F

failback

The process of cluster resources moving back to their preferred node after the preferred node has resumed active membership in the cluster.

failover

The process of moving resources off a cluster node that has failed to another cluster node. If any of the cluster resources on an active node becomes unresponsive or unavailable for a period time exceeding the configured threshold, failover will occur.

failover pair

In this cluster operation mode, resources are configured to failover between two specific cluster nodes. This is accomplished by listing only these two specific nodes in the possible owner list for the resources of concern. This mode of operation could be used in either Active/Active or Active/Passive clustering.

failover ring

In this cluster operation mode, each node in the cluster running an instance of the application or resource being clustered. When one node fails, the clustered resource is moved to the next node in the sequence.

firewall

A set of mechanisms that separate and protect your internal network from unauthorized external users and networks. Firewalls can restrict inbound and outbound traffic, as well as analyze all traffic between your network and the outside.

folder-based application

An application built within a public folder by customizing properties of the folder, such as permissions, views, rules, and the folder forms library to store and present data to users.

foreign system

A non-Exchange messaging system.

ForestPrep

An Exchange Server 2003 setup switch that is used to prepare an Active Directory forest prior to Exchange installation.

forest root domain

The first domain installed in a domain forest and the basis for the naming of all domains in the forest.

Forms Registry

Stores the Outlook Web Access (OWA) forms rendered by Internet Information Services (IIS) and passed to the client.

frame

The unit of information sent by a Data Link protocol, such as Ethernet or Token Ring.

free/busy

Terminology used in the Microsoft Schedule+ application to denote an unscheduled period of time (free) or a scheduled period of time (busy).

front-end server

See back-end server.

full-text indexing

A feature that can be enabled for a store in which every word in the store (including those in attachments) is indexed for much faster search results.

Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN)

The full DNS path of an Internet host. An example is sales.dept4.widget.com .

function call

An instruction in a program that calls (invokes) a function. For example, MAPIReadMail is a MAPI function call.