Applies to: Exchange Server 2007, Exchange Server 2007 SP1 Topic Last Modified: 2007-06-04

In Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, there are five server roles that you can install and then configure on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows Server 2003. This topic provides an overview of the Mailbox server role.

The Mailbox server role hosts mailbox databases, which contain users' mailboxes. If you plan to host user mailboxes, public folders, or both, the Mailbox server role is required.

In Exchange Server 2007, the Mailbox server role integrates with the Active Directory directory service better than the mailbox features and functionality in earlier versions of Exchange. This improved integration makes deployment and operation tasks much easier. The Mailbox server role also improves the information worker experience by providing richer calendaring functionality, resource management, and offline address book downloads.

 For More Information

• For more information about the features and functionality of the Mailbox server role, see Mailbox.
  
• For information about deploying the Mailbox server role, see Deploying Server Roles.
  
• For information about managing the Mailbox server role, see Managing Mailbox Features.