Exchange Server Version Comparison
Compare the features available in Exchange Server 2007 with features available in earlier versions, Exchange Server 2003, and Exchange Server 2000.
On This Page
 | Built-in Protection |
| Anywhere Access |
| Operational Efficiency |
Built-in Protection
Key: 
= Feature included 
= Feature not included
| Feature | Exchange Server 2000 | Exchange Server 2003 | Exchange Server 2007 |
| Anti-spam and Antivirus | |||
Virus Scanning Application Programming Interface (VSAPI) | | | |
Integrated IP based block and allow lists | | | |
Exchange Server Intelligent Message Filter (IMF) | |
| |
Frequent content filter updates to the IMF | |
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Distribution lists restricted to authenticated users | | | |
Support for Sender ID | |
| |
Attachment stripping in Outlook Web Access | | | |
Perimeter network protection using the Edge Transport Server - domain membership not required | | | |
Automatic spam signature, IP reputation, and content filter (IMF) updates | | |
|
Dynamic analysis of sender reputation | | | |
Attachment stripping on the Edge or Hub Transport server roles | | | |
EdgeSync for recipient filtering and safe sender respect | | | |
Microsoft Office Outlook E-mail Postmark validation | | | |
Anti-spam stamp - background on spam assessment | | | |
Two-tiered spam quarantine - administrator and end user | | | |
Antivirus stamp - track virus scanning history | | | |
Antivirus agent access to Exchange MIME parsing engine for robust transport level scanning | | | |
Edge Transport service resilience for inbound SMTP message receipt rate control - enables high availability | | | |
Open proxy detection to help prevent Denial of Service (DOS) and spam attacks | | | |
| Confidential Messaging | |||
Transport Layer Security (TLS) Encryption | | | |
Signed Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) requests to Active Directory service | | | |
Support for S/MIME enabled clients | | | |
Front-end and back-end Kerberos authentication | | | |
Outlook Web Access traffic encrypted by default using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) | | | |
Automatic intra-organization message encryption | | | |
| Compliance | |||
Journaling | | | |
Multi-mailbox search |
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Per user or per distribution list journaling | | |
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Retention and expiration policy application through Messaging Records Management | | | |
Managed Folders | | | |
Hub Transport rules | | | |
| Business Continuity | |||
Active/Passive clustering | | | |
Database backup via Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service | | | |
Eight-node clustering | | | |
Recovery storage groups | | | |
Continuous replication - built-in asynchronous replication of storage groups | | | |
Backup from database copy (local) or server (cluster) | | | |
Database portability - recovery to any server in the organization | | | |
A) With SP1 and above
B) With SP2, bi-weekly updates available
C) With Standard CAL, bi-weekly updates available; with Enterprise CAL or Forefront Security for Exchange Server, daily or more frequent updates available
D) With SP2
E) With Enterprise CAL or Forefront Security for Exchange Server, daily or more frequent updates available
F) Uses Microsoft Exchange Mailbox Merge
G) With Enterprise CAL
Anywhere Access
Key: = Feature included = Feature not included
| Feature | Exchange Server 2000 | Exchange Server 2003 | Exchange Server 2007 |
| Collaboration and Productivity | |||
Public folder access from Outlook | | | |
Outlook Anywhere (formerly known as RPC over HTTP) - access to Exchange from Outlook 2003 or later over HTTP, no tunnel or VPN required | |
| |
Resource Booking Attendant | |
| |
Calendar Attendant | | | |
| Unified Messaging | |||
Voice messaging system | | | |
Fax receiving system | | | |
Consolidated management for voice mail, e-mail, fax | | | |
Voice and fax messages delivered alongside e-mail in user inboxes | | | |
Voice mail client integration in Outlook Web Access and Outlook 2007 for in-place playback and note taking | | | |
Outlook Voice Access - speech-enabled dial-in access to e-mail, calendar, contacts, voice mail and corporate directory | | | |
Speech-enabled automated attendant | | | |
| Web-Based Messaging | |||
Outlook Web Access - Outlook-like web e-mail client | | | |
Search | | | |
GZIP compression | | | |
Forms-based authentication | | | |
Global address list access | | | |
Spell check | | | |
Tasks | | | |
Scheduling Assistant | | | |
WebReady Document Viewing | | | |
LinkAccess to SharePoint document libraries and UNC file shares | | | |
Information Rights Management (IRM) pre-licensing to speed up access to protected content | | | |
Schedulable Out of Office messages | | | |
Out of Office messages configurable by internal or external recipient | | | |
Self-service Unified Messaging PIN reset | | | |
Self-service remote wipe of Exchange ActiveSync mobile devices | | | |
Public folder access | | |
|
Support for rules | | |
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Support for S/MIME | | |
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| Mobile Messaging | |||
Exchange ActiveSync | | | |
Direct Push of e-mail, calendar, contacts, tasks | |
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Data protection using remote wipe, local wipe, enforced pins and policies | |
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GZIP compression | |
| |
Support for a range of devices through Exchange ActiveSync protocol | | | |
Per user device policies | | | |
Over-the-air search of the remote mailbox from mobile device | | | |
Out of Office set from the device | | | |
Support for HTML e-mail | | | |
Improved meeting handling - reply with message or forward | | | |
Support for S/MIME | |
|
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A) Requires Windows Server 2003 or later
B) Requires Auto Accept Agent for certain functionality
C) Unified Messaging requires Enterprise CAL
D) Not available at Release to Manufacturing (RTM)
E) With SP2
F) With SP1
Operational Efficiency
Key: = Feature included = Feature not included
| Feature | Exchange Server 2000 | Exchange Server 2003 | Exchange Server 2007 |
| Performance and Scalability | |||
Cached Exchange Mode (Outlook 2003 or later) | | | |
Suppression of Out of Office messages to distribution lists | | | |
Native x64 application | | | |
Storage optimization; alternatives for less expensive storage (direct attached storage, iSCSI) | | | |
Active Directory site-based routing | | | |
Bandwidth optimization through efficient, schedulable, prioritized routing | | | |
| Administration | |||
Automatic error reporting | | | |
Exchange Best Practice Analyzer support for tuning and optimization | | | |
Exchange Troubleshooting Assistant support for mail flow, database, and performance issues | | | |
Exchange Management Console | | | |
Multiple Windows forest support | | | |
Free/busy visibility across forests |
|
| |
Management Pack for Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) | | | |
Public folder management |
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|
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Internet Mail Connection Wizard | | | |
Cross-forest Kerberos authentication with Outlook 2003 or later | | | |
Dynamic distribution lists | | | |
Multi-user move mailbox capabilities | | | |
Queues centralized on a per-server basis | | | |
Exchange Management Console discoverability improvements | | | |
Exchange Management Shell - command line interface | | | |
Toolbox built in to Exchange Management Console | | | |
Visibility to multiple queues at a time | | | |
Automatic server updates and patches | | | |
Integration of Exchange Analyzers in Exchange Management Console toolbox | | | |
Flexible permissions model - integrated with Active Directory | | | |
| Deployment | |||
Deployment and management by server role | | | |
Exchange Best Practices Analyzer integrated in setup - pre-requisite checks automatic | | | |
Single migration engine | | | |
Autodiscover - Outlook 2007 automatic discovery and profile configuration | | | |
Scriptable deployment using Exchange Management Shell | | | |
| Extensibility and Programmability | |||
Collaboration Data Objects (CDO) | | |
|
WebDAV API | | | |
Outlook Web Access Web Parts | | | |
Web services API | | | |
.Net integration via Exchange Management Shell | | | |
Free/Busy Web service | | | |
A) Using Inter-Organization Replication Tool
B) Using the Exchange Management Console
C) Using the Exchange Management Shell
D) Collaboration Data Objects (CDO) for Workflow and Collaboration Data Objects for Exchange Management (CDOEXM) cut: see the Discontinued Features and De-Emphasized Functionality on the Exchange Server TechCenter for alternatives and more information.
E) With SP1
For More Information
For a more complete list of features available in Exchange Server 2007, see Exchange Server 2007 Features.
For information about new features and functionality in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1, see What's New in Exchange Server 2007 SP1.
For a list of features and functionality that are discontinued or deemphasized in Exchange Server 2007, please see Discontinued Features and De-Emphasized Functionality.