Deciding between a front-end and a back-end Exchange server

Physical location of Microsoft Exchange boxes is fairly irrelevant, ensuring network connectivity and software minimums are more important.

In addition, you talked about deploying a new machine in your infrastructure. Deciding between a front-end and...

a back-end server has more to do with the objectives you are attempting to accomplish.

Back-end servers are inside the corporate firewall, and provide a platform to house mailboxes. These servers are used through storage groups and databases.

Front-end servers are on the perimeter of the network, and optimize the configuration of Exchange by offering:

1. Single External Namespace
2. Offloads Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption and decryption for Outlook Web Access
3. Enhanced security
4. Improved public folder access and features
5. Increased IMAP access to public folders
6. Multiple protocol support

More detailed information is available from Microsoft in the Front-end and back-end server topology guide for Exchange Server 2003 and Exchange 2000 Server.

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Related information from SearchExchange.com:

Step-by-Step Guide: How to spec your Exchange hardware needs

Expert Advice: Is it possible to set up a clustered front-end Exchange server?

Resource Center: Exchange 2003 tips and resources

Primer: Server roles and Exchange hardware

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