For accessing the contacts, emails, online calenders an efficient remote access is needed. In order to meet the above requirements MS exchange server is designed by the Microsoft company.
It is the server side of the client-server application product and this comes under the line of Microsoft servers. The main features of MS exchange servers are calendering, contacts, tasks, support for mobile web based information, gives support for data storage.
By adding new features which are demanded by the customers and de-emphasizing outdated features Microsoft has released so many versions.
These are some of the released versions which are under usage.
- Exchange Server 1.0: This version is supported by windows 95, Windows 98 and windows NT 4.0. Earlier the Microsoft exchange is called as the windows messaging.
- Exchange Server 4.0: Microsoft mail 3.5 has been upgraded into Exchange server 4.0 and it was released on 11th June 1996.
- Exchange Server 5.0: This was released on 23rd May 1997. In this version, for managing and configuring the exchange server new exchange Administrator Console has been introduced.
- Exchange Server 5.5: This version was released in Nov, 1997. They differ from the versions in data base store size, mail transport connectors, clustering capabilities. Both the editions standard and the enterprise editions were sold.
- Exchange Server 2000: This was released on 29th November 2000. Many limitations of the previous exchange editions are met. This version of server is used for supporting instant messaging.
- Exchange Server 2003: Some new features over the previous additions are introduced. Several filtering methods are introduced in this version. It was released on 28th September 2003.
- Exchange server 2007: This bought new added features for improving both the performance and the security features. Different features like increase in the data base maximum, improved information worker access, improved IT experience etc. It was released on 30th November 2006.
- Exchange server 2010: It was released on 29th October 2009. Changes havr been made in both storage and the cluster features. Clustering is done at the database level not at the server level. Storage groups are eliminated and introduced at the information store.
These are the different versions of MS Exchange server. Each one has its own features.