2000, 2003 & 2007 Exchange Server

Version Comparison
Published: November 1, 2006 | Updated: November 30, 2006

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 Exchange Exchange

Server 2000 Server 2003 Server 2007
Anti-spam and Antivirus
Virus Scanning Application
Programming Interface
(VSAPI)
Integrated IP based block and
allow lists
Exchange Server Intelligent A
Message Filter (IMF)
Frequent content filter updates B C
to the IMF
Distribution lists restricted to
authenticated users
Support for Sender ID D
Attachment stripping in
Outlook Web Access
Perimeter network protection
using the Edge Transport Server
- domain membership not
required
Feature Exchange Exchange Exchange
Server 2000 Server 2003 Server 2007
Automatic spam signature, IP E
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
Feature Exchange Exchange Exchange
Server 2000 Server 2003 Server 2007
message encryption
Compliance
Journaling
Multi-mailbox search F F
Per user or per distribution list G
journaling
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

Top of page

Anywhere Access
Key: = Feature included = Feature not included

Feature Exchange Exchange Exchange

Server 2000 Server 2003 Server 2007
Collaboration and Productivity
Public folder access from
Outlook
Outlook Anywhere (formerly A
known as RPC over HTTP) -
access to Exchange from
Outlook 2003 or later over
HTTP, no tunnel or VPN
required
Resource Booking Attendant B
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
Feature Exchange Exchange Exchange
Server 2000 Server 2003 Server 2007
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 F
Support for rules F
Support for S/MIME F
Mobile Messaging
Exchange ActiveSync
Direct Push of e-mail, calendar, E
contacts, tasks
Data protection using remote E
wipe, local wipe, enforced pins
and policies
GZIP compression E
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 E F

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

Top of page

Operational Efficiency
Key: = Feature included = Feature not included

Feature Exchange Exchange Exchange

Server 2000 Server 2003 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 A A
forests
Management Pack for
Feature Exchange Exchange Exchange
Server 2000 Server 2003 Server 2007
Microsoft Operations Manager
(MOM)
Public folder management B B E
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 D
(CDO)
Feature Exchange Exchange Exchange
Server 2000 Server 2003 Server 2007
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