Every now and then something actually useful lands in my Inbox and my thanks goes to MarkS in the UK GTSC for sending this on. I think it explains itself :)
Hot-Fixes
Grab the security hot-fixes for the operating system from http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/current.aspx.
Exchange 2007 Requirements
If you are going to install Exchange 2007, you will also need these fixes:
If the Operating System is Windows Server 2003 SP1:
In addition, if you are going to install Exchange 2007 Unified Messaging role, you will also need these fixes:
In addition, if you are going to install Exchange 2007 Edge Transport role, you will need:
SP1 Hot-Fixes
If still using Windows Server 2003 SP1, then install these hot-fixes.
Install the cluster-specific Post-SP1 hot-fixes on cluster servers - http://support.microsoft.com/?id=923830
Grab these Windows Server 2003 Post-SP1 hot-fixes:
Cluster specific fixes
Thanks to Neil – details are here especially when your looking at Office 365
http://blogs.technet.com/b/neiljohn/archive/2011/06/15/outlook-2010-network-latency-test-results.aspx
This poster shows each workload in Microsoft Lync Server 2010 communications software, describing relationships, dependencies, flow of information, and certificate requirements
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=ad8ff3fb-014e-4fd7-8003-436d896ab0c6&displaylang=en
I get asked this all the time and although this question is answered on a case by case basis there are some common themes throughout every business case. If you need a starting point then please make sure you immerse yourself in these resources:
Forrester Total Economic Impact of Exchange 2010
Exchange Cost Savings Calculator
Exchange 2010 Case Studies
More Case Studies
This has been released for 2010 - please see:
http://www.gartner.com/technology/media-products/reprints/microsoft/vol10/article19/article19.html
Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications, 2010 (Gartner Research, July 28, 2010). Microsoft is positioned in the Leaders Quadrant. According to Gartner, “unified communications offers the ability to improve how individuals, groups and companies interact and perform tasks.” This research reviews relevant technologies and vendor offerings that can assist in these goals.
You may have seen the “Geek Out with Perry” series already, but he’s back with his latest instalment.
Here are the main reason’s as to why a mailbox move is required, to hear it from the man himself, go here
You can download it from here: http://community.office365.com/en-us/f/183/p/1541/5095.aspx#5095
About the document
This document presents the Office 365 Beta for enterprises deployment process in a manner that explains both important deployment concepts as well as detailed procedures. It is also intentionally organized into the sections that provide specific types of information to specific types of people in your organization. Here is a quick overview of what you will find:
The biggest single complaint to the PG was the fact that end users had to escalate to the Live Meeting console to share desktops – This functionality has now been added into the Communicator Client.
Click the following button, as per the red arrow:
· Share your desktop to one or to many – Great for: Ad-hoc 1:1’s, when working from home, cross team collaboration.
· Give control to a participant to use your desktop
· Add Voice and Video for the full blown experience in full screen – if you have a HD camera use that too..!
Technical
The communicator client is actually using the RDP technology under the covers to take advantage of any adverse network conditions.
If you haven’t seen this whitepaper this is incredibly useful to understand the SMTP routing available with Exchange Online and Forefront.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=F003109A-3CD6-4372-A0F3-D01BD9F50712&displaylang=zh-tw&displaylang=en
Office 365 Beta documentation: This download includes the documentation for the FOPE connector features available to Microsoft Office 365 Beta participants. It also contains information about known issues with this beta release. For infomation about participating in the Office 365 beta, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=206771.
As Office 365 is now everything I talk about, especially the Exchange hybrid piece – it is sometime overlooked on exactly what Exchange 2010 SP1 can offer an organisation, or more importantly how to install and configure it.
Below are some excellent education videos around DAGs, UM, Email Archiving etc where you can get the basic technical education without coming to an event like TechEd or having the benefit of me or one of my colleagues showing up at your office
Mailbox Resiliency
Mobility
Unified Messaging
Outlook + Exchange
Outlook Web App
Archiving & Discovery
Management
If you want to have a play with Ex2010 SP1 without installing into a test environment then you can download a pre-configured VHD from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=53f7382a-3664-4de3-8303-31e514d69f02
Where you can evaluate SP1 for 60 days.
Useful.
The TotD are obviously working as I am getting a phenomenal response of: “I didn’t know it did that..!” but more importantly, discussions about what is not quite right to feedback to the PG. Any thoughts, queries concerns then please chuck them over –
One discussion Steve Green, Tina Shepherd and I had yesterday, is what happens when you are not using Communicator and want to use x3000 to activate the Audio conf call as a leader..? It’s not simple, with ~40 digits required to start a conf call..! This tip is courtesy of Steve and Tina.
Create an Outlook Contact Card and then when it sync’s down to your phone add a speed dial. When you then need to join an OCS Conf call using your Mobile just hit your speed dial and then you’re in. Smart.
Open the Contact Card and change the business number to this:
+44118909xxxx x ppYourConferenceID#p44118909ExtensionpYourConferencePinCode#
These recordings are from the 3 day Office 365 JumpStart training that was delivered last month are now available on TechNet Edge.
15 hours of content delivered by Office 365 Subject Matter Experts.
• Office 365 Jump Start (01): Microsoft Office 365 Overview for IT Pros • Office 365 Jump Start (02): Deploying Clients for Office 365 • Office 365 Jump Start (03): Microsoft Office 365 Administration & Automation Using Windows PowerShell™ • Office 365 Jump Start (04): Microsoft Office 365 Identity and Access Solutions • Office 365 Jump Start (05): Microsoft Office 365 Directory Synchronization • Office 365 Jump Start (06): Exchange Online Overview for IT Pros • Office 365 Jump Start (07): Microsoft Exchange Online Administration • Office 365 Jump Start (08): Microsoft Staged Exchange Online Migration • Office 365 Jump Start (09): Hybrid Options with Exchange Server & Exchange Online • Office 365 Jump Start (10): Exchange Online Archiving & Compliance • Office 365 Jump Start (11): Lync Online Overview & Configuration for IT Pros • Office 365 Jump Start (12): SharePoint Online Overview • Office 365 Jump Start (13): SharePoint Online Administration • Office 365 Jump Start (14): SharePoint Online Extensibility & Customization • Office 365 Jump Start (15): Office 365 Deployment Overview • Link to course materials on Born to Learn
Have you ever wondered what this link does “Join using a Web Browser” when you receive a OCS R2 Audio Conf Call invite..?
Upon receipt of a Audio Conf call, click on the Join using a Web Browser when not connected to the Microsoft network (this works with Safari and Firefox too). You will then be presented with the following. Click on No (Not on the MS Network) and type in a display name of your choice.
You will then be presented with the following – Click Join Conf Call.
Type in the number (E.164 format i.e. +44) where you are at – this can be anywhere:
OCS_R2 will then call that number and upon answering you’ll be part of the Audio Conf Call.
Neat - You can also mute the phone that OCS have called you on through the button in the Web Browser.
Save on your mobile bill and get OCS to call you..!!!!
I have been using the Powershell more and more as I go about configuring Send and Recieve connectors, Unified Messaging and one annoying aspect is knowing what parameters and variables you can use.
Sure, you can type the Get-ExCommand but it doesn't WordWrap so you only see a proportion of the commands, which I personally find incredibly annoying..! But here's the solution:
[MSH] Get-excommand |format-table -wrap
It will cetainly prove VERY useful..!
PressPass: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2010/sep10/lyncpr.mspx
UC Blog: http://blogs.technet.com/b/uc/archive/2010/09/13/introducing-microsoft-lync-the-next-ocs.aspx
Download the release candidate now: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/evalcenter/ff808407.aspx
When somebody calls you on either 0118909xxxx or direct on Communicator would you like your Mobile to ring as well..?
You have two choices to make this happen:
When someone calls you through Communicator the Incoming Call Toast will appear offering you a choice of whether you accept the incoming call or divert to either VoiceMail or Mobile. You can create custom numbers too, so if you work from home you can forward to your regular BT line.
For your mobile to simultaneously ring automatically, you can configure Communicator to do so by the following:
BT today announced it has certified its converged communications platform, BT Onevoice, with the Microsoft Lync 2010 Office communications server. By combining BT’s global voice and video services with Lync, business customers will have a suite of collaboration tools which delivers advanced capabilities and significant cost savings.
Full details here
http://blogs.technet.com/tlyons/archive/2010/01/19/additional-windows-live-messenger-pic-federation-ip-address.aspx
OK, so this has absolutely nothing to do with Exchange but I does having something to do with a really cool Microsoft download which inter-twines with my second passion. Football.
What a great 12 months to look forward to... Reading in the Premiership :)
Anyway, to get the Microsoft World Cup Scorecard go here
Use the SharePoint Online for Office 365 Developer Guide to gain knowledge and understanding of SharePoint Online within Microsoft Office 365, and the rich features available to developers and designers.
Here it is : http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=4387e030-73dc-48e7-ac95-abc043b9335a
If your interested in an impartial view of the CUCiMOC integration within Microsoft Communicator then I encourage you to take a look at Adam’s blog here: http://blog.misthos.com/2009/07/cisco-cucimoc.html#links
More on this subject later…. It’s a fun time I can tell you ;)
The UM troubleshooting tool is a diagnostic commandlet which helps Exchange UM administrators to identify mis-configurations in telephony equipment and Exchange 2010 SP1 Unified Messaging settings. It emulates calls and runs a series of diagnostic tests, stating the reason and possible solutions for issues that have been detected.
To get started with the tool type the following:
Get-help Test-ExchangeUMCallFlow -detailed
You can download the tool from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=10d2e48f-0846-40b6-b08f-d282309811a2
Today I have been installing Ex2007 servers into my existing Ex2003 test environment all in Virtual Server, all is pretty cool even got CCR working out the box.
One element I still trying to get my head round is MONAD (Powershell), my problem is that I struggle to work out what commands and parameters are available and valid. Sure you can run:
Get-Excommand |format-table -wrap
But that just lists out EVERYTHING..! :)
So today whilst configure my UMSipPhone for testing, I thought I would try this in MSH (probably not the best component to test on..!) so this is what I did all from Exchange Powershell to work out what commands I can use.
Open Powershell:
So far, so good but in all honesty I personally need to know more - a bit of help in constructing the command would be very useful at this point :) So.....
get-help Test-UMConnectivity
You then get a very details description of what each parameter does, but example scripts for that cmdlet at the bottom..! Ace.
As you dig deeper, you'll get to know more, but in all honesty the key to learning this is to try it yourself.
This morning I presented at ITForum and promised to post the Lights Out Scripts I used to install Ex2007 into an existing Ex2003 environment.
If you want the CSV's to go with it - then mail me. BrettjoATmicrosoftDOTcom
This is what it does:
1) Install Hub,CAS,MBX Ex2007 roles onto a member server into an existing 2003 Org 2) Delete default DB and SG 3) Creates numerous SG’s and DB’s 4) Mounts one of them 5) Enables LCR 6) Migrates users from 2003 to 2007 7) Copies 2003 mailboxes to a PST’s 8) Copies 2003 mailboxes inside a 2007 mailbox 9) Finishes successfully..! ;)
1) Install Hub,CAS,MBX Ex2007 roles onto a member server into an existing 2003 Org
2) Delete default DB and SG
3) Creates numerous SG’s and DB’s
4) Mounts one of them
5) Enables LCR
6) Migrates users from 2003 to 2007
7) Copies 2003 mailboxes to a PST’s
8) Copies 2003 mailboxes inside a 2007 mailbox
9) Finishes successfully..! ;)
# Unplugged_Install.ps1# Script will install Ex2007 SP1 into Ex2003 Org and move mailboxes to Ex2007# Brettjo@Microsoft.com
&"C:\bin\Setup.com" "/r:M,C,H" "/LegacyRoutingServer:Ex2003SP2.Brettjo.local"
######################################Adding the Exchange Snapin into Windows Powershell######################################
Add-PsSnapin *Exchange*
#################Adding the license key#################
Set-ExchangeServer -id "LOEx2007SP1" -ProductKey: 12345-12345-12345-12345
################Setting the variables################
$server = hostname $Domain = "dc=Brettjo,dc=local"################Import the CSV files################
$sgs = import-csv UnpluggedSG.csv$mbxdbs = import-csv UnpluggedDBs.csv$OUs = Import-csv UnpluggedOU.csv$AllUsers = Import-csv UnpluggedUsers.csv
#######################Create OU based on Database#######################
$OUs = Import-csv UnpluggedOU.csv $objDomain = [ADSI]"LDAP://Ex2003SP2:389/OU=Unplugged,dc=Brettjo,dc=local" foreach ($ou in $OUs) { $objOU = $objDomain.Create("organizationalUnit", "ou=" + $ou.name) $objOU.SetInfo() }
#############################Removing the pre-configured Databases#############################
get-mailboxdatabase -id "$server\First Storage Group\Mailbox Database" | Dismount-Database -confirm:$false
get-mailboxdatabase -id "$server\First Storage Group\Mailbox Database" | remove-mailboxdatabase -confirm:$false
get-storagegroup -id "$server\First Storage Group" | remove-StorageGroup -confirm:$false
##################Database Management##################
$sgs = import-csv UnpluggedSG.csv foreach ($sg in $sgs) { new-storagegroup -Name $sg.Name -Server $server | ft Name,Server,ExchangeVersion }
$mbxdbs = import-csv UnpluggedDBs.csv foreach ($mbxdb in $mbxdbs) { new-mailboxdatabase -StorageGroup $mbxdb.StorageGroup -Name $mbxdb.Name | ft Name,Server,ExchangeVersion }
Get-MailboxDatabase -id "LOEx2007SP1\Unplugged_East\London" | mount-Database
####################Enable LCR on DB:London####################
MKDIR c:\LCR
Enable-DatabaseCopy -Id 'LOEX2007SP1\Unplugged_East\London' -CopyEdbFilePath 'C:\LCR\London.edb'
Enable-StorageGroupCopy -Id 'LOEX2007SP1\Unplugged_East' -CopyLogFolderPath 'C:\LCR' -CopySystemFolderPath 'C:\LCR'
###########################Moving Users from Ex2003 to Ex2007## ##################################################All users are moved to Ex2007 except administrator whose mailbox is copied to a PST :)###########################################################
'Brettjo.local/Unplugged/Administrator' | move-mailbox -BadItemLimit '1' -TargetDatabase 'LOEX2007SP1\Unplugged_East\London' -GlobalCatalog 'Ex2003SP2.Brettjo.local' -DomainController 'Ex2003SP2.Brettjo.local' -confirm:$false
'Brettjo.local/Unplugged/Eileen' | move-mailbox -BadItemLimit '1' -TargetDatabase 'LOEX2007SP1\Unplugged_East\London' -GlobalCatalog 'Ex2003SP2.Brettjo.local' -DomainController 'Ex2003SP2.Brettjo.local' -confirm:$false
'Brettjo.local/Unplugged/Ewand' | move-mailbox -BadItemLimit '1' -TargetDatabase 'LOEX2007SP1\Unplugged_East\London' -GlobalCatalog 'Ex2003SP2.Brettjo.local' -DomainController 'Ex2003SP2.Brettjo.local' -confirm:$false
'Brettjo.local/Unplugged/Julian' | move-mailbox -BadItemLimit '1' -TargetDatabase 'LOEX2007SP1\Unplugged_East\London' -GlobalCatalog 'Ex2003SP2.Brettjo.local' -DomainController 'Ex2003SP2.Brettjo.local' -confirm:$false
'Brettjo.local/Unplugged/Markdea' | move-mailbox -BadItemLimit '1' -TargetDatabase 'LOEX2007SP1\Unplugged_East\London' -GlobalCatalog 'Ex2003SP2.Brettjo.local' -DomainController 'Ex2003SP2.Brettjo.local'
MKDIR C:\PSTs
Add-MailboxPermission -identity 'CN=Brettjo,OU=Unplugged,DC=Brettjo,DC=Local' -User 'Brettjo\Administrator' -AccessRights 'FullAccess' -confirm:$false
Add-MailboxPermission -identity 'CN=Julian,OU=Unplugged,DC=Brettjo,DC=Local' -User 'Brettjo\Administrator' -AccessRights 'FullAccess' -confirm:$false
Export-Mailbox -Id Brettjo@Brettjo.local -PSTFolderPath C:\PSTs\Brettjo.pst -confirm:$false
Export-Mailbox -Identity 'Brettjo.local/Unplugged/Brettjo' -TargetMailbox Julian@Brettjo.local -TargetFolder Brettjo_Mailbox -confirm:$false