training – The new Server Roles have many new capabilities, and some new ways of serving up email. That's why we offer on-site training to help you with everyday Exchange use.
Support – Regular support is needed for email servers more than any other type. That's why we recommend adding a PlanetMagpie Support Contract to take care of things.
Hosted Exchange Service – Don't want to have the whole Exchange setup on-site? We also host Exchange 2007 for clients in our datacenter! See our Hosted Exchange webpage for the how-and-why.
Exchange 2000/2003 Support
For those still using Exchange Server 2000 or 2003—PlanetMagpie still supports you!
We continue to provide on-site and remote support for Exchange 2000/2003 servers. Our IT Consultants maintain certification in Exchange 2003 so we stay aware of any new updates/issues that come along.
This new version of Exchange rewrites what an email server can do. Upgrade and benefit from a more efficient email setup, better security, spam protection, and the foundation for a fully-centralized communications system.
Call PlanetMagpie at 408-341-8770 to find out what Exchange Server 2007 can do for your organization.
Readiness Assessments are no-obligation.
