Creating a Server Application

This quick start procedure explains the set of tasks necessary to create a server application that will run with Microsoft Exchange Server. Server applications can be gateways, mailbox agents, or add-in applications.

All server application that run with Microsoft Exchange Server are programmed in C or C++, using Microsoft Visual C++. For more information, see Server Application Development Options.

For more information on developing server applications, see

• Building a Server Application
• Example: Building a Server Application.

Design Tasks

1. Determine the role of the application. See Server Applications, Designing a Gateway, and About Mailbox Agents for more information.
2. Decide how the application will be run and controlled. Will it run as a service of Windows NT Server? Will it have a user interface? Do you want it to be maintained through the Microsoft Exchange Server Administrator program?
3. Decide whether to code the application from scratch or begin with an existing Microsoft Exchange Server sample application. For example, if you intend to develop a directory synchronization agent, you can start with the DIRSYNC sample application . For more information, see Creating a Directory Synchronization Agent.
4. Decide whether you need to supply your customers with an installation program for the application. For information, see Setup Programs.

Implementation Tasks

If this is to be a service of Windows NT Server, see Installing an Application as a Service.

About Sample Source Code

Source code (and compiled versions) of sample applications written in C, C++, Visual Basic, and VBScript (ASP) can be downloaded in the Messaging portion of the Platform SDK.