MS2009 Upgrading Your Skills from Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003

Module 1: Installing and Upgrading to Exchange Server 2003 (Self-study)

A requirement of a messaging administrator may be to install Exchange Server 2003 on newly acquired hardware. Because of this requirement, it is necessary for the administrator to know how to perform a clean installation of Exchange Server 2003. The administrator also needs to know how to install and use the tools that are needed to manage Exchange Server 2003.

Because of the complexity involved in upgrading to Exchange Server 2003 from previous versions of Exchange, the administrator may not perform any upgrade tasks. However, it is still beneficial for the administrator to understand the overall upgrade process.

Installing Exchange Server 2003 and the accompanying administrative tools is only the first step in getting a production server functioning correctly. To get a production server functioning correctly, the final two tasks to complete are covered in Module 2 and Module 3.

Lessons

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Module 2: Configuring and Managing Exchange Server 2003

After an administrator installs Exchange Server 2003, he or she must configure the server to run in their messaging environment. Configuration tasks include setting up Exchange policies to simplify administration and configuring Exchange Server so that the administrator can proactively manage server performance. If the administrators use both Exchange Server 2003 and Exchange 2000 Server in their messaging environment, they must also effectively manage this mixed environment.

This module describes how to configure and manage a newly installed server running Exchange Server 2003 by using the tools that are in Exchange Server 2003 and in the Windows Server 2003 family.

Lessons

Practices

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Module 3: Securing Exchange Server 2003

After installing and configuring Exchange Server 2003, the administrator will need to secure the Exchange Server. Securing the Exchange Server is the final step of the three-step process of installing a new Exchange server in the actual environment. (Module 1 and 2 constitute the first two steps in this overall process.) Securing Exchange Server 2003 involves implementing antivirus strategies, implementing digital signatures and encryption features, and configuring firewalls, as well as setting administrative permissions.

Lessons

Practices

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Module 4: Managing Recipients (Self-study)

Exchange Server 2003 recipients include Exchange users, contacts, and groups. Because Exchange Server 2003 maintains its directory information in the Microsoft Active Directory directory service, an administrator manages Exchange recipients by using Active Directory Users and Computers. Additionally, an administrator can use scripting utilities to make bulk changes to the Exchange recipient information that is stored in Active Directory.

Lessons

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Module 5: Managing Public Folders (Self-study)

Public folders are an integral part of the Exchange Server 2003 messaging system. Public folders enable users in an Exchange organization to share information by using a variety of file formats. Managing public folders involves managing public folder data, as well as network access to public folders. An Exchange administrator's primary tool for managing public folders is Exchange System Manager.

Lessons

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Module 6: Managing Address Lists

Users who use Exchange Server as their e-mail server typically search for other e-mail users in their company by using the global address list (GAL), which includes all the e-mail messaging recipients, including contacts with external addresses and distribution groups, in the Exchange organization. Administrators use Exchange System Manager in Exchange Server 2003 to simplify management of address lists. Administrators also use Exchange System Manager to create custom address lists that meet users' specific needs and that help them find e-mail addresses faster.

Lessons

Practices

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Module 7: Implementing and Managing Client Access with Internet Protocols

Outlook Web Access enables users to gain access to their mailboxes by using an Internet browser. Outlook Web Access also allows users access to data that is in public folders, network shared folders, and on company intranets.

Lessons

Practices

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Module 8: Managing Client Configuration and Connectivity (Self-study)

Frequently, users ask messaging administrators to assist them with configuring their e-mail software or setting up specific collaborative features. This module introduces client configuration and connectivity concepts and demonstrates the common tasks that are associated with configuring and customizing Outlook 2003, including performing calendaring tasks in Outlook 2003, and installing and configuring Microsoft Outlook Express.

Lessons

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Module 9: Managing Routing

Messaging administrators assemble servers running Exchange Server 2003 into routing groups to control message traffic and to help Exchange route messages more efficiently. Configuring routing groups and managing their connectivity to the Internet are important parts of an administrator's day-to-day job.

Lessons

Practices

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Module 10: Managing Mobile Devices with Exchange Server 2003

This module introduces students to the new mobility feature of Exchange Server 2003.

Lessons

Practices

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Module 11: Managing Data Storage and Hardware Resources

To manage and optimally use Exchange data storage, messaging administrators must understand how Exchange Server 2003 stores data and what storage technologies it uses. Administrators must also understand what effects hardware components have on Exchange performance and the steps that they can take to improve performance.

Lessons

Practices

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Module 12: Planning for and Recovering from Disasters

The importance of preparing for the disaster recovery of the messaging system cannot be overemphasized. This module discusses not only how to create a planning document for disaster recovery, but it also explains the various procedures that are involved in backing up and restoring the messaging system.

Lessons

Practices

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Module 13: Performing Preventive Maintenance

Preventative maintenance is the key to ensuring the availability and reliability of the messaging system. By categorizing and scheduling maintenance tasks accordingly, messaging administrators can approach their administrative tasks in an organized, systematic manner.

Lessons

Practices

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Module 14: Migrating Users from Exchange Server 5.5 to Exchange Server 2003

Because it is common for companies to merge, many messaging administrators must implement messaging deployment plans to support the merging of established messaging systems. This module teaches administrators how to migrate the Exchange Server 5.5 messaging system of a company running a Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 domain into the Exchange Server 2003 messaging system of another company running Windows Server 2003 and Active Directory. These same steps can also be used to merge two organizations that use either Exchange 2000 or Exchange 2003.

Lessons

Practices

After completing this module, students will be able to: