Exchange 2007 Server Roles

I am currently building my new test environment with Virtual Server 2005 R2.

After installing my Exchange 2007 server with the new server roles I will go on and install System Center Operations Manager 2007 Beta 2 (see next post), I installed the Mailbox, Hub Transport and Client access roles.

There are two other roles available Unified Messaging role and Edge Transport role.

Let me explain briefly what these roles do:

Mailbox role: This role can be compared with the back-end role in Exchange 2003, it is holding all mailboxes and public folders. It is also responsible for all MAPI client access.

Hub Transport role: This role is responsible for the mail delivery within your Exchange 2007 environment, it is like the bridgehead server in Exchange 2003. You can deploy message hygiene software (anti spam) onto this server. The Hub Transport roles also accepts the mails that are coming from the outside world through the Edge Transport role. Hub Transport agents can also be deployed to enforce corporate policies such as message retention and other custom made rules.

Client Access role: This role is like the Front-End role in Exchange 2003, it is responsible for handling all client connectivity from owa, outlook (RPC over HTTPs) to Activesync with Windows Mobile.

Unified Messaging role: This rule is very very new and cool it integrates your VOIP infrastructure with your Exchange environment. So you will get your voice mails within your mailbox.

Edge Transport role: This server role needs to be installed at the edge of the network (DMZ) and is installed on a stand alone server with no access to Active Directory, however an Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM) is used to synchronize the mailbox accounts with this server. The Edge transport role is responsible for the mail flow from your Exchange 2007 environment to the Internet and vice versa. The Edge Transport role performs a number of functions including Anti-spam and Anti-virus protection. The Edge Transport uses connection-, content- and recipient filtering, SenderID, sender and IP reputation to reduce the amount of Spam delivered to the users inbox.

My next step is to install System Center Operation Manager 2007 Beta 2 (SCOM 2007) onto another server. I will use the Operation Manager to monitor my Exchange 2007 server whenever the Management Pack will be ready.  I just downloaded System Center Operation Manager 2007 Beta 2 and prepared my Windows 2003 R2 server. (see next post)

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