Configuring an Exchange Front-End Server
A front-end server is an ordinary Exchange server until it is configured as a front-end server. A front-end server must not host any users or public folders and must be a member of the same Exchange 2003 organization as the back-end servers (therefore, a member of the same Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 forest). Servers that are running either Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise Edition or Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition can be configured as front-end servers.
For detailed steps for designating a server to be a front-end server, see How to Designate a Front-End Server.
For more information about front-end and back-end scenarios, configurations, and installation, see the following guides: