MCS UK Unified Communications Blog

New Unified Communications Exams

Neil Hobson [MSFT] — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 08:18:08 GMT

The new Exchange 2013 exams have appeared on the Prometric site. They are:

Exam 70-341: Core Solutions of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013

Exam 70-342: Advanced Solutions of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013

If you pass the MCSA Windows Server 2012 exams as well as 70-341 and 70-342, this gives you MCSE: Messaging

As you can see from the links, these exams aren't released until January 2013 but you can use the information in the links to start preparing for your Exchange 2013 exams (unless you're involved in the beta exams of course).

Also, there are the following two Lync 2013 exams:

Exam 70-336: Core Solutions of Microsoft Lync Server 2013

Exam 70-337: Enterprise Voice & Online Services with Microsoft Lync Server 2013

If you pass the MCSA Windows Server 2012 exams as well as 70-336 and 70-337, this gives you MCSE: Communication

Microsoft Hybrid IT UK Roadshow

Neil Hobson [MSFT] — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 09:49:00 GMT

Not a post focussed solely on Unified Communications, but I wanted to pass on details about these events in the UK next year...

There are four Microsoft Hybrid IT UK Roadshow events next year. Use the links below to register and read on for more information...

Microsoft Hybrid IT UK Roadshow – What’s New in Windows Server 2012, System Center 2012 SP1 and Windows Azure?

Windows Server 2012 redefines the server category. It delivers hundreds of new features and enhancements spanning virtualisation, networking, storage, user experience, cloud computing, automation and more. System Center 2012 is a unified and flexible platform for managing traditional datacentres, private and public clouds as well as client computers and devices. With Windows Azure Virtual Machines, you can deploy and run Windows Server and Linux virtual machines, as well as migrating applications and infrastructure, without changing existing code. This series of 1-day events will provide you with the best possible opportunity to learn about what's new in the Microsoft Hybrid IT vision, strategy and roadmap.

Agenda:

08:30 – 09:30	REGISTRATION
09:30 – 10:00	Keynote – What Is The Microsoft Hybrid IT Story?
10:00 – 10:30	Voice of the Customer – Early Adopter Customer
10:30 – 11:00	BREAK
11:00 – 12:00	Building Your Cloud Platform with Windows Server 2012
12:00 – 13:00	LUNCH
13:00 – 14:00	Manage Your Cloud Platform and Extend It with Windows Azure
14:00 – 15:00	Manage and Automate Service Delivery with System Center 2012 SP1
15:00 – 15:30	BREAK
15:30 – 16:30	Manage and Deliver A Modern User Desktop with System Center 2012 SP1 and Windows Intune

Infrastructure Consultant Messaging at MCS UK

Neil Hobson [MSFT] — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 07:01:41 GMT

We are recruiting for an Infrastructure Consultant Messaging as part of Microsoft Consulting Services here in the UK. The full job description can be found at this link. Other links that you might find useful are:

Careers at Microsoft UK

Careers at Microsoft Services

Dirsync Database keeps on Increasing…

Dan Kenyon-smith — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 13:16:44 GMT

Hi Have you noticed the Office 365 directory sync database just getting larger and larger… If so try the following to clear the sync runs 1. Open the MIISClient.exe and click the Operations tab. 2. From the Actions menu, select "Clear Runs"...(read more)

Office 365 – Hybrid Configuration Wizard (HCW)

Dan Kenyon-smith — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:52:31 GMT

Whilst working on a few O365 engagements over the last month or so I have seen various issues that have been caused by on-premise infrastructure/setup and which have not allowed the HCW (which was introduced in Exchange 2010 SP2) to complete successfully...(read more)

AD FS Publishing and Policy Rules

Dan Kenyon-smith — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:54:29 GMT

I’ve been working with a customer who wanted to lock down access to O365 so users can access all the services from anywhere apart from browser based access, which can only be accessed from their corporate managed devices. Here’s a quick rundown of what...(read more)

Office 365 Migration Issues

Dan Kenyon-smith — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:02:22 GMT

Please find a list of migration issues and resolutions that I captured during my last customers migration:- Flood mitigation on Threat Management Gateway (TMG) - http://community.office365.com/en-us/w/exchange/office-365-move-mailbox-fails-with-transient...(read more)

Office 365 FOPE and Credit Card Rules

Dan Kenyon-smith — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:20:02 GMT

Whilst working with a customer here in the UK on their O365 project, they asked about using Forefront Online Protection for Exchange (FOPE) (the version that comes with O365) how to setup rules to block credit cards details. There are various rues...(read more)

Using Word 2010 with TechNet Blog Platform

Neil Johnson [MSFT] — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:46:20 GMT

This is obviously not a post about Exchange Server, but as a blogger I wanted to share this since it's been something that has been irritating me for some time… Basically I like to write in Word rather than Live Writer. Live Writer is great but I spend...(read more)

Database Maintenance in Exchange Server 2010

Neil Johnson [MSFT] — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:56:20 GMT

If there is one area of Exchange 2010 that was poorly documented and poorly understood it has to be database maintenance. The problem stemmed from the significant changes that we made in the store for Exchange 2010 and a confusion of terms. This...(read more)

The Office 365 Advisor

Neil Hobson [MSFT] — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:31:00 GMT

If you are not sure which Office 365 plan is right for you, then you'll be pleased to hear that Microsoft has released the Office 365 Advisor . This is a tool that can help you find the right Office 365 plan and also estimate your costs. When you access...(read more)

Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack (SP2) is released!

Neil Johnson [MSFT] — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:25:57 GMT

Last week when the internal announcement was made to say that SP2 had been completed and was scheduled for release, I added a few blog articles onto my “to do” list. Imagine my surprise this morning when I woke up to find that the internets were...(read more)

Exchange Service Availability….For the greater good…

Neil Johnson [MSFT] — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:51:08 GMT

I recently authored a post over at the Exchange Team Blog about Exchange ESE and Windows Disk Timeout values. http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2011/11/17/windows-disk-timeouts-and-exchange-server-2010.aspx Whilst writing that article and especially...(read more)

Recommended Windows Hotfix for Database Availability Groups running Windows Server 2008 R2

Neil Johnson [MSFT] — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:01:45 GMT

Scott just posted this article up on the team blog.. http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2011/11/20/recommended-windows-hotfix-for-database-availability-groups-running-windows-server-2008-r2.aspx A summary of the issue… “This hotfix is strongly...(read more)

Office 365 : DirSync Tool Now 64-bit

Neil Hobson [MSFT] — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:28:23 GMT

Microsoft has released the 64-bit version of the Directory Synchronization tool for Office 365. The community post is here , so please do go and take the time to review the information presented there. However, I'd just like to call out from the community...(read more)

Infrastructure Consultant UC Messaging

Microsoft UK Unified Comms Team — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:17:00 GMT

We are recruiting! For the full role description, see this link. For more about careers at Microsoft UK, see this link. There is also a link for more information on careers in Microsoft Services.

Office 365 and Delays Enabling Directory Synchronization

Neil Hobson [MSFT] — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:02:00 GMT

I was attempting to enable directory synchronisation for Office 365 last week when I came across an error in the Microsoft Online Services Directory Synchronization Configuration Wizard. The error stated: "An error occurred. Error Code: 15. Error Description...(read more)

Microsoft Lync 2011 for Mac and Office 365 Fix

Neil Johnson [MSFT] — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:13:33 GMT

Last month I wrote a blog about connecting Office 2011 for Mac to Office 365 . This post generated a lot of interest within the community, but mostly for the wrong reason! i.e pretty much everyone that tried this was unable to connect Lync...(read more)

A fix for the interoperability issues between Exchange 2007 and 2010 EMC and IE9 is now available

Neil Johnson [MSFT] — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:42:09 GMT

This has been irritating me more and more recently – I am generally quite a tolerant person, but sometimes its the smallest things that irritate you the most!. Anyway, it looks like there is a fix available.. I am out for most of this week without...(read more)

Outlook Performance Counters are missing–take 2

Neil Johnson [MSFT] — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:45:48 GMT

Back in the summer (remember that?) I wrote an article about viewing the Outlook performance counters and how to get them to be visible on Windows 7 and Vista. I have recently noticed that there are further complications to this. On one customer...(read more)

Exchange Server 2010 Cross Forest Delegation

Neil Johnson [MSFT] — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:45:31 GMT

This has been an interesting bit of work for me. I have been working with a customer who really needed to provide their users with the ability to manage calendars across different Exchange organisations. When they initially presented this...(read more)

Exchange 2010 MCM–Rotation 10

Neil Johnson [MSFT] — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 06:17:06 GMT

MCM Rotation 10 has just completed and was the first rotation that I have been involved as an instructor (albeit remotely on this occasion!). I noticed that Jeff Guillet had posted his experience here so I thought I would share it to give some more...(read more)

MUCUG (UK User Group) Event October 2011

Neil Hobson [MSFT] — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:55:00 GMT

Adam Jacobs, a Lync MVP, co-manages a London-based UC user group called Microsoft Unified Communications User Group London (MUCUG) with Tom Arbuthnott and Justin Morris; the website can be found at http://mucugl.co.uk . MUCUG has arranged a gathering...(read more)

Office 365 Forum Assistant

Neil Hobson [MSFT] — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 07:29:00 GMT

Prior to joining Microsoft, I was a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for Exchange Server and was always interested in helping the Exchange community. One of the ways that MVPs interact with the community is via the various TechNet forums at...(read more)

Office 365–With Mac OS X Lion, Microsoft Office 2011 and Lync 2011 for Mac

Neil Johnson [MSFT] — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:22:47 GMT

Many of the customers I work with are currently making their way through an Office 365 technical pilot that needs to include Mac OS X machines as well as various versions of Windows. The Windows stuff seems fairly well documented and since we now...(read more)