Understanding Exchange Server 2010 - A Beginner's Choice Part 1

Understanding Exchange Server 2010 - A Beginner's Choice Part 1

Exchange 2010 - A Brief overview

As per the request from many of my friends, I'm starting a new series which will be updated along with the other series, this series is focused more on basics of Exchange Server 2010.
And main creteria remains to keep it as small and simple as possible, And for those who wish to learn on deeper level I will make sure to provide technet urls as reference.

So lets get started.

And to start with, lets speak about different roles of Exchange Server 2010.

Exchange 2010 Server is Role Based, which means it comes in following 5 server roles:

Mailbox Server
In simpler term, this server hosts Mailboxes and public folders.

Client Access Server
This is the server that hosts the client protocols, such as Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3), Internet Message Access Protocol 4 (IMAP4), Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS), Outlook Anywhere, Availability service, and Autodiscover service. The Client Access Server also hosts Web services.

Unified Messaging Server
This is the server that connects a Private Branch eXchange (PBX) system to Exchange 2010.

Hub Transport Server
This is the mail routing server that routes mail within and outside* the Exchange organization.
* Default configuration is to route mails within the organisation.

Edge Transport Server
This is the mail routing server that typically sits at the perimeter of the topology and routes mail in to and out of the Exchange organization.

One can choose to install Exchange 2010 Mailbox Server Role, Client Access Server Role, Hub Transport Server Role and Unified Messaging Server Role all on one server or on seperate servers.

Yes, i know some will have a question in mind, hey, you missed Edge Transport Server Role.
Actually not, that role cannot be installed along with any other roles, and needs seperate server.

To know more about these in dept please refer to the below TechNet urls

Understanding Mailbox Server
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124699.aspx

Understanding Client Access
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124915

Understanding Unfied Messaging
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd351090

Understanding Hub Transport
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb123494.aspx

Understanding Edge transport
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124701.aspx

So thats about the different Roles of Exchange.
We will be talking more about overview in the next parts and finally step into Installation and Configurations.

So, Stay Tuned!