connector in Microsoft Exchange Server

What is Connector in Microsoft Exchange Server?

A component of Microsoft Exchange Server used to connect Exchange sites or to connect an Exchange organization to foreign mail systems. Connectors are components of Exchange that can be used to route messages over a messaging system. Connectors are implemented on Exchange as Microsoft Windows NT services, and can be stopped and started using the Services utility in Control Panel.

Various types of connectors can be installed on Exchange, including the following:

• Site Connector:
  Used for establishing high-speed messaging links between different sites in an Exchange organization

   

• X.400 Connector:
  Used for establishing connectivity with a foreign X.400 messaging system such as those found in different parts of Europe

   

• Dynamic RAS Connector:
  Used for establishing dial-up connectivity between sites in an Exchange organization

   

• Internet Mail Service:
  Used for establishing connectivity with the Internet’s Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) messaging system

   

• Microsoft Mail Connector:
  Used for establishing messaging connectivity with legacy Microsoft Mail networks

   

• Connector for Lotus cc:Mail:
  Used for establishing connectivity with a foreign cc:Mail system

   

• Connector for Lotus Note:
  Used for establishing connectivity with a Lotus Notes network

   

For more information on each of these connectors, refer to their individual entries in this work.