What is the Difference Between Windows Server and Exchange Server

The main difference between Windows Server and Exchange Server is that Windows Server refers to Microsoft server operating system while Exchange Server is a mail server and calendaring server that runs on Windows Server Operating Systems.

Microsoft Corporation is an American organization that develops manufactures and sells software, personal computers, other electronic devices, and related services. Windows Server and Exchange Server are two Microsoft products. Windows Server is a server operating system that allows multiple users to share services. It also provides extensive administrative control on data storage, applications, and networks. On the other hand, Exchange Server is an email, calendaring, contact, scheduling and collaboration platform deployed on Widows Server OS.

Key Areas Covered

 1. What is Windows Server
   – Definition, Functionality
2. What is Exchange Server
  – Definition, Functionality
3. What is the Difference Between Windows Server and Exchange Server
  – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Exchange Server, Microsoft, Server Operating System, Windows Server

What is Windows Server

Windows Server operating system refers to the server operating system developed by Microsoft Corporation. There are various versions of Windows Server versions. The specialized SKUs of Windows Server focuses on home and small business markets. Windows Server 2012 R2 is designed for cloud computing. Furthermore, Windows Server 2003, 2008, HPC Server 2008, 2008 R2 are some other examples. Users can select on site or cloud computing service such as Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services to deploy Windows Server.

Windows Server provides multiple advantages. It supports enterprise level management, data storage capabilities and communication. Moreover, it makes the system secure and stable. There are also additional features on the file system.

What is Exchange Server

Exchange Server is Microsoft’s email, calendaring, contact, scheduling and collaboration platform to use in enterprise level. It is deployed on the Windows Server operating system. Exchange server provides multiple advantages for the users. It allows them to access the messaging platform on various platforms such as smartphones, desktops, tables or web based applications. Users can exchange voice messages using the telephony capabilities available in Exchange Server. Users can also share documents among them. Furthermore, the storage and security feature allows performing tasks such as searching, executing compliance tasks, etc.

Latest Exchange Server 2016 is divided into edge transport server and mailbox server. Edge transport server provides centralized control over the message flow. Therefore, it protects the system from attacks such as spam, malware, etc. Moreover, the mailbox server consists of the mailbox and client access roles. Mailbox handles active mailbox content and management, transport service, mailbox databases, etc. while client access manages security (such as authentication) and messaging data transferring.

Difference Between Windows Server and Exchange Server

Definition

Windows Server is a brand name for a group of server operating system released by Microsoft while Exchange Server is a mail server and calendaring server developed by Microsoft that exclusively runs on Windows Server operating systems. Thus, this is the main difference between Windows Server and Exchange Server.

Usage

Another difference between Windows Server and Exchange Server is that Windows Server provides support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications while Exchange Server allows messaging on various platforms.

Conclusion

Windows Server and Exchange Server are two Microsoft products. The main difference between Windows Server and Exchange Server is that Windows Server refers to Microsoft server operating system while Exchange Server is a mail server and calendaring server that runs on Windows Server Operating Systems.

Reference:

1.“What Is Microsoft Windows Server OS (Operating System)? – Definition from WhatIs.com.” SearchWindowsServer, Available here.
2.“Windows Server.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Jan. 2019, Available here.
3.“What Is Microsoft Exchange Server? – Definition from WhatIs.com.” SearchWindowsServer, Available here.
4.“Microsoft Exchange Server.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 Jan. 2019, Available here.
5.Windows-Sdk-Content. “Windows Server – Windows Applications.” Microsoft Docs, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

 1.”Windows Server” By Microsoft-Microsoft (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2.”Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Logo” By Microsoft CorporationDerivative works of this file: Perhelion – (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia