Enter this unique database structure and discover what makes
Exchange work  Relational database technology lies at the heart
of Microsoft Exchange Server. At its simplest, a relational
database stores information in tables and uses matching values
in the tables to relate information between the tables. When you
understand Exchange Server's database technology, you can head
off problems and optimize performance. Over the next two months,
I'll take a detailed look at the databases that make up the
Exchange Information Store. This month, I'll focus on the
databases' internal structure, how they process transactions,
and what happens when problems occur. Next month, I'll show you
how to maintain the databases in the Information Store and
maximize their performance.  Exchange Databases and the
Information Store Mailboxes, public folders, and directory
information in Exchange are contained in three databases. The
private information database holds user mailboxes, the public
information database holds public folders