Collection: Exchange Server 2003 (4)

1.    What are the considerations for obtaining a digital certificate for SSL on Exchange?

2.    Name a few 3rd-party CAs.

            Verisign, Entrust, GlobalSign, Comodo, Thawte, Geotrust

3.    What do you need to consider when using a client-type AV software on an Exchange server?

4.    What are the different clustering options in Exchange 2003? Which one would you choose and why.

       It is not sufficient to simply upgrade front-end servers to Exchange 2003 for users to get the new interface.

You must upgrade back-end servers to Exchange 2003 as well

Interface matrix

Ex2000 FE + Ex2000 BE = Ex2000 OWA
Ex2003 FE + Ex2000 BE = Ex2000 OWA
Ex2000 FE + Ex2003 BE = Not supported (AG protected)
Ex2003 FE + Ex2003 BE = Ex2003 OWA

Ability to Reply and Forward to Messages and Posts in Public Folders is only enabled when the client is using a front-end server. Forms-based authentication (FBA) is functional for deployments where the FE is Exchange 2003, but the mailbox is still on Exchange 2000. However, session timeouts are handled much better if the BE are also Exchange 2003

5.    Checking the Exchange Service Pack Level

Follow the instructions provided below:

1. Open Windows Explorer and go to the install folder of the Exchange server.

2. From the BIN directory, search for and select STORE.exe.

3. From to the Explorer menu, select File > Properties to view the properties of STORE.exe. Alternatively, you can right-click on STORE.exe to view the properties.

4.Select the Version tab to view the Exchange Service Pack Level of the Microsoft Exchange server.

6.    HOW TO Configure Connectors to Reject Messages from Specific

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Exchange, and then click System Manager.

2. Expand the Administrative Groups object, expand the First Administrative Group object, expand the Routing Groups object, and then expand the routing group that you want to work with.

3. Expand the Connectors container, right-click the connector that you want to work with, and then click Properties.

4. Click the Delivery Restrictions tab.

5. Under By default, messages from everyone are, make sure that Accepted is selected.

6. Under Reject messages from, click Add.

7. In the Select Recipient dialog box, click the users, contacts, and groups from which you do not want to accept messages. All other senders are accepted automatically.

Note To select a group of recipients, press and hold the CTRL key while you select the recipients.

8. Click OK twice.

Note After you complete the procedure, enable restriction checking in the registry

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Collection: Exchange Server 2003 (3)

101.      What is a Smart Host? Where would you configure it? 

Smarthosts are used to connect Exchange Server to an external (to the organization) messaging system. Typical use of a smarthost involves relaying outbound SMTP email to a non-Exchange SMTP host in perimeter networks; or to an ISP or hosted service provider that may offer functionality like mail relaying and spam and virus scanning

A smarthost is a common term for a server that accepts outbound mail and passes it on to the recipient.

A smart host is a type of mail relay server which allows an SMTP server to route e-mail to an intermediate mail server rather than directly to the recipient’s server. Often this smart host requires authentication from the sender to verify that the sender has privileges to have mail forwarded through the smart host. This is an important distinction from an open relay that will forward mail from the sender without authentication. Common authentication techniques inc Set Up Private Outbound DNS

Route mail to Outbound Services by setting up an external DNS server. For an overview of Private Outbound DNS concepts, see Alternate Option: Set up Private Outbound DNS.

1.	Select the Start Menu -> Programs -> Microsoft Exchange -> System Manager.
2.	Expand the top level -> Servers -> <Your Mail Server> -> Protocols -> SMTP.

3.	Right-click Default SMTP Virtual Server & select Properties.

4.	Click the Delivery Tab.

5.	Click Advanced to go to the Advanced Delivery dialog box.

6.	If you have a Smarthost set to point to Outbound Services for mail filtering, clear the Smarthost. The Private Outbound DNS will replace your Smarthost for routing.
7.	Click Configure.

8.	Click Add and enter the appropriate IP address for your system. Click OK.

Collection: Exchange Server 2003 (2)

1.    TELL ME WHY WE R USEING EXCHANGE SERVER?

This is a mail server. We can use this Server to send mails in Intranet as well as outside.

2.    What is a smart host?

A smart host is a common term for a server that accepts outbound mail and passes it on to the recipient.

DNS-

This is the standard for sending mail. When Exchange needs to send mail to another domain it will look for the MX records of that domain and will attempt to contact the mail server directly.

Smart host-

In this case Exchange takes your outgoing mail and sends it to another mail server (which is called a “smart host”, hence the name). The smart host will deliver your mail to the other mail servers on your behalf. This is exactly what you do when you use Outlook Express to send mail using your ISP SMTP servers.

3.     An Exchange server is having bandwidth issues, explain how you would look at fixing the issue?

4.    What are the different Exchange 2003 versions?          

Standard Exchange version, Enterprise Exchange version and Small Business Server.

5.     What are the main differences between Exchange 5.5 and Exchange 2000/2003?

The primary differences are.
-Exchange 2000 does not have its own directory or directory service; it uses Active Directory instead.
-Exchange 2000 uses native components of Windows 2000 (namely, IIS and its SMTP, NNTP, W3SVC and other components, Kerberos and others) for many core functions.
-SMTP is now a full peer to RPC, and is it the default transport protocol between Exchange 2000 servers.
-Exchange 2000 supports Active/Active clustering and was recently certified for Windows 2000 Datacenter.
-Exchange 2000 scales much higher.
-It boasts conferencing services and instant messaging.

6.    What are the major network infrastructures for installing Exchange 2003?

Hardware Requirements
There are several factors that affect the hardware requirements for Exchange Server 2003: the number of users that will be accessing the server; the size and number of messages transferred on a daily basis (not to mention during peak usage periods); availability requirements; and so on. These factors will have a significant influence on the type of hardware you use for your deployment.

Component                           Minimum requirements

Processor                         Pentium 133

Operating system                         Windows 2000 Server + SP3

Memory                                     256 megabyte (MB)

Disk space                        200 MB on system drive, 500 MB on partition where Exchange Server 2003 is installed

Drive                               CD-ROM drive

Display                                       VGA or better

File system                       All partitions involving Exchange Server 2003 must be NTFS file system (NTFS), including

■System partition

■Partition storing Exchange binaries

■Partition containing Exchange database files

■Partition containing Exchange transaction logs

■Partitions containing other Exchange files.

Collection: Exchange Server 2003 (1)

MS Exchange Interview Questions

1.    What must be done to an AD forest before Exchange can be deployed? 

- Setup.exe /forestprep

2.    What Exchange process is responsible for communication with AD?

- DSACCESS

3.    What 3 types of domain controller does Exchange access? 

-  Normal Domain Controller, Global Catalog, Configuration Domain Controller

4.  What connector type would you use to connect to the Internet, and what are the two methods of sending mail over that connector? 

SMTP Connector: Forward to smart host or use DNS to route to each address

5.    How would you optimize Exchange 2003 memory usage on a Windows Server 2003 server with more than 1 GB of memory? 

 Add /3Gb switch to boot.ini

6.    Name the process names for the following: 

     System Attendant- MAD.EXE, Information Store – STORE.EXE, SMTP/POP/IMAP/OWA – INETINFO.EXE

7.    What is the maximum amount of databases that can be hosted on Exchange 2003 Enterprise? 

-  20 databases. 4 SGs x 5 DBs.