Exchange Server 2007 Interview Questions & Answers

Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Interview Questions & Answers

1. What are the same between Exchange Server 2000/2003 and Exchange Server 2007?

• Core infrastructure of Exchange Server 2000/2003 versus Exchange Server 2007 is same, both are using the same JET EDB database as the database store.
• Exchange Server 2007 still has the concept of a Mailbox Server where EDBs are stored: Storage Groups remain the same where databases are created.
• Users can use the Microsoft Outlook client and can access Exchange using OWA.
• Exchange Server 2007 still uses the VSS Backup application programming interface (API) to freeze the state of the Exchange database to perform a backup of the Exchange database.

2. What's missing in Exchange Server 2007, that was in previous versions? 

• The STM database introduced in Exchange Server 2000 has been removed, Microsoft incorporated the streaming database into a new single EDB database file.
• From administration point, Administrative Group and Routing Group introduced in Exchange Server 2000 have removed.
• Microsoft noted that Public Folder is deemphasized in Exchange Server 2007. Not completely removed. Replaced by SharePoint Server 2007.
• New Exchange Administration Tool.
• Exchange Scripting Language.
• Removal of Front-End and Bridgehead Servers with new server roles.
• Runs on x64 bit platform.

3. What's new in Exchange Management Console?
EMC looks similar to Exchange Server Manager ; Exchange Server 2007 now organizes objects as a whole. Administrator can see all users, all servers, and all resources in the Exchange organization in a single view. The Exchange Administrator can regroup users, computers, and resources into smaller delegation groups.

4. What are the security features introduced in Exchange Server 2007?

• Edge Transport Server – placed on the Edge of the Network replaced the Frontend server, functionalities includes virus and spam blocking, perform antivirus and anti spam filtering, and route the messages internal to the organization.
• Hub Transport Server – replaced the bridgehead server act as a policy compliance server,
• TLS – includes server to server Transport Layer Security for server – server message transport with a secured manner. It’s an Encryption technology.
• Encryption – by default Exchange 2007 encrypts the content between exchange server 2007 and outlook 2007 client. Provides full support for certificate based PKI.

5. Name the reliable and recoverable features in Exchange server 2007?

Exchange 2007 holds to copies of user information in the network with the help of reliable and recoverability features introduced.

• Local Continuous Replication – Two copies of user information in another drive (same server)
• Cluster continuous Replication – holds the replication of information across the server
• Single Copy Cluster – configured in SAN, DAS, and ISCSI etc. NAS not supported
• Snapshot Backup – supported by third party vendors

6. What is Exchange Management Shell?

It is a command line utility introduced in Exchange server 2007, which provides an administrator the ability to configure, administer, and manage an Exchange 2007 server environment using text commands instead of solely a graphical user interface (GUI).

7. Name the Exchange server 2007 Roles?

• Edge Transport Server Role – Function as firewall, providing Anti Spam and Anti virus protection for Exchange
• Hub Transport Server Role – replaced the bridgehead server, handles message routing
• Client Access Server Role – introduced newly, handles the client connection, function as Front end Server
• Mailbox Server Role – replaced the Backend server, holds the mailboxes and Public Folder Database
• Unified Messaging Server Role – messaging solution for mobile devices, OVA etc

8. Explain Edge Transport Role?

The Edge Transport Server Role is to transfer mails from inside of your organization to the outside world. This role installed on the edge of your network (perimeter Network). Main purpose is to prevent your exchange server from all kinds of Attack. Must have ports 25 (SMTP) and 50636 (LDAPS) open from it to the hub transport server on the internal LAN.  Port 25 is to send mail in.  Port 50636 is to replicate the Exchange information that it needs, such as changes to users’ safe and blocked senders lists

9. Explain Hub Transport Role?

The Main Purpose of the Hub Transport Server Role is to transfer the mails throughout you exchange, This server role is responsible for internal mail flow, This Server role replace the bridge head servers of Exchange server 2003. This can be used as an edge transport server in Smaller Organization. This must be the first role installed in Exchange 2007.  You can install the client access server role and the mailbox server role at the same time as the hub transport role, but not before.

10. Explain Client Access Server Role?

The role that handles client requests for OWA, Outlook Anywhere, ActiveSync, OVA and offline address book distribution. This role must be installed after the hub transport role and before the mailbox server role.  You can install the mailbox server role at the same time as the client access role, but not before.

11. Explain Mailbox Server Role?

Mailbox Server holds the Mailbox database and Public folder databases for your organization. It only retains the mailbox and it won’t transfer your mails. Transferring mails between your mailbox server are handled by Hub Transport servers. The mailbox server roles will be introduced only after the installation of Hub Transport Server and Client Access Server Roles. If we are installing Mailbox server with the clustering options Like CCR, SCC, or SCR, then no other server roles to be installed with this server role.

12. Explain Unified Messaging Server Role?

Functions as the interface point for the VOIP gateway or IP-PBX phone system. This Role uses the user mailboxes to be the single point for storage and access of voice mail and fax messages, in addition to their normal email.

13. Difference between Standard and Enterprise edition of Exchange server

If we choose Enterprise Edition, We can have

Exchange Server 2007

50 storage group / 5 Database in single storage group – Maximum of 50 Database, Recommended having 1 database per storage group

Exchange Server 2003

4 Storage Groups / 5 Database in single Storage group – Mailbox database and Public Folder Database can be combined

If we choose Standard Edition, We can have

Exchange Server 2007

5 storage group / 5 Database in single storage group – Maximum of 50 Database, Recommended having 1 database per storage group

Exchange Server 2003

1 storage group / 2 Database (Mailbox & public folder database) in single storage group – In which contain 1 Mailbox Database and 1 Public Folder Database

14. What are the supportable client connections available in Client Access Server?

• Outlook Web Access (OWA)
• Exchange ActiveSync
• Outlook Anywhere (formerly RPC over HTTP)
• Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3)
• Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP4)

15. What are the two special services available in CAS?

Auto discover service—The Auto discover service allows clients to determine their Synchronization settings (such as Mailbox server and so on) by entering in their SMTP address and their credentials. It is supported across standard OWA connections.

Availability service—The Availability service is the replacement for Free/Busy functionality in Exchange 2000/2003. It is responsible for making a user’s calendar availability visible to other users making meeting requests.

16. What is OWA?

OWA is to access the mail via browser from outside the corporate network. The Outlook Web Access (OWA) client is now nearly indistinguishable from the full Outlook client. The one major component missing is offline capability, but nearly every other Outlook functionality is part of OWA.

17. What is Exchange Active sync?

ActiveSync provides for synchronized access to email from a handheld device, such as a Pocket PC or other Windows Mobile device. It allows for real-time send and receives functionality to and from the handheld, through the use of push technology.

18. What is Outlook Anywhere?

Outlook Anywhere (previously known as RPC over HTTP) is a method by which a full Outlook client can dynamically send and receive messages directly from an Exchange server over an HTTP or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) web connection. This allows for virtual private network (VPN)–free access to Exchange data, over a secured HTTPS connection.

19. What is POP3?

The Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) is a legacy protocol that is supported in Exchange 2007. POP3 enables simple retrieval of mail data via applications that use the POP3 protocol. Mail messages, however, cannot be sent with POP3 and must use the SMTP engine in Exchange. By default, POP3 is not turned on and must be explicitly activated.

20. What is IMAP4?

Legacy Interactive Mail Access Protocol (IMAP) access to Exchange is also available, which can enable an Exchange server to be accessed via IMAP applications, such as some UNIX mail clients. As with the POP3 protocol, IMAP support must be explicitly turned on.

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