Conteúdos do Tech.Ed 2006

É certo que nós Europeus deixámos de ter Tech.Ed, em sua substituição temos agora um IT Forum alargado.
Mas para quem quiser aceder a alguns dos conteúdos do Tech.Ed 2006 dos Estados Unidos, existem alguns bastante interessantes online.
Adicionalmente, o Scott Schnoll resolveu disponibilizar 2 das suas apresentações sobre Exchange:

• Exchange Server 2003 Clustering Best Practices
• Exchange Server 2003 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts

Technorati : cluster, exchange server, teched
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E eles não param...

Sabendo que o grupo de Exchange da Microsoft é um dos mais activos no que respeita à criação de literatura técnica, não é surpresa nenhuma ver um fluxo constante de documentos a serem actualizados.
Os últimos são:

• Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Disaster Recovery Operations Guide
• Optimizing Storage for Microsoft Exchange Server 2003

Technorati : disaster recovery, exchange server, operations guide, storage
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Leitura de fim-de-semana

Em semana de Tech.Ed nos Estados Unidos, seria de esperar mais notícias... Suponho que já não exista muito mais a dizer sobre o Exchange 2007, agora que se aproxima a Beta 2.

• OAB Generation and the 9339 event id
• Exchange - going small or large?
• Active sync, Windows mobile and certificates
• Demystifying the Local Continuous Replication (LCR) feature
• Exchange Internals How the Exchange Core Components work together
• Language Selection in Exchange 2007 OWA
• PFDAVAdmin tool version 2.6 released - great new features!
• From crush to product documentation: The story of Squeaky Lobster
• Has Motorola made a BlackBerry killer

Documentos de PowerShell e Outlook Voice Access

Foram recentemente disponibilizados novos documentos sobre PowerShell (ex-Monad) e Outlook Voice Access:

• Introduction to the Exchange Management Shell: Microsoft® Exchange Server 2007 introduces a new management platform called the Exchange Management Shell, based on Microsoft Windows® PowerShell, formerly codenamed "Monad". This document outlines the key benefits that the Exchange Management Shell provides to Exchange administrators and developers, and explains how cmdlets are structured, and how data is managed.
• Quick Reference for Exchange Management Shell: Microsoft® Exchange Server 2007 introduces a new management platform called the Exchange Management Shell, based on Microsoft Windows® PowerShell, formerly codenamed "Monad". This topic provides a list of many frequently used cmdlets, important conventions, and useful tips. The information is presented by feature area, such as recipient, transport, and database administration.
• Quick Reference for Outlook Voice Access: Outlook Voice Access lets UM-enabled users to access their Exchange 2007 mailbox using analog, digital, or cellular telephones. By using the menu system found in Outlook Voice Access, UM-enabled users can read e-mail, listen to voice messages, and interact with their Outlook calendar. This quick reference sheet shows the navigational tree and the options that are available to UM-enabled users when they are using Outlook Voice Access.

Technorati : powershell, exchange 2007, monad, outlook voice access
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Actualização do filtro Junk Email do Outlook (Junho 2006)

Está disponível uma nova actualização para o filtro Junk E-mail do Outlook 2003.

"This update provides the Junk E-mail Filter in Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 with a more current definition of which e-mail messages should be considered junk e-mail."

O download está disponível aqui ou através do Microsoft Update. Como é habitual, está acompanhado pelo respectivo artigo da Knowledge Base:

• Description of the Update for Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter (KB917149)

Technorati : outlook, junk email, spam
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Vulnerabilidade do Exchange/OWA

A Microsoft publicou o boletim de segurança MS06-029 que descreve uma nova vulnerabilidade que afecta o Exchange Server 2000 e 2003. Esta falha de segurança afecta mais concretamente o Outlook Web Acess e pode permitir execução remota de código. Mais informação nos seguintes links:

• Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-029
• MS06-029: Vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server could allow script injection when Exchange Server runs Outlook Web Access

Estão disponíveis os patches correctivos para o Exchange 2000 SP3, Exchange 2003 SP1 e Exchange 2003 SP2, mas atenção, a aplicação destas actualizações de segurança poderá quebrar o serviço da BlackBerry ou da GoodLink.

Technorati : exchange server, owa, security
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Leitura de fim-de-semana

As notícias e artigos da semana:

• Microsoft Releases Antigen E-Mail Security Products
• 'You've Got Mail' -- and Ads, Courtesy of Microsoft
• Spam King Settles With Texas, Microsoft
• Choosing Exchange Hardware for Reuse
• Troubleshooting RPC over HTTPS (Part 2)
• Using the Logparser Utility to Analyze Exchange/IIS Logs
• Mailbox Limits
• Out of the Office Messages to the Internet - Why Not?

Actualização de ferramentas de Exchange

A Microsoft actualizou recentemente algumas das ferramentas para o Exchange Server. Aqui fica a lista:

• Microsoft Exchange Server Profile Analyzer (v06.05.7830)
  Collect estimated statistical information from a single mailbox store or across an Exchange Server organization.
• Microsoft Exchange Server Best Practices Analyzer Tool v2.7 (v2.7.7830.0)
  The Microsoft Exchange Server Best Practices Analyzer Tool is designed for administrators who want to determine the overall health of their Exchange servers and topology. The tool scans Exchange servers and identifies items that do not conform to Microsoft best practices.
• Microsoft Exchange Server Quota Message Service (v06.05.7830)
  Generate custom quota messages that informs users that they have exceeded their message quotas.
• Microsoft Exchange Server MAPI Client and Collaboration Data Objects 1.2.1 (v06.05.7830)
  Starting with Exchange 2007 Beta 2, neither the Messaging API (MAPI) client libraries nor CDO 1.2.1 will be provided as a part of the install of the product. As a result, there is functionality missing that many applications depend on. Microsoft Exchange MAPI and CDO 1.2.1 provide access to these APIs, which, in turn, provide access to the contents of MAPI stores.
• Microsoft Exchange Server Public Folder DAV-based Administration Tool (v06.05.7830)
  Use the Exchange Server Public Folder Distributed Authoring and Versioning (DAV)-based Administration tool (PFDAVAdmin) to perform various management tasks related to public folders and mailboxes.
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Connector for Lotus Notes (v.06.05.7830)
  The Connector for Lotus Notes/Domino is a tool designed for organizations that need to coexist during a migration from Lotus Domino to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003.
• Microsoft Exchange Server MAPI Editor (v06.05.7830)
  The Messaging API (MAPI) Editor provides access to the contents of MAPI stores through a graphical user interface.
• Microsoft Exchange Server Jetstress Tool (v06.05.7830)
  Simulate disk I/O load on a test server running Exchange to verify the performance and stability of your disk subsystem before putting your server into a production environment.

Technorati : exchange server, tools
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Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Operations Guide

Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Operations Guide é a mais recente adição ao leque de documentos que a equipa de Exchange da Microsoft está a sincronizar com as versões disponíveis online.
Para ver a lista completa dos documentos actualizados até agora, podem consultar um post meu sobre o assunto noutro blog: Exchange documents in sync (espero não me ter esquecido de nenhum).

Technorati : exchange 2003, exchange server, operations
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Mobile Messaging at Microsoft

Incluído na série Microsoft IT Showcase - How Microsoft Does IT, a Microsoft disponibilizou um documento à volta do tema de mobile messaging: Mobile Messaging at Microsoft: Improving Security, Manageability, and User Experience.
É uma leitura interessantíssima, especialmente para os que ainda não implementaram as novas funcionalidades incluídas no Service Pack 2 para o Exchange Server 2003.

“Overview: Detailed discussion describing how Microsoft IT uses Exchange Server 2003 SP2 and Windows Mobile 5.0 with the Messaging and Security Feature Pack to improve how it does mobile messaging. By using these new technologies Microsoft IT was able to manage mobile devices more easily, better secure mobile devices, and enable end users to take advantage of a more richer mobile messaging experience.“

Technorati : exchange 2003, exchange server, operations
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Microsoft Exchange Server Intelligent Message Filter v2 Operations Guide

A Microsoft disponibilizou recentemente o Microsoft Exchange Server Intelligent Message Filter v2 Operations Guide.

Microsoft Exchange Server Intelligent Message Filter v2 helps companies reduce the amount of unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE), also known as spam, received by users. This guide provides overall operational information to help optimize the performance of Exchange Server Intelligent Message Filter.
This guide provides overall operational information to help optimize the performance of Exchange Server Intelligent Message Filter.

Para quem precisa de ajuda complementar para combater o malware, também estão disponíveis para download versões de trial da suite Antigen:

• Microsoft Antigen for SMTP Gateways Trial Software
• Microsoft Antigen Spam Manager Trial Software

Leitura de fim-de-semana

Aproveitando o mote da Feira do Livro de Lisboa que está a decorrer, aqui ficam mais algumas sugestões de leitura:

• Exchange Server 2003 -- Read All About It
• Microsoft to Offer Premium Server License
• Microsoft to charge more for high-end Exchange
• Why Message Hygiene is a Hygiene Factor
• New SP2 default behavior and OAB Generation PDN Changes
• Intelligent Message Filter configuration "typo"
• How to be an 31337 hax04 and send mail to a DL to which you don't have rights
• Transaction Logs, The Lifeblood of Exchange
• MOM 2005 SLA Scorecard for Exchange
• Migration Wizard Matching Algorithm
• Managing Personal Folders
• Digging In to Exchange UM, Part 2
• Security a Major Feature of Exchange Server 2007

Introdução ao Microsoft PowerShell

Por esta altura espero que o nome de Microsoft PowerShell, previamente conhecido por Monad, faça já parte do vosso vocabulário corrente.
Quem pretender aprofundar os conhecimentos sobre esta tecnologia de scripting que permite administrar totalmente o Exchange 2007, a Realtime Nexus está a disponibilizar um eBook grátis: An Introduction to Microsoft PowerShell (fonte: blog do Anderson Patrício).

Forget batch files and set your VBScripts aside: There’s a new scripting and automation kid on the block and its name is Microsoft® PowerShell™. Designed from the ground up to be powerful, flexible, consistent, and complete, PowerShell™ promises easier and more efficient Windows and Windows Server System administration. In this short Realtimepublishers eBooklet, An Introduction to Microsoft® PowerShell™, scripting guru Don Jones introduces you to PowerShell™, tells you a bit about how it works, and gives you a sneak peak of PowerShell™ in action. Now’s the chance to start learning what some are calling “the most significant technology for Windows administrators since the invention of remote control.”
Access to this expert publication is offered at no charge to readers. The complete eBook is currently available as an Adobe® Acrobat PDF file.

Exchange 2003 em Windows x64? Nem pensar!

Recentemente, estava eu num cliente a implementar uma infraestrutura de IT - AD, Exchange, SQL, etc. - quando me deparei com um problema inultrapassável. Os servidores eram recentes e suportavam Windows x64, por isso a decisão lógica foi a de instalar esta versão do Windows Server 2003.
Quando chegou a altura de instalar o Exchange Server 2003, começaram os problemas. A parte de Forestprep e Domainprep correram bem, mas quando lancei o setup do Exchange, fui confrontado com um aviso que o ASP.NET não estava instalado.
Após alguma pesquisa no Google, descobri finalmente que esta configuração não é suportada (bolas, já devia saber isto!).
De facto, o Exchange 2003 corre e é suportado em hardware de 64 bits, desde que o sistema operativo instalado seja de 32 bits! Foi a solução seguida.
Aqui ficam alguns links relacionados:

• x64 bit hardware will run Exchange 2003 on 32 bit Windows
• System Requirements for Exchange Server 2003
• Planning for a 64-bit Future
• Exchange 2003 Test Environments

Leitura de fim-de-semana

Uma lista pequena esta semana, assim podem ler com mais atenção o primeiro artigo ;-)

• Storage Design Have You Considered iSCSI?
• Troubleshooting RPC over HTTPS (Part 1)
• Windows 2003 Domain Rename and Exchange error
• Cheap SSL certs or running with the big dogs?
• Power-Shelling the Message Tracking logs on Exchange 2000/2003
• Outlook signature formatting problems
• Digging Into Exchange UM
• Sophos: Spam won't be gone in two years

Managing Exchange Messaging Services by Using Metrics

Grande, grande documento da equipa Microsoft IT: Managing Exchange Messaging Services by Using Metrics.

This white paper covers:

• The business value of monitoring and managing Exchange messaging services as an end-to-end business service.
• The team roles that Microsoft IT uses in monitoring and managing its Exchange messaging services.
• The meaning of Exchange messaging service management.
• The components of Exchange messaging service management.
• The metrics that Microsoft IT uses for monitoring and managing its Exchange messaging services.
• The processes that Microsoft IT uses for managing its Exchange messaging services.
• The products and technologies that Microsoft IT uses to monitor and manage Exchange messaging services (including the Microsoft Operations Manager 2005 SLA Scorecard for Exchange).
• The best practices that Microsoft IT uses in managing its Exchange messaging services.

E aqui fica o resumo das melhores práticas que a equipa Microsoft IT segue:

• Use MOM 2005 to monitor Exchange Server 2003
• Apply MOF best practices.
• Collect metrics by using an automated method.
• Clearly identify the business requirements for the service and map them to appropriate service levels.
• Use the service virtual team approach for service delivery.
• Adopt knowledge management processes that deliver consistent Exchange messaging services at a lower total cost of ownership (TCO).
• Complete all the details of the service map to understand the dependencies and facilitate SLA and OLA discussions.
• Conduct service review meetings weekly and monthly.

Sender ID overview

A Microsoft actualizou o folheto de divulgação da tecnologia de Sender ID (versão 2.0). Aqui fica a lista das empresas que já adoptaram este método de combate ao correio não-solicitado:



E aqui ficam mais alguns links interessantes:

1. Sender ID: "Implementation Tips for the Sender ID Framework—Creating Your SPF Record"
2. Sender ID: "Sender ID Framework Deployment Overview"
3. "Sender ID: Authenticating E-Mail" Specification (Draft)
4. Sender ID: "Sender ID Framework Executive Overview"
5. Sender ID: "Sender Policy Framework: Authorizing Use of Domains in Mail From"

TCP/IP Fundamentals for Microsoft Windows

Quer se seja um Administrador de Exchange, um novato ou apenas um curioso tecnológico, os fundamentos de TCP/IP são absolutamente essenciais. A Microsoft publicou ontem o documento TCP/IP Fundamentals for Microsoft Windows. Definitivamente uma leitura obrigatória!

"This online book is a structured, introductory approach to the basic concepts and principles of the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocol suite, how the most important protocols function, and their basic configuration in the Microsoft® Windows Server® 2003 and Windows® XP operating systems. This book is primarily a discussion of concepts and principles to lay a conceptual foundation for the TCP/IP protocol suite and provides an integrated discussion of both Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6)."

Exchange e Outlook dominam o mercado do correio electrónico

De acordo com um estudo efectuado pelo Radicati Group, o Microsoft Exchange Server e o Microsoft Outlook são os campeões do mercado do correio electrónico.

The Radicati Group, Inc.’s latest study, “Microsoft Exchange and Outlook Analysis, 2006-2010,” provides an in-depth analysis of current and forecasted MS Exchange installed base, with extensive breakouts by version, business size and region. According to the report, Microsoft Exchange currently commands a 31% installed base market share and a 52% revenue market share of the corporate insourced messaging software market. The next version of Exchange, called Exchange 2007, is expected to be released in early 2007. Microsoft is also currently beta testing a hosted e-mail service called Office Live.

Microsoft has aggressively expanded its reach into the hosted e-mail market since 2003, and we expect that Microsoft’s revenue in this market will grow at an average annual rate of 25% over the next four years.

Microsoft leads the e-mail client market with Outlook, Outlook Express and Outlook Web Access. Uptake for Outlook Mobile, the company’s e-mail client for mobile devices has also been strong, due to increased demand for smartphones.

Leiam a Press Release completa.

Leitura de fim-de-semana

Aqui fica a compilação das últimas notícias e artigos sobre Exchange e messaging em geral:

• Experts: Exchange patch OK, despite glitches
• How to manually (and safely) purge Exchange Server transaction logs
• Tutorial: How to protect Exchange Server from spam blacklists
• Microsoft Windows Mobile AKUs
• Can You Prove Your E-Mail Isn't Spam?
• Regulatory Compliance with Exchange Server 2003 journaling
• Windows PowerShell: Managing services
• Use LDIFDE to look up the distribution lists a user is a member of
• Configuring ISA Server 2004 as an Exchange Frontend Server in the DMZ (Part 2)
• Exchange 2003 Mobile Messaging Part 4 Accessing the Corporate GAL from your Mobile Device Using GAL Lookup
• Microsoft Outlook Web Access 2007 - new features in Beta 1