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RollOut: Microsoft Exchange 2007 Beta 2: Page 2 of 6

Our tests of the Exchange 2007 beta revealed many useful features, especially pertaining to Web access. Its architecture and management interface have been redesigned, and Microsoft has added UM (unified messaging) features, such as access to voicemail and speech recognition. Outlook has gotten some incremental upgrades, such as useful calendar improvements, but Outlook Web Access, a Webmail client, has had a major, and successful, face-lift.

Improved Administration

Among the significant changes to Exchange's architecture is the move to 64-bit processing, along with a shift in the approach to server roles, which should improve scalability and security, though it won't be possible to gauge actual speed increases until the software is released.

This rollout marks the first time Microsoft is requiring x64-based
hardware and software, including Windows Server 2003 x64. Microsoft
will not be supporting a Win32 executable in production servers, but
will offer one for trial and training purposes.

The server can be installed in any of five roles: edge, hub transport, client access, mailbox and unified messaging, and you can run multiple role on the same server. This structure lets an IT admin distribute load and place servers in key locations. The edge server handles message hygiene and antispam, but is not part of the Active Directory domain. Hub servers route traffic. The client-access server makes connections to mobile devices, e-mail applications and OWA (Outlook Web Access). Mailbox servers hold all the users' mailboxes. Finally, The UM server handles voicemail and fax integration.