Category: Exchange 2013

Exchange 2013

Free e-learning course – Virtualizing Microsoft Exchange 2013 on VMware vSphere 5 Fundamentals

This self paced free eLearning course illustrates why organizations need to consider virtualizing Exchange 2013 on VMware vSphere. This course focuses on Exchange design prerequisites and considerations, when virtualizing Exchange 2013.
It also describes design, sizing, and implementation guidelines and best practices, that should be followed as part of a structured design and implementation methodology.

The course consists of three modules:

  • Introduction to Virtualizing Microsoft Exchange 2013 provides an overview of the challenges that organizations typically face when deploying Microsoft Exchange 2013 on physical hardware, and how these challenges can be addressed by virtualizing Exchange on VMware vSphere. This module also describes the benefits that organizations can realize by virtualizing Exchange 2013 on the vSphere platform.
  • Designing the Virtualized Exchange Environment evaluates the prerequisites for designing an Exchange 2013 solution when deployed in a virtualized environment. This module also covers the design considerations and guidelines for designing and sizing Exchange 2013 on vSphere.
  • Implementing the Virtualized Exchange Solution covers various implementation options that should be considered when virtualizing Exchange 2013 on the vSphere platform. This module also discusses several implementation considerations that should be factored into an Exchange 2013 design. Finally, this module discusses how to monitor and test the performance of Exchange 2013 on VMware vSphere.

Virtualizing Microsoft Exchange 2013 on VMware vSphere [V5.X] Fundamentals

Thnx to Eric Sloof

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS13-105 for Exchange

the Exchange team released security bulletin MS13-105. Updates are being made available for the following versions of Exchange Server:

Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 3
Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 2
Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 3
Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 2
Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 3

Exchange 2013 Server Role Requirements Calculator 6.1

The Exchange 2013 Server Role Requirements Calculator received an update. The new version number is 6.1.

Changes since version 5.9:

  • Fixed operator mistake in calcNumActiveDBsSF formula
  • Fixed missed validation scenario where the calculator could recommend a copy count that could not be deployed on the custom disk architecture
  • Optimized remaining servers formula
  • Fixed an issue where single datacenter, multiple databases per volume architecture with lagged copies didn’t calculate the correct number of
    copies/volume
  • Fixed VirtCPUFactor reference
  • Various comment changes
  • Improved cell highlights for insufficient disk capacity on storage design tab
  • Added additional storage capacities – 1.2TB, 6TB and 8TB
  • Fixed database count validation logic to take into consideration dedicated lagged copy servers

You can download the calculator here.

Cumulative Update 3 for Microsoft Exchange Server 2013

Issues that the cumulative update resolves

Cumulative Update 3 for Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 contains the fix for the security issue that is described in Security Bulletin MS13-061

(http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletin/MS13-061)

and resolves the issues that are described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) articles:

  • 2865161 “Errors: Failed exporting item id: from source id” when you try to copy search results in an Exchange Server 2013 environment

  • 2866064 Can’t load OWA Premium by using Internet Explorer 11 in an Exchange Server environment

  • 2871980 Child domains are not displayed for selection when you create a mailbox by using EAC in an Exchange Server 2013 environment

  • 2874216 Security issue that is described in Security Bulletin MS13-061 is resolved by an Exchange Server update

  • 2878160 “The Active Directory user wasn’t found” error when you create or update an In-Place eDiscovery search in an Exchange Server 2013 environment

  • 2882608 Exchange Server 2013 does not share the inproxy.dll file

  • 2886115 Retention policies are not applied to Exchange Server 2013 mailboxes when user accounts are on different domains

  • 2888274 WebClientReadFormQueryString string and WebClientEditFormQueryString string return incorrect URLs in an Exchange Server 2013 environment

  • 2888315 Event 2112 or 2180 is logged when you try to back up a database in an Exchange Server 2013 environment

  • 2888612 Retention policy does not work after you run a cmdlet in an Exchange Server 2013 environment

  • 2889786 Sign-in format for Outlook Web App on mobile devices is not adjusted according to the Set-OwaVirtualDerictory cmdlet in an Exchange Server 2013 environment

  • 2890650 Items in the Drafts folder are not stamped with the retention policy tag in an Exchange Server 2010 or 2013 environment

  • 2895487 “Copy Search Results” option does not work in an Exchange server 2013 environment

  • 2895500 DBCS characters appear garbled when you run some PowerShell scripts in EMS in an Exchange Server 2013 environment

  • 2895678 “Nombre de usuario\dominio” is displayed unexpectedly on the Spanish version of the OWA and EAC logon pages in an Exchange Server 2013 environment

  • 2902929 You cannot forward an external meeting request in an Exchange Server 2013 environment

  • 2902933 “Generate incident report” does not display the “Bcc” field in an Exchange Server 2013 environment

  • 2902934 Korean language localization issue in Exchange 2013 OWA user interface

  • 2902936 You cannot change SMTP addresses for distribution groups by using EAC in an Exchange Server 2013 environment

  • 2902938 You cannot preview Office documents in shared folders by using Outlook Web App in an Exchange Server 2013 environment

  • 2902939 EMS connection error when you separately install an Exchange Server 2013 Mailbox server and a Client Access server

  • 2883203 Exchange Server 2013 restarts frequently after Cumulative Update 2 is installed

  • 2890814 No redirection to the Outlook Web App URL for Exchange Online users in an Exchange hybrid deployment

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Exchange Server 2013 Service Pack 1 Coming in Early 2014

Today on the Office blog Exchange Team announced that service pack 1 for the 2013 set of products including Office, SharePoint and Exchange will be released early next year. We know our Exchange customers have been looking for confirmation of the release but also have a desire for an early look at what’s coming with Exchange Server 2013 Service Pack 1 (SP1). So let’s have a first look a few things you can expect to see in SP1. But wait… we haven’t released CU3 – well, news about CU3 is imminent – stay tuned for more information about CU3 coming very soon.

In this post we are highlighting a few of the notable improvements to be included in SP1. This isn’t an all-inclusive list, so stay tuned for additional details as we approach release.

  • Windows Server 2012 R2 Support First answering one the most common questions since the release of Windows Server 2012 R2. Exchange 2013 SP1 will add Windows Server 2012 R2 as a supported operating system for Exchange Server 2013 with SP1. Let your planning begin.
  • S/MIME support for OWA Support for S/MIME in OWA will be brought back in SP1. With SP1 customers will have S/MIME support across Outlook, Exchange ActiveSync clients, and OWA.
  • Edge Transport Server Role The Edge Transport server role for Exchange Server 2013 will be available with SP1.
  • Fixes and Improvements Of course, SP1 will include fixes and improvements in areas you’ve helped us identity. SP1 is the first service pack issued in the new Exchange Server cumulative update release model – thus SP1 is essentially CU4. The installation of SP1 will follow the same process as the prior Exchange 2013 CU releases. SP1 will include all fixes included in previously released cumulative updates for Exchange 2013.

SP1 will require customers to update their Active Directory schema – customers should assume this requirement for all Exchange Server 2013 updates. Plan for this required update to quickly take advantage SP1 updates. Active Directory Schema updates for Exchange are additive and always backwards compatible with previous releases and versions.

Exchange 2013 and .NET 4.5 fixes KB2803754 & KB2803755

Microsoft published an important hotfix for .NET 4.5 earlier this year. It wasn’t picked up on by many, therefor a quick write up on the matter.

Since Exchange 2013 is built on top of .NET 4.5, it is recommended to install the hotfix on all Exchange 2013 Mailbox and Multi-Role servers. The hotfix will reduce the memory consumption of the store worker processes.

If you’re using Windows Server 2008 R2, the hotfix is KB2803754 and can be requested here; when using Windows Server 2012 the hotfix is KB2803755 which can be requested here.

After installing the hotfix, you need to do one of the following things:

  • Set the following registry key:
    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\.NETFramework\DisableRetStructPinning=1 (REG_DWORD)
  • Set the COMPLUS_DisableRetStructPinning environment variable to 1

I’d prefer the first option. Note that you need to restart the server for the change to become effective.

Thanks to EighTwOne

Updated Release of MS13-061 Security Update for Exchange Server 2013

On August 14th, ExchangeTeam announced the removal of the MS13-061 Security Update for Exchange Server 2013 due to an issue where the patch changed settings for the search infrastructure, placing the content index for all databases into a failed state.  As of today, we have released updated security updates for both Exchange 2013 RTM CU1 and Exchange 2013 RTM CU2.

Download links for MS13-061:

    Z-Hire Active Directory User Creation Tool

    I want you to inform about a great tool.

    Z-Hire automates the IT user account creation process for Exchange mailbox, and Active Directory and Lync accounts. With just a click of the button, your Exchange mailbox, and Active directory user, Lync account and SalesForce User account will be created simultaneousy. Z-Hire serves as the platform for new hire accounts by allowing auto-creation of major IT accounts with the option for custom scripts. Z-hire will decrease your account deployment time by 600%, without the need for complicated and expensive identity management solutions. This tool makes creating Active Directory users a breeze. Some of the features include:

    – Environment Auto discovery (AD/Exchange/Lync/SalesForce)
    – Support for Active Directory user, Exchange, Lync 2010 and SalesForce user accounts
    – Template based deployment (allows consistency for all user accounts)
    – Active Directory user creation with major attributes
    – Active Directory group selection
    – Active Directory user duplicate SamAccountName detection – Lync 2010 / 2013 user account creation supporting all policies
    – SalesForce user account creation supporting all attributes
    – Faster performance (compared to previous version)

    Supported Environments / IT systems
    – Active Directory (all versions)
    – Exchange 2007 (all versions)
    – Exchange 2010 / 2013 (all versions)
    – Lync 2010 / 2013 (both Standard and Enterprise versions)
    – Office 365 Cloud
    – SalesForce Cloud

    Screenshot #1 – Active Directory
    Screenshot #2 – Active Directory
    Screenshot #3 – Active Directory
    Screenshot #4 – Exchange
    Screenshot #5 – Lync
    Screenshot #6 – Supported Systems

    SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
    – .NET 3.5 and .NET 4.0
    – Domain Joined

    COMPATIBLE OS
    – Windows 7 X64
    – Windows Server 2008 X64
    – Windows Server 2008 R2 X64
    – Windows Server 2012

    Please download administration guide:1
    http://www.zohno.com/docs/Z-Hire_V4_Administration_Guide.pdf

    Download: Z-Hire

    Z-Term Active Directory User Termination Tool

    I want you to inform a about a great tool Z-Term Active Directory User Termination Tool

    This application allows IT administrators to automate common tasks when an employee leaves the company. Usually, IT administrators use multiple consoles and perform variety of tasks to terminate user accounts. This tool allows IT administrator to automate:

    Active Directory Tasks
    – Disable Active Directory Account
    – Reset Active Directory Password
    – Move users to dedicated OU
    – Remove Active Directory Group membership
    – Clear Manager field in AD
    – Set Description field
    – Set Notes field
    – Remove Active Directory Account

    Exchange Tasks
    – Change Distribution List ownership to
    – Set customAttribute5
    – Set out of office reply
    – Forward Email
    – Grant full access permission
    – Hide user from Global Adress List
    – Remove Calendar items from resources.(remove calendar items where user is an organizer of)
    – Cancel meetings from termined user’s mailobx(cancel meetings where user is an organizer of)
    – Disable mailbox
    – Export mailbox to PST format
    – Remove ActiveSync device partnership
    – Remote wipe user’s ActiveSync device

    Lync
    – Disable Lync Account

    Office 365
    – MSOL User – Reset Password
    – MSOL User – Remove Office 365 License
    – MSOL User – Remove User
    – MSOL Exchange – Clear Out of Office Reply
    – MSOL Exchange – Hide User from GAL
    – MSOL Exchange – Change Distribution List Ownership
    – MSOL Exchange – Set CustomAttribute
    – MSOL Exchange – Set Out of Office Reply
    – MSOL Exchange – Set Grant FullAccess Permission
    – MSOL Exchange – Set email forwarding
    – MSOL Exchange – Remove calendar items from resource mailboxes

    File Operations
    – Move home folder
    – Export user settings to XML (dump all user data to xml as backup)
    – Run custom script ( for advanced users only, contact support for more info )

    Screenshot #1 – Active Directory
    Screenshot #2 – Exchange
    Screenshot #3- File Operations

    SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
    – .NET 3.5 and .NET 4.0
    – Domain Joined

    COMPATIBLE OS
    – Windows 7 X64
    – Windows Server 2008 X64
    – Windows Server 2008 R2 X64
    – Windows Server 2012

    Please download administration guide: http://www.zohno.com/docs/Z-Term_V4_Administration_Guide.pdf

    Download: Z-Term

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