Dotservices offer computer help and IT consulting services for Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5, 2000, 2003 and for the entire family of Microsoft Servers

Our services includes assisting with the design of an Exchange 2003 environment, providing guidance on how to successfully migrate to Exchange 2003 (from Exchange v5.5, Exchange 2000, Lotus Notes, GroupWise, POP3 and other messaging systems)

Providing recommendations and hands-on assistance at extending Exchange to include e-mail retention, message archiving, document management, and information collaboration

Securing Exchange with solutions related to encrypted emails, content filtering, anti-spam / anti-virus scanning, and secure server lockdown

Architecting and implementing message, server, and environment disaster recovery with Exchange

Organizations are supposed to run maintenance practices on their Microsoft Exchange database on a regular basis (at least every 30-60 days), however few organizations follow these practices. When maintenance is not run, the databases get corrupt. To resolve the problem, an individual with experience at fixing the database corruption is needed.

Most of the time corruption and database inconsistencies are caused by one or more of the following scenarios:

Lack of Maintenance - Exchange databases tend to be subject to corruption. Many times, this corruption starts as a minor database glitch. If the databases are not properly maintained then as time goes on the problem escalates. When this happens, you may not even notice a problem until you stop and try to restart the Exchange services, only to find that they won't start. The scary thing about a situation such as this is that it often means that you've been backing up corrupt data for an extended period of time, and your backups may only contain corrupted data.

Improper shutdown - Exchange must commit all transactions from the log files to the databases in order to be consistent, therefore if a system is improperly shut down by an individual and or a server loses power the databases can become inconsistent and corrupt. Exchange will try to correct these issues upon a restart but sometimes it just can't make the corrections, therefore the databases will simply not start/mount.

Hardware - Server Hardware such as bad memory, failing hard disk and faulty motherboards can play havoc with an Exchange database.

Dotservices can help you define and implement an efficient in-place upgrade strategy that avoids business disruption, reduces long-term support requirements, and makes your Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 easy to administer. For complex multi-server or multi-site upgrades, Dotservices has the experience to complete your project quickly and affordably.

Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 delivers a reliable, scalable, and manageable infrastructure with 24×7 messaging and collaboration plus low cost of ownership.

Exchange 2003 offers improvements over Exchange 2000 Server in many important areas that include security, performance, and mobility.

Dotservices can improve your current exchange server, migrate from an older version or build it from scratch.
Benefits of Updating from Microsoft Exchange 5.5 Server

Exchange Server 2003 offers major improvements in functionality over Exchange 5.5 Server in key areas including accessibility, manageability, security, stability, capacity, and performance.
The 2003 version of MS-Exchange brings a dramatic increase in functionality over the Microsoft Exchange 5.5 web client.

Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 offers a nearly complete implementation of the familiar Outlook interface, including calendaring and tools. This means that mobile workers can have full, secure access to email even without a notebook. All they need is an Internet-connected computer with a standard web browser.
Unlike Microsoft Exchange 5.5, which has its own directory, Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 uses Active Directory, providing a greatly simplified administration and security model. This makes Exchange Server 2003 easier to manage and support and also offers tighter security.
Exchange Server 2003 has a strong foundation for seamlessly integrating third-party applications such as virus scanning packages and anti-spamming tools. Exchange Server 2003's strong Application Programming Interface (API) eliminates the instability associated with Exchange 5.5 when adding third-party utilities.
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 offers significantly improved capacity and performance over Exchange 5.5. This means that you can have more and bigger mailboxes and faster remote access.
Upgrading to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 also brings better searching ability, making it easier to retrieve vital information when you need it.
 

Benefits of Updating from Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server
Exchange Server 2003 offers improvements in functionality over Exchange 2000 Server in key areas including disaster recovery, performance, security, mobility, collaboration, and manageability.
The 2003 version of MS-Exchange features improved disaster recovery by adding support for eight-node clustering, cluster fallover time improvements, support for mount points which overcome the 24-drive letter limitation, standard storage area network (SAN) connectivity, Volume Shadow Copy service for database backup, a Mailbox Recovery Center tool, and a Restore Storage group.
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 enhances performance via features such as a /USERVA memory switch, public folder store replication improvements, distribution list caching improvements, and suppression of Out of Office messages.
 

Security enhancements offered by Exchange Server 2003 include Internet Protocol security (IPSec) support for front-end and back-end clusters, signed Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) requests to Active Directory, front-end and back-end Kerberos authentication, Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 security and dedicated application mode, restriction of distribution lists to authenticated users, real-time Safe and Block lists, inbound recipient filtering, attachment blocking in Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access, public folders permissions improvements for unknown users, and restricted submissions improvements.
Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server includes better support for mobile workers by adding an Outlook Web Access user interface (UI) and a broader Web Outlook feature set, Outlook 2003 performance improvements via MAPI compression, HTTP access from Outlook 2003, cHTML, xHTML and HTML mobile phone browser support, plus up-to-date notifications synchronization for Pocket PCs.
An advanced managed, remote accessible application programming interface (API) enhances collaborative development.
 

Manageability and serviceability are improved by centralizing queues on a per-server basis, improving the User Interface, exposing all system queues, enabling cookie authorization, using Exchange System Manager to move log files and queue data, including a multi-user Move Mailbox function, and adding dynamic distribution lists, public folder Send hierarchy, public folder Search capabilities, public folder Send Contents, and public folder affinity to control referrals.
Benefits of Migration from an ISP-based or POP3 Email System
If your small business is currently using an email system hosted by an ISP or if you are running your Outlook clients in POP3 mode, Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server offers an array of improved features in the areas of manageability, performance, capacity, availability, and collaboration:
 

Unlike the store-and-forward model used by POP3 email systems, Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Server uses a central-store model that frees users from dependence on a specific desktop or notebook computer, reduces vulnerability to hardware failure or virus attacks, and allows both on-line and off-line email, automatic backup, and sophisticated sharing and collaboration.
 

Exchange Server 2003 has powerful collaboration features that allow work groups to increase productivity by sharing calendaring, address books, messages and files.
The flexibility of Exchange Server 2003 makes it possible to add third-party security enhancements or accommodate wireless devices such as the RIM Blackberry wireless handheld.
 

Exchange Server 2003 supports powerful management and tracking tools so you can make sure your email system is operating efficiently.
Exchange Server 2003 allows full on-line backup without affecting users, enabling 24x7 operation by eliminating scheduled downtime and maintenance blackouts.