Tag: Microsoft

Cumulative Update 12 for Exchange Server 2013

Exchange team released CU12 for Exchange 2013

Issues that this cumulative update fixes:

KB 3143710 “Failed Search or Export” error occurs when an eDiscovery search in the Exchange Admin Center finishes

Rollup 13 for Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 3

This update rollup includes the following changes: 

  • A new Office 365 Hybrid Configuration wizard (HCW) is used in Exchange Server 2010 that was bundled in the Exchange Management Console (EMC). This change makes sure that EMC always runs the latest version of the HCW that contains up-to-date experience when the HCW is initiated from the EMC.
  • An updated Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) Control for Outlook Web Access. The control is signed to use aSHA-2 compliant code signing certificate. After you install this update, an updated version of the control on the Exchange server will be replaced. Users who have installed the earlier version of the control into a computer’s browser must log on to Outlook Web Access and download the updated control after the Exchange server updates are completed.
  • Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 3 Update Rollup 13 (KB3141339) Download

Free ebook: Deploying Windows 10: Automating deployment by using System Center Configuration Manager

We’re happy to announce the release of our newest free ebook, Deploying Windows 10: Automating deployment by using System Center Configuration Manager (ISBN 9781509301867), by Andre Della Monica, Russ Rimmerman, Alessandro Cesarini, and Victor Silveira.

5282.9781509301867_6F8A5B58

This ebook is also available for download at the Microsoft Virtual Academy (MVA).

Get a head start deploying Windows 10—with tips and best practices from experts in the field. This guide shows you how to deploy Windows 10 in an automated way without impacting end users by leveraging System Center Configuration Manager, which is the most used product to deploy Microsoft operating systems in the industry today.

Staying up-to-date with Windows Server updates for Remote Desktop Services (RDS)

Microsoft Remote Desktop Team get customer enquiries asking which RDS updates are available for a particular Windows Server platform; or when providing support we need to verify if certain hotfixes and servicing rollups are installed on the customers’ servers. To make it easier for customers and ourselves, we regularly revise KB articles that list all of the available updates specific to Remote Desktop services for each Windows Server release:

Important notice about certificate expiration for Exchange 2013 Hybrid customers

If you’re running Exchange 2013 and you’ve configured a hybrid deployment with Office 365, this post contains important information that might impact you. Please evaluate this information and take any necessary action before April 15, 2016.

On April 15 2016, the Office 365 TLS certificate will be renewed. This certificate is used by Office 365 to provide TLS encryption between Office 365 and external SMTP servers. The new certificate, which will help improve the security of mail sent to and from Office 365, will be issued by a new Certificate Authority and it will have a new Issuer and Subject.

This change has the potential to stop hybrid mailflow between Office 365 and your on-premises Exchange servers if one of the following conditions applies to you:

  • Your on-premises Exchange servers are running Exchange 2013 Cumulative Update 8 (CU8) or lower.
  • You’ve upgraded the Exchange 2013 servers that handle hybrid mailflow to Exchange 2013 CU9 or higher. However, since upgrading to CU9, you HAVE NOTre-run the Hybrid Configuration wizard (either from the Exchange Admin Center or via the direct download link).

If one of the previous conditions applies to your organization, hybrid mailflow between Office 365 and your organization will stop working after April 15, 2016unless you complete the steps below.

Note: This only affects hybrid mailflow. Regular mailflow and TLS encryption is NOT affected.

How to keep hybrid mail flowing (MUST be completed before 4/15/2016)
Let the new Hybrid Configuration wizard do it for you

You can use the latest Hybrid Configuration wizard (HCW) to configure your Exchange 2013 servers to work with the new TLS certificate. Just follow these steps:

  1. If the Exchange 2013 servers handling hybrid mailflow are running Exchange 2013 CU8 or lower, follow the instructions in Updates for Exchange 2013 to install the latest cumulative update on at least one server.
  2. After you install the latest cumulative update, download the new HCW application and run the wizard following the instructions here .

Note: For information on which releases of Exchange are supported with Office 365, see Hybrid deployment prerequisites.

Manual update

If you can’t upgrade Exchange 2013 to latest cumulative update right now (although we would like to remind you of our support policy), you can manually configure your servers to work with the new TLS certificate. On each Exchange 2013 server that’s used for hybrid mailflow, open the Exchange Management Shell, and run the following commands:

$rc=Get-ReceiveConnector |where {$_.TlsDomainCapabilities -like “*<I>*”}

Set-ReceiveConnector -Identity $rc.Identity -TlsDomainCapabilities “mail.protection.outlook.com:AcceptCloudServicesMail

http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2016/02/19/important-notice-about-certificate-expiration-for-exchange-2013-hybrid-customers.aspx

Microsoft Exchange Server User Monitor For Exchange 2013 and 2016

        Use the Microsoft Exchange Server User Monitor to gather real-time data to better understand current client usage patterns, and to plan for future work.
        Administrators can view details on server resource utilization as reported through server-side tracing. This tool works with Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 and 2016.
        The tool is provided as-is. At this time, there are no updates or patches planned for future release. No formal support is provided for the tool. Some minimal support may be provided by Microsoft but not all reported issues will be able to be addressed or resolved.

        Exchange Server User Monitor

      DNS Best Practise

      I thing i see at many client’s where i come is. Enable Automatic scavenging of stale records is forget to enable. This is a best practise. See: https://technet.microsoft.com/nl-nl/library/ff807390(v=ws.10).aspx

      DC01

      Use the Microsoft Best Practice Analyzer Winking smile

      Powershell Smile

      Set-DnsServerScavenging –ScavengingState $True –RefreshInterval  7:00:00:00 –NoRefreshInterval  7:00:00:00 –ScavengingInterval 7:00:00:00 –ApplyOnAllZones –Verbose

      On .NET Framework 4.6.1 and Exchange Skype4B Lync compatibility

      We wanted to post a quick note to call out that since yesterday, the .NET Framework 4.6.1 has been made a recommended update on WU (Windows Update).

      As we have already stated in the Exchange Supportability Matrix, at this time, this version of .NET framework is not supported by Exchange. In fact, we know of some issues if it is installed.

      We are working with the .NET team to ensure that Exchange customers have a smooth transition to .NET Framework 4.6.1, but in the meantime, delay this particular .NET update on your Exchange servers (information on how this can be accomplished can be found in the KB article 3133990, How to temporarily block the installation of the .NET Framework 4.6.1).

      http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2016/02/10/on-net-framework-4-6-1-and-exchange-compatibility.aspx.

      As a result of this recommendation from the Exchange team, the Skype for Business team is recommending the same course of action for Lync/Skype for Business servers.

      Please follow the guidance located here to block the installation: 3133990, How to temporarily block the installation of the .NET Framework 4.6.1).

      MDT Display The Task Sequence Name

      I While ago i blogd about MDT Displaying The Task Sequence Name

      This is still ongoing issue in MDT 2013 Update 2

      Sow:
      oEnvironment.Item(“_SMSTSPackageName”) = “Lite Touch Installation”

      And change it like so:
      oEnvironment.Item(“_SMSTSPackageName”) = oEnvironment.Item(“TaskSequenceName”)

      Change this please Microsoft Winking smile

      Download here the changed litetouch.swf

      Exchange Analyzer is a great tool for every Exchange Admin

      Exchange Analyzer is a PowerShell tool that scans an Exchange Server 2013 or 2016 organization and reports on compliance with best practices.

      Exchange Analyzer is a community project, and is currently a beta release seeking feedback and results from real world environments.

      To read the latest information about Exchange Analyzer click here to visit the project’s ReadMe on Github. More information can also be found in the Exchange Analyzer Wiki.

      Installation Instructions

      1. Download the latest Zip file

      2. Extract or copy the following files and folders to a computer that has the Exchange 2013 or 2016 management shell installed. For example, place all of the files and folders in a C:\Scripts\ExchangeAnalyzer folder.

        • Run-ExchangeAnalyzer.ps1
        • \Data
        • \Modules
        • \Tests

        3. Copy the folders in the \Modules folder to C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules\

        4. Open a new Exchange Management Shell

        Important Note: if you are updating your copy of Exchange Analyzer please make sure you copy the updated module in step 3.

        Running Exchange Analyzer

        To run the Exchange Analyzer open an Exchange management shell, navigate to the folder with the script files (e.g. C:\Scripts\ExchangeAnalyzer) and run:

        Interpreting Results

        Exchange Analyzer produces a HTML report with a simple “Passed/Failed” indicator and a list of passed and/or failed objects. Links to more info are provided to assist you with further interpretation of the report.

        Feedback and Questions

        Before submitting feedback or questions please review the Exchange Analyzer FAQ.

        You can help with bug fixes by submitting issues on Github. If you would like to contribute fixes or other code please review theExchange Analyzer Wiki.

        You can also send email to feedback@exchangeanalyzer.com.

        Change Log

        14/01/2016 – v0.1.0-Beta.1

        • First public beta release

        28/01/2016 – v0.1.1-Beta.2

        • Second beta release. Details of changes are here.

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