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Exchange 2007
Exchange 2007's predecessor, Exchange 2003, even with the separate but related Live Communications Server 2005 added still does not qualify to be called a true 'Unified Communications' platform. The reason is, even that combination does not handle the part of telephony. That support now exists in Exchange 2007. We are going to setup Exchange 2007 and look at the the options it has to offer towards 'unified communications'.
Exchange does not implement a very high level of call and presence management, but provides just the basic elements for it. For instance, you can create as many dial-plans (rules for what number patterns a user can dial), but you can associate only one of them at a time with a particular user.
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| Once UM role is configured, users can use Outlook (mail client, Web Access or Voice Access) to connect to Exchange and access mail, voice mail and fax messages |
Getting started
Before you go ahead to install Exchange 2007, you need to have quite a few things handy. For instance, it will work only on a 64-bit system, with the 64-bit edition of Windows 2003. This also means you need 64-bit drivers for your system for optimal performance. Also make sure the server has at least 1 GB of RAM. For VoIP gateways, you should have something like Asterisk (described elsewhere in this story) or Cisco Call Manager installed that tracks and manages VoIP components on your network. PBX networks also be managed by VoIP management software or have their own management software --- like ones from Avaya, Siemens and NEC --- and these can work with Exchange 2007 as well.
We installed a fresh system in our Labs and even after installing Windows Server 2003 R2, quite a few updates were needed before the Exchange installation would start. This includes adding IIS, .NET Framework 2.0 x64 with a hot-fix, installing the Windows PowerShell (for running the new Exchange Management Shell), updates to TCPIP.SYS and MSDAPS.DLL, MS Core XML Services 6.0 and Windows Media Encoder 10 x64 with its Voice Codec. The Media Encoder component is required for Exchange 2007's TTS engine that's used by the Unified Messaging Role. You need to also raise the forest and domain functionality level to Native (2003) mode.
The installer will automatically check for these pre-requisites and warn you about needing to install them before you can go ahead. The list can change depending on what roles you select for installation. The default installation works in a 30-day trial mode until you enter the product key (can be done only post installation), that will promote it to either Standard or Enterprise edition of the product.
| Some UC Solutions |
| Cisco Unity: Call manager, presence management, voice, video and web conferencing, designer to create convergence applications.
Microsoft Exchange 2007: Messaging and conferencing, call management, Task lists, Document sharing.
NEC Voice Mail and Unified Messaging: Messaging, voice mail, call management (for hospitality industry).
Siemens HiPath Xpressions: Messaging, call management,
message playback.
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The UM Role
You need to select the 'Unified Messaging' role from the installation screen to get unified messaging. Once installed, you must create Dial plans, UM mailbox policies, IP gateways and Auto attendants. Dial plans let you configure what kinds of numbers a user can call (for example: local extensions, outside numbers, international numbers and so on). Mailbox policies (for UC) let you setup dialing restrictions on where users can call-within the dial plan, to local extensions-the kind of national and international number patterns they can dial. UM IP gateways route communications between our Exchange box and an IP PBX. Auto attendants will automatically pick up calls that come to specific (configured) extensions, process them and maybe forward them to a different line or mailbox.
Client access
Users can call in to the Exchange 2007 server using Outlook 2003 or 2007. Messages from their voice and fax accounts will be organized into separate (read only) folders labeled 'Voice Mail' and 'Fax' respectively, within the 'Search Folders' node in the folder tree. These are also accessible from the web front-end. The web front end is slightly revamped from the 2003 with a more detailed 'Options' screen that lets users manage their mobile devices (for use with ActiveSync). Users can also view the calendars of other users with free/busy schedules when they search for them from the global address book.
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