Exchange Server is an Internet-compliant messaging system that runs under Windows NT and can be accessed by Web browsers, the Windows Inbox, Exchange client or Outlook. Exchange Server is also a storage system that can hold anything that needs to be shared.
Exchange Server is a component of the Microsoft Back office Suite ,it runs only
with NT Server. It won't run on top of Workstation or Windows 98 even
though both are 32 bit operating systems they can't support Exchange
Server. Exchange is an example of an object oriented system, each object
has attributes and can interact with other objects, serving as containers.
Object orientation makes it easy to distribute Exchange Server's functionality
and management, and it makes it easy for you to administer an Exchange Server
environment.
NT Server runs on computers based on single and multiple Intel and DEC Alpha processors so it is very easy to scale an Exchange Server upward to more powerful hardware when increased user loads make it necessary to add additional processing power. Exchange Server comes with an application called LoadSim that is used to simulate a range of user loads on your hardware, then by analysing the results of the LoadSim tests you will get some idea of the messaging loads you can expect your server to handle and when upgrading will be necessary.
Exchange Sever security starts with NT Server's security, of which there are several different security models available, NT Server also has auditing which can tell you when a user tries to add, delete or access system resources. The security of Exchange Sever is enhanced in several ways beyond that of NT, access to Exchange Server objects such as public folders can be limited by the creator of the folder. Data encryption on the server and client protects messages and other Exchange resources from easedropping by those with server, client or internet access and digital signatures prove the authenticity of a message even traffic between servers can be encrypted.
The Exchange client includes an e-mail client with server based rules, forms
design, threaded discussions and group calendaring and scheduling. The Inbox is
a limited version of the Exchange client that comes on Windows 95 and NT
desktops.
Outlook can be used as the Exchange client, adding features such as richer
forms design, group contact and task management, journaling (tracking hourly
billing), message recall (unread messages can be pulled back), shared folders
and freeform notes.
