How many Server Roles does Exchange Server have?

Exchange Server has five distinct Server Roles, each serving a specific purpose within the Exchange architecture. Understanding these roles is essential for effectively managing and deploying Exchange Server in an organization.

The five Server Roles in Exchange Server are:

1. Mailbox Server Role: This role manages mailbox databases and holds the mailboxes themselves. It is responsible for storing data and handling all mailbox-related functions, including email storage, calendar items, and more.

2. Client Access Server Role: This role facilitates client connections to the Exchange environment. It manages all client requests, providing access to mail, calendar, and other Exchange services via various protocols such as Outlook Web Access (OWA) and Exchange ActiveSync.

3. Transport Service Role: This role is responsible for mail flow within the Exchange environment and the routing of messages between different servers. It handles the SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) communications necessary for message delivery.

4. Unified Messaging Server Role: This role allows integration between voice messages and email, providing features such as voicemail and fax. It enables users to access voice communication through their email systems and vice versa.

5. Edge Transport Server Role: This role is typically situated in the perimeter network and helps with securing email communication coming