Webcasts em Agosto

Mais uma vez a Eileen Brown condensou os webcasts disponíveis em Agosto:

• Exchange Webcasts for August
• Collaboration Webcasts for August
• Unified Communication Webcasts for August

Leitura de fim-de-semana

• Exchange 2007 Setup switches
• Copying NDRs to a mailbox in Exchange Server 2007
• Bouncing email to Exchange 2007 distribution groups
• 401 Error when attempting Test-OutlookWebServices
• Connection Filtering, RBLs and SMTP logs
• Move mailbox issue: disconnected mailbox remains on source mailbox Store
• Show Users last Message Sent and Received Times,Subject in a Form using Powershell against Exchange 2007 Message Tracking Logs
• How the Exchange Server 2007 Core Services Work Together
• Monitoring Exchange Server 2007 using MOM 2005 (Part 3)
• Defragmentation of Exchange Server Hard Disk
• New Articles on amset.info
• Getting ADUC to see the Exchange 2003 Attributes on Windows Vista…
• Disabling IMAP for New Users, but maintaining the existing IMAP settings…
• HOWTO: Delete Search Folders and Interop with CDO 1.21 from Managed (.NET) Code
• Exchange Server 2007 and the New Generation of Microsoft Certifications

TechNet Magazine - Agosto 2007

A edição de Agosto da TechNet Magazine já está online (também está disponível para download no formato HTML help).

Embora desta vez não existam artigos sobre o Exchange 2007, o tema central é a gestão e monitorização de sistemas. Conseguem imaginar os vossos servidores de Exchange sem os monitorizar devidamente? Esperem por isso alguns artigos sobre o System Center em geral, Operations Manager 2007 e o novo System Center Essentials.

Já agora, já repararam que o Exchange Server 2007 Management Pack para o Operations Manager 2007 não se encontra ainda disponível?

del.icio.us Tags: exchange 2007, mom, system center, operations manager

Technorati Tags: exchange 2007, mom, system center, operations manager

Leitura de fim-de-semana

• Demystify Outlook terms
• Can You Hear Me Now? Unify Your Communications
• Cross Org mailbox migration cleanup with Exchange Server 2007
• Windows 2003 Scalable Networking pack and its possible effects on Exchange
• Introducing Unified Messaging in Office Communications Server 2007 environment
• What is really CheckPoint.chk?
• Cluster Exchange 2003 & EXRES.DLL administrator should not stop a service from the command-line
• Can you Run a Mail server without MX record
• Using POP3 and IMAP4 to Access Exchange 2007 (Part 2)
• Managing Exchange 2007 using PowerGUI (Part 2)
• OWA Time Zone and Language
• Turning on Filter Junk Email in Exchange 2007 via an OWA Script
• You Don't Have to be Running a 64bit OS to Extend the Schema for Exchange 2007
• Update to Adding Outlook Signatures (Outlook 2000 Fix) ...
• Recovering old Public Folders to a Server with a Different Name, andDifferent Organisation
• Change the legacyExchangeDN value in accounts in bulk...
• Exchange Server 2007 CAS-CAS Proxying Guidelines..
• Sharing a calendar via email

Leitura de fim-de-semana

• Best Features in Exchange 2007 (Part 2 of 2)
• How to synchronize Google and Microsoft Outlook calendars
• Five Reasons why Microsoft Exchange Hosting is better than Google Apps
• Google Buys Postini for $625 Million
• Google's Postini Buy Will Boost Gmail Corporate Appeal
• Keeping your junk e-mail filter updated
• DynamicDistributionGroup for all users in a particular storage group
• How to "Send As" a distribution list...
• What exactly is an MX record (Mail Exchanger)?
• Exchange Server 2003 - Offline Address Book Best Practices Guide Resources
• The Exchange system attendant logs 1031 and 1032 after generating an Offline Address Book
• MX Records - Preference or Priority?
• HOW TO: Prevent a user from sending and receiving internet mail
• Setting the Homepage on a Outlook Folder via a script
• NLB and Hub Transport
• Autodiscover
• Exchange 2007 Message Size Limits
• Exchange 2007 Permissions and Roles (Part 1)
• Sharing SMTP name space with one Exchange server
• How to Remove a Public Folder Database in Exchange Server 2007 RTM
• Mobile Device Connectivity to Exchange using IMAP vs Exchange ActiveSync
• Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer Automation

Aventuras com VBScript (e PrimalScript)

Embora o PowerShell seja cada vez mais o "standard de facto" para scripting relacionado com o Exchange Server, eu continuo ainda a utilizar o VBScript para algumas tarefas do dia-a-dia.

Recentemente, necessitei de adicionar um novo Proxy Address a todos os utilizadores da Active Directory e torná-lo o endereço SMTP primário. Para tornar as coisas mais interessantes, desta vez em vez de utilizar um ficheiro de texto como input, resolvi utilizar uma folha de Excel.

O script utiliza 2 colunas, a primeira com o alias de e-mail (mailNickname) e a segunda com o novo endereço smtp. O script adiciona ainda uma terceira coluna com os valores "Found" e "Not Found".

Aqui está o código:

Const ADS_SCOPE_SUBTREE = 2
Const ADS_PROPERTY_UPDATE = 2

Set objConnection = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
Set objCommand = CreateObject("ADODB.Command")
objConnection.Provider = "ADsDSOObject"
objConnection.Open "Active Directory Provider"
Set objCommand.ActiveConnection = objConnection

objCommand.Properties("Page Size") = 1000
objCommand.Properties("Searchscope") = ADS_SCOPE_SUBTREE 

Set objExcel = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
Set objWorkbook = objExcel.Workbooks.Open("C:\Scripts\smtp_table.xls")
objExcel.Visible = True

i = 1

Do Until objExcel.Cells(i, 1).Value = ""
    strName = objExcel.Cells(i,1)
    objCommand.CommandText = _
        "SELECT distinguishedName FROM 'LDAP://dc=virtual,dc=com' WHERE objectCategory='user' " & _
            "AND mailNickname='" & strName & "'"
    Set objRecordSet = objCommand.Execute

    If objRecordset.RecordCount = 1 Then
        objExcel.Cells(i,3) = "Found"
        strDN = objRecordSet.Fields("distinguishedName").Value
        Set objUser = GetObject("LDAP://" & strDN)
        strMail = objExcel.Cells(i,2)

        arrProxyAddresses = objUser.GetEx("proxyAddresses")
        nArr = UBound(arrProxyAddresses)
            For n=0 To nArr
                If InStr(arrProxyAddresses(n), "SMTP:") Then
                    arrProxyAddresses(n) = "smtp:" & Mid(arrProxyAddresses(n), 6) 
                End If
            Next

        ReDim Preserve arrProxyAddresses(nArr + 1)
        arrProxyAddresses(nArr+1) = "SMTP:" & strMail
        objUser.PutEx ADS_PROPERTY_UPDATE, "proxyAddresses", arrProxyAddresses
        objUser.Put "Mail", strMail
        objUser.SetInfo
    Else
        objExcel.Cells(i,3) = "Not found"
    End If
    
    i = i + 1
    objRecordset.Close
Loop

objConnection.Close

Pensei também que já era altura de me adaptar aos tempos modernos, pelo que tomei a decisão de abandonar de vez o Notepad e começar a utilizar uma ferramenta mais profissional para scripting. Escolhi o PrimalScript!

O PrimalScript tem tantas características úteis para o meu trabalho, que seria impossível enumerá-las todas neste post. Experimentem a versão de trial e julguem por vocês mesmos.

Whitepaper: Exchange Server 2003 Performance on VMware

A VMware disponibilizou um whitepaper que foca questões de desempenho e escalabilidade de uma solução Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 num ambiente virtualizado pelo VMware ESX Server 3.01: Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Performance on VMware ESX Server 3.

The paper presents the results of a joint study with Dell that examined the performance implications of a virtualized Exchange environment. Specifically, we looked at:

• The performance implications of running Exchange Server 2003 on a virtual machine versus a physical system.
• The performance of Exchange Server 2003 in virtual machine configurations when “scaling-up” (adding more processors to a machine) and “scaling-out” (adding more machines).

The details of the configurations and results of the above experiments are documented in the white paper.

To briefly summarize, the results from the study indicate that on an Dell PowerEdge 6850 server configured with four 2.66 GHz dual-core Intel Xeon 7020 processors and 16GB of RAM.

• A uniprocessor virtual machine can support up to 1,300 Heavy Exchange users.
• Consolidating multiple instances of these uniprocessor Exchange virtual machines can cumulatively support up to 4,000 Heavy users while still providing acceptable performance and scaling.
• Uniprocessor virtual machines are, from a performance perspective, equivalent to half as many multiprocessor (two virtual processors) virtual machines.

Para quem utiliza VMware, atenção à política de suporte por parte da Microsoft: Support for Microsoft Software in VMware Virtual Machines.

del.icio.us Tags: exchange server, vmware

Technorati Tags: exchange server, vmware

Apresentações de eventos técnicos

Após alguns dos maiores eventos técnicos, existem sempre uns poucos apresentadores que resolvem disponibilizar os seus PowerPoints ou até videos das sessões.

Juntei alguns dos principais disponíveis na Internet, aqui ficam os links:

• Microsoft TechDays 2007: Conteúdos Temáticos
• Microsoft New Zealand: Tech·Ed Presentation Downloads
• Get Ready for Office and Exchange 2007
• Post-Connections post
• Evan's TechEd 2007 Wrapup
• Microsoft Business Advantage Seminar Downloads
• Microsoft UK - TechNet - Post Event Archive

Leitura de fim-de-semana

• More on Exchange 2007 and certificates - with real world scenario
• Turning off the "leave a message" prompt in Exchange 2007 UM
• Managing Exchange 2007 using PowerGUI (Part 1)
• Monitoring Exchange Server 2007 using MOM 2005 (Part 2)
• Gartner: Keep The iPhone Out Of The Corporate Enterprise
• Synconize items from a public folder to a mailbox folder with WebDAV replication
• HOW TO: Add Email Addresses To Public Folders
• Header Firewall: Why spammers can't insert fake SCL (and other Exchange Organization) X headers
• Why Get-TransportAgent doesn't agree with the Exchange console
• DynamicDistributionGroup for all users in a particular storage group
• Postmarking: helping the fight against SPAM
• Mailbox Performance with FSS~
• A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the (TechNet) Forum
• Exchange 2007 Server Roles
• WindowsPowerShell [Get-Acl / Set-Acl]
• Unix: Groupware on the free
• iConfused iSyncing iPhone

Conector de Outlook para o Hotmail

Foi recentemente disponibilizado o Microsoft Office Outlook Connector Beta, que permite aceder ao Windows Live Hotmail através dos clientes Outlook 2003 ou Outlook 2007.

Ainda não o experimentei, mas desde que saiu o Windows Live Mail, não consigo sequer pensar noutra forma de aceder às minhas contas de Hotmail!

Overview
With Outlook Connector Beta, you can use Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2007 to access and manage your Windows Live Hotmail or Office Live Mail accounts, including e-mail messages and contacts for free! Calendar, tasks and notes can also be accessed and managed in Outlook for accounts with a paid subscription.
Note: A older, non-Beta version of the Microsoft Office Outlook Connector is also available.
Outlook Connector Beta enables you to use your Live Hotmail accounts within Outlook:

• Read and send your Office Live Mail/Windows Live Hotmail e-mail messages.
• Manage your Live Mail Contacts.
• Use advanced options for blocking junk e-mail messages.
• Manage multiple e-mail accounts in one place.

With a paid subscription, Outlook Connector Beta enables these additional features:

• Manage, share, and synchronize your Windows Live Calendar in Outlook.
• Access your Tasks and Notes.

System Requirements

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows Vista; Windows XP
• This download works with the following Office programs:
• Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
• Microsoft Office Outlook 2007

Links relaccionados

• Microsoft Office Outlook Connector Beta released

HP Storage Planning Calculator

Normalmente, quando preciso dimensionar o storage para o Exchange Server 2007, recorro à folha de Excel que a Microsoft disponibiliza para o efeito: Exchange 2007 Mailbox Server Role Storage Requirements Calculator spreadsheet.

Mas existem outras alternativas, como por exemplo a ferramenta de que vos vou falar (e sobre a qual já bloguei anteriormente).

HP Storage Planning Calculator for Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 é uma ferramenta disponibilizada pela HP que permite calcular os requisitos de storage de uma solução Exchange 2007, com base em alguns parâmetros de input que devem ser inseridos pelo utilizador.

Para quem utilize componentes deste fabricante, esta ferramenta tem a vantagem que permite ajustar o dimensionamento ao tipo de hardware utilizado, bem como fazer uma análise de custos.

"Based on a selected user (workload) profile; this tool calculates the number of hard drives (spindles); storage controllers; enclosures required to meet both performance and capacity requirements for the total user population. The tool is designed to allow for a variety of what-if scenarios and pricing; comparing RAID levels; hard drives (spindles) sizes; storage array controllers; enclosures; backup methodology/topology; tape drives; comparing Outlook client modes; and high availability options Cluster Continuous Replication (CCR) versus Local Continuous Replication(LCR)."

Novos blogues

Adicionei recentemente 2 novos blogues da Microsoft à minha extensa lista de feeds.

Aqui ficam pequenos excertos dos respectivos posts de boas vindas:

• Office Outlook Team Blog - Now that we’re working on our next release we’ve decided to create a team blog where we can talk about a wider range of topics. We look forward to having folks from all across the team posting about the tons of different features and functionality in Outlook. For now, we’ll be communicating mostly about the current release, Outlook 2007. When the time is right, we’ll begin to transition to discussing details of the next release of Office and Outlook so you can learn more about what will be coming in the future.
• Forefront Server Security Blog - Hello all and welcome to the new blog for the Microsoft Forefront Server Security products. Many of you may be familiar with and/or running our products under one of our previous handles. Whether you are a long-time Sybari Antigen user, a recent Microsoft Antigen user, or a brand new user of Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server 2007 and/or SharePoint 2007, this is the place for you to get information straight from the team that delivers the product line to you.

TechNet Magazine - Julho 2007

Já está disponível online a edição de Julho da TechNet Magazine. O tema central anda mais uma vez à volta das comunicações, pelo que o Exchange tem novamente grande destaque.

Quem já "despachou" a Leitura de fim-de-semana, tem aqui mais uma fornada de artigos técnicos assinados por alguns dos mais conceituados autores da actualidade.

Aqui fica a lista dos artigos mais interessantes (pelo menos para o autor deste blog):

• Communications: Data Protection and Disaster Recovery for Exchange Server 2007
• Communications: Improve Security with Windows Mobile 6
• Communications: A Powerful Alternative to Public Folders
• Communications: Log onto Outlook Web Access with Smart Cards
• Exchange Queue & A: Edge and Hub Transport Roles, Virtual Machines, and More
• Windows PowerShell: Rethinking the Pipeline

 A revista está igualmente disponível para download em formato HTML Help (.chm).