What Is the Function of the Exchange Mail Server?

The job of Microsoft's Exchange Server is primarily to process email messages from a sender to recipients in a secure and timely way. Exchange Server is designed to give users access to email, voice mail, instant messaging and other communications from many platforms.

Background

• Exchange is a messaging system delivered under a client-server model, in which the client device is typically the personal computer with an email application installed, and the server device is typically a powerful computer that stores databases. Businesses purchase a license from Microsoft to run Exchange Server at their office for employees to send and receive emails.

Process

• Exchange Server takes several steps to process an email message. The client--typically a person at a PC who sends an email from his email application--connects to the Exchange Serer to send a message. The Exchange Server processes the message and stores it at a certain location in its database. Exchange Server also communicates to the recipient that the message has arrived. Finally, the recipient's client connects to the server to access the email.

Mobile Devices

• Exchange Server's ActiveSync technology allows users to synchronize their email messages, calendar appointments and contacts from their mobile device. This gives users rapid access to key information when they are not at their computers.