2 de agosto de 2008

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24 de julho de 2008

Leitura de fim-de-semana

15 de julho de 2008

Exchange 2007 Whitepapers

A Microsoft disponibilizou recentemente 2 whitepapers de Exchange Server 2007:

Exchange Server Jetstress Tool v08.02.0060

Uma nova actualização (v08.02.0060) da ferramenta Microsoft Exchange Server Jetstress Tool está disponível para download:

Brief Description
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.

Overview
Use Jetstress to verify the performance and stability of a disk subsystem prior to putting an Exchange server into production. Jetstress helps verify disk performance by simulating Exchange disk Input/Output (I/O) load. Specifically, Jetstress simulates the Exchange database and log file loads produced by a specific number of users. You use Performance Monitor, Event Viewer, and ESEUTIL in conjunction with Jetstress to verify that your disk subsystem meets or exceeds the performance criteria you establish. After a successful completion of the Jetstress Disk Performance and Stress Tests in a non-production environment, you will have ensured that your Exchange disk subsystem is adequately sized (in terms of performance criteria you establish) for the user count and user profiles you have established. It is highly recommended that the Jetstress user read through the tool documentation before using the tool.
Jetstress 2007 (08.02.0060) Updates: Configuration files and databases created with 08.01.0177 release of Jetstress will not work with version 08.02.0060 . A new configuration file and new databases must be created when using the 08.02.0060 release.

12 de julho de 2008

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8 de julho de 2008

Update Rollup 3 for Exchange Server 2007 SP1 e Update Rollup 7 for Exchange Server 2007 RTM

A Microsoft disponibilizou os seguintes Update Rollups (é suposto serem lançados todos os 2 meses) para o Exchange Server 2007:

Para além de todas as correcções que introduzem, também resolvem a vulnerabilidade descrita no Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-039.

 

Update Rollup 3 for Exchange Server 2007 SP1 Overview
Update Rollup 3 for Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) resolves issues that were found in Exchange Server 2007 SP1 since the software was released. This update rollup is highly recommended for all Exchange Server 2007 SP1 customers.
For a list of changes that are included in this update rollup, see KB949870.
This update rollup does not apply to Exchange Server 2007 Release To Manufacturing (RTM). For a list of update rollups applicable to Exchange Server 2007 RTM, refer to the section Update rollups for Exchange Server 2007 RTM in the Knowledge Base article KB937052.
This is a cumulative update rollup and replaces the following:

  • KB945684 Update Rollup 1 for Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (KB945684)
  • KB948016 Update Rollup 2 for Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (KB948016)

 

Update Rollup 7 for Exchange Server 2007 RTM Overview
Update Rollup 7 for Exchange Server 2007 resolves issues that were found in Exchange Server 2007 since the software was released. This update rollup is highly recommended for all Exchange Server 2007 customers.
For a list of changes that are included in this update rollup, see KB953469.
This is a cumulative update rollup and replaces the following:

  • KB930809 Update Rollup 1 for Exchange Server 2007 (KB930809)
  • KB935490 Update Rollup 2 for Exchange Server 2007 (KB935490)
  • KB935999 Update Rollup 3 for Exchange Server 2007 (KB935999)
  • KB940006 Update Rollup 4 for Exchange Server 2007 (KB940006)
  • KB941421 Update Rollup 5 for Exchange Server 2007 (KB941421)
  • KB942846 Update Rollup 6 for Exchange Server 2007 (KB942846)


This update rollup does not apply to Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack (SP1). For a list of update rollups applicable to Exchange Server 2007 SP1, refer to the section Update rollups for Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 in the Knowledge Base article KB937052.

3 de julho de 2008

TechNet Magazine - Agosto 2008

A edição de Agosto da TechNet Magazine já está disponível online ou, se preferirem, no formato  HTML Help .chm file para leitura em offline.

Dado que o tema principal é o SQL Server, não há muitos artigos que eu possa destacar, para além destas muito interessantes field notes, escritas por R'ykandar Korra'ti: IMAP Saves the World.

 

Já está disponível o SP1 do ISA Server 2006

O tão aguardado Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006 Service Pack 1 foi finalmente disponibilizado.

Brief Description
Microsoft® Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006 Service Pack 1 introduces new features and functionality to ISA Server 2006 Standard and Enterprise Editions.

Overview
The new features focus on configuration change management and enhanced troubleshooting designed to help you identify and resolve ISA Server configuration issues within the ISA Server Management console.
The service pack includes the following new features and feature improvements:

  • Configuration Change Tracking—Registers all configuration changes applied to ISA Server to help you assess issues that may occur as a result of these changes.
  • Test Button—Tests the consistency of a Web publishing rule between the published server and ISA Server.
  • Traffic Simulator—Simulates network traffic in accordance with specified request parameters, such as an internal user and the Web server, providing information about firewall policy rules evaluated for the request.
  • Diagnostic Logging Viewer—Now integrated as a tab into the ISA Server Management console, this feature displays detailed events on packet progress and provides information about handling and rule matching.

Improvements for existing features, including:

  • Support for integrated NLB mode in all three modes, including unicast, multicast, and multicast with Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP). Previously, ISA Server integrated NLB-supported unicast mode only.
  • Support for use of server certificates containing multiple Subject Alternative Name (SAN) entries. Previously, ISA Server was able to use either only either the subject name (common name) of a server certificate, or the first entry in the SAN list.
  • Support for Kerberos Constrained Delegation (KCD) cross-domain authentication. Credentials from users located in a different domain than the ISA Server, but in the same forest, can now be delegated to an internal published Web site by using KCD.
  • Support for client certificate authentication in a workgroup deployment. This removes the requirement to map each client certificate to an Active Directory® directory user account when forms-based authentication is used as the primary authentication method and client certificates are used as the secondary method.

For more information about this service pack, see Microsoft Article 943462.
For general information about installing ISA Server updates and hotfixes, see
Microsoft Article 885957.

Repararam que os certificado SAN são finalmente suportados?

Links relacionados:

25 de junho de 2008

eBook grátis - Sybex's Best of Exchange Server 2007

Para fazer download grátis deste eBook, tudo o que é necessário é efectuar a subscrição da Simple-Talk Exchange Newsletter.

"For a limited period, we've teamed up to offer you a FREE copy of "Sybex's Best of Exchange Server 2007" e-Book, comprising 10 chapters, and 350 pages of in-depth Exchange knowledge, compiled from five of Wiley's most popular Exchange 2007 books."

 

Índice:

  • Mastering Exchange Server 2007 - Barry Gerber, Jim McBee
    • Chapter 2: Exchange Server Architecture
    • Chapter 6: Scaling Upward and Outward
  • Exchange Server 2007 Infrastructure Design: A Service-Oriented Approach - David W. Tschanz
    • Chapter 4: Applying Planning Principles to Exchange Sever 2007
  • Exchange Server 2007 Implementation & Administration - Jim McBee, Benjamin Craig
    • Chapter 2: Exchange Server Administration
    • Chapter 4: Installing Exchange Server 2007
    • Chapter 12: Sizing Storage Groups and Databases
  • MCITP: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Messaging, Design and Deployment Study Guide (Exams 70-237 & 70-238) - Rawlinson Rivera
    • Chapter 5: Defining Policies and Security Procedures
    • Chapter 10: Planning a Backup and Recovery Solution for Exchange Server 2007
    • Chapter 15: Planning Exchange Server 2007 Security
  • MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Configuration Study Guide (Exam 70-236) - Will Schmied, Kevin Miller
    • Chapter 10: Creating, Managing Highly Available Exchange Server Solutions

23 de junho de 2008

Actualização do MP de Exchange Server 2007 para OpsMgr 2007

A tão aguardada actualização do Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Management Pack for System Center Operations Manager 2007 (v6.0.6278.12) foi finalmente disponibilizada!

Este MP vem acompanhado de um guia técnico de instalação e configuração.

Brief Description
This management pack includes scripts and rules to effectively monitor Exchange 2007 and report on performance, availability, and reliability of its server roles.

Overview
The Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 management pack is designed to be used for monitoring Exchange 2007 events, collecting Exchange component-specific performance counters in one central location, and for raising alerts for operator intervention as necessary. By detecting, sending alerts, and automatically responding to critical events, this management pack helps indicate, correct, and prevent possible service outages or configuration problems, allowing you to proactively manage Exchange servers and identify issues before they become critical. The management pack monitors and provides alerts for automatic notification of events indicating service outages, performance degradation, health monitoring, and centralized management.
This Management Pack requires Operations Manager 2007 Service Pack 1.
This Management Pack requires the Operations Manager 2007 updates specified in Knowledge Base articles 950853, 951979 and 951380 (see the Management Pack Guide for details).

Release History:

  • 10/9/2007 - Initial Release, version 6.0.5000.0
  • 6/22/2007 - Updated Release, version 6.0.6278.12

Lista de alterações:

  • All updates included in the 08.01.0240.001 version of the Exchange Server 2007 SP1 Management Pack for Microsoft Operations Manager 2005, except updates relating to reports.
  • Overrides were documented in the Management Pack Guide for the LDAP Search Time and Failure DSNs Total rules and monitors.
  • The management pack was updated to support the renamed performance counters in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1. Performance counters for the Database object were renamed to MSExchange Database.
  • The management pack was updated to support non-default names of the Reporting data warehouse.
  • The OWA Connectivity performance view was updated to show performance data.
  • Fixed an issue where cluster virtual servers where discovered as type Microsoft Exchange 2007 Mailbox Servers Installation.
  • The Management Pack was updated so that alerts are correctly generated for events logged by physical cluster nodes in an Exchange Server 2007 cluster.
  • Fixed an issue where the Exchange cluster virtual servers were discovered as type Microsoft Exchange 2007 Mailbox Servers – Physical Computers Installation.
  • The Microsoft_Exchange_Server_Exchange_2007_Mailbox_Replication_Health_Test_ReplicationHealth_Events view was updated to target the Microsoft.Exchange.2007.Microsoft_Exchange_2007_Mailbox_Servers___Physical_Computers_ComputerGroup.
  • The reports were updated to support non-US locales on the Reporting Server.
  • The date/time picker was added to the reports, allowing for more flexibility in report scheduling.
  • The Failure and Delay DSNs Total monitors were updated to look for deltas. Previously, the monitors measured the averages for the sampling interval.
  • Fixed an issue where the cluster virtual servers were discovered as type Microsoft Exchange 2007 All Servers Installation.

21 de junho de 2008

Funcasts, Podcasts e Webcasts

Para além dos webcasts de Exchange que eu mencionei há algumas semanas, aqui fica uma lista também muito interessante:

20 de junho de 2008

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Ferramenta grátis de monitorização do Exchange

A SolarWinds disponibilizou recentemente uma ferramenta grátis de monitorização do Exchange.

"SolarWinds free Exchange Monitor is a clever desktop dashboard that continuously monitors Microsoft Exchange to deliver real-time insight into Exchange services, mail queue sizes, and host server health.

SolarWinds free Exchange Monitor makes it easy to:

  • Quickly identify and troubleshoot Exchange server problems, preventing email delays and calendaring issues
  • Spot growing mail queues that can indicate bigger issues, like transport failures, Internet connection failures, and virus activity
  • Leverage out-of-the-box settings based on best practices to start monitoring Exchange immediately
  • Prevent performance issues before they impact users with built-in red, yellow, and green health indicators
  • Monitor critical server health indicators, including disk space, CPU utilization, and memory utilization to ensure optimal hardware functionality."

Este é o aspecto da ferramenta:

Na primeira vez que corremos a ferramenta aparece uma janela para definição dos limites dos alertas e quais os serviços a monitorizar:

Links relacionados:

17 de junho de 2008

Exchange Web Services Windows Vista Gadget

Está disponível para download do site da Microsoft o Exchange Web Services Windows Vista Gadget Sample Application.

Overview
The Exchange Web Services Windows Vista Gadget sample application uses Exchange Web Services to retrieve Inbox, Calendar, and Task information from a user's Exchange 2007 mailbox. This sample application enables you to do the following:

  • View your latest e-mail messages, upcoming appointments, and tasks.
  • Page through your Inbox.
  • Open items in a fly-out window.
  • Open items in Outlook Web Access.
  • Mark messages as read or unread.
  • Delete messages.

O site Pro-Exchange publicou uma pequena demonstração com este gadget.

Já agora, existe uma série de outros recursos que foram recentemente disponibilizados e que poderão ser do vosso interesse:

  • Unified Messaging Web Service Sample - The Unified Messaging Web Service Sample describes how to create proxy classes that interact with the Unified Messaging Web service. The proxy classes make it easier to implement the interaction between the client and the Web service.
  • TimeChangeType Extension Sample - The TimeChangeType Extension Sample extends the TimeChangeType that implements IXmlSerializable to create an IXmlSerializable partial class.
  • Exchange Server 2007 Legacy API Property Mapping - The Exchange Server 2007 Legacy API Property Mapping download includes a spreadsheet that maps WebDAV/CDOEX properties to Exchange Web Services properties. You can use the information in the spreadsheet to migrate your WebDAV/CDOEX–based applications to Exchange Web Services in Exchange 2007.

16 de junho de 2008

Exchange Server 2007 Setup Architecture and Troubleshooting

A instalação do Exchange Server 2007 pode por vezes ser um autêntico desafio ou até mesmo frustante, nos piores casos. Foi por isso com satisfação que recebi a notícia da publicação do documento Exchange Server 2007 Setup Architecture and Troubleshooting, da autoria da equipa de Customer Service and Support da Microsoft.

Brief Description
This document is a step-by-step guide to help end users install Exchange Server 2007.

Overview
Exchange Server 2007 Setup Architecture and Troubleshooting was written by Microsoft Customer Service and Support to prepare Support Engineers who are assisting customers installing Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1). We hope that you find the step-by-step approach useful and appreciate any feedback.

Apesar do site Exchange Server TechCenter estar bastante bem servido em termos de doumentação técnica, o guia agora publicado condensa de forma quase perfeita toda a informação essencial para o processo de setup do Exchange Server 2007. Adicionalmente são-nos ainda fornecidas algumas dicas bem interessantes, como é o caso da sugestão de conversão do ficheiro de log do Exchange Setup para o formato HTML:

To enhance output, output can be directed to HTML using the OUT-HTML and OUT-IE scripts using the following command:

Get-SetupLog –tree:$false –error:$false | Where { $_.status –eq “Error” } | select datetime, depth, description, status | Out-HTML | Out-IE

Para terminar, deixo-vos ainda uma dica pessoal: para visualizar em tempo real o ficheiro de log atrás referido, utilizem o utilitário Tail, disponibilizado no pacote Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools:

Tail -f C:\ExchangeSetupLogs\ExchangeSetup.log

13 de junho de 2008

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Exchange 2007 Mailbox Server Role Storage Requirements Calculator v14.7

O Ross Smith IV anunciou no Microsoft Exchange Team Blog que a ferramenta Exchange 2007 Mailbox Server Role Storage Requirements Calculator v14.7 foi disponibilizada publicamente e que esta versão contém grandes modificações.

De acordo com a página de updates no blog You Had Me At EHLO, algumas das novas funcionalidades são:

  • Usability enhancements 
  • New Storage Design worksheet 
  • Bug fixes

Para obter instruções detalhadas sobre a utilização da ferramenta, consultem Exchange 2007 Mailbox Server Role Storage Requirements Calculator.

TechNet Magazine - Julho 2008

A edição de Julho da TechNet Magazine já está disponível online ou, se preferirem, pode ser descarregada no formato ficheiro HTML Help (.chm) para leitura em offline.

Embora a atracção principal da capa seja o IIS 7.0, este número vem bem recheado de artigos interessantes sobre Communications and Collaboration, com os produtos OCS 2007 e Exchange Server 2007.

 

Aqui fica a lista dos artigos recomendados:

12 de junho de 2008

Instalação do Exchange 2007 no Windows 2008: não esquecer o IPv6!

Desde que tomei a sábia decisão de migrar o meu ambiente de testes para Hyper-V, tive a oportunidade de ensaiar novos cenários, nomeadamente a possibilidade de ter máquinas virtuais de 64 bit.

E foi exactamente enquanto estava a instalar o Exchange Server 2007 num servidor virtual Windows Server 2008, que também é Domain Controller e Global Catalog, que enfrentei um desafio interessante.

Começo por lembrar que a instalação de Exchange em Domain Controllers não é de todo recomendada, há uma série de problemas que podem ocorrer, nomeadamente os descritos no artigo KB940845.

Mas os meus problemas ocorreram durante o processo de instalação do Exchange Server 2007 SP1. Tendo eu cumprido os requisitos para o setup em Windows 2008, conforme o descrito neste artigo TechNet, arranquei com o wizard de instalação.

Tudo parecia correr bem, até que durante a instalação do Hub Server Role o processo parou com o seguinte erro: Service 'MSExchangeTransport' failed to reach  status 'Running' on this server.

Uma análise ao Application Event Log, revelou os seguintes eventos:

Source: MSExchange ADAccess
Event ID: 2114
Task Category: Topology
Level: Error
Description:
Process MSEXCHANGEADTOPOLOGYSERVICE.EXE (PID=1784). Topology discovery failed, error 0x80040a02 (DSC_E_NO_SUITABLE_CDC). Look up the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) error code specified in the event description. To do this, use Microsoft Knowledge Base article 218185, "Microsoft LDAP Error Codes." Use the information in that article to learn more about the cause and resolution to this error. Use the Ping or PathPing command-line tools to test network connectivity to local domain controllers.

Source: MSExchange ADAccess
Event ID: 2604
Task Category: General
Level: Error
Description:
Process MSEXCHANGEADTOPOLOGY (PID=1784). When updating security for a remote procedure call (RPC) access for the Exchange Active Directory Topology service, Exchange could not retrieve the security descriptor for Exchange server object E2K7-X64 - Error code=80040a01.
The Exchange Active Directory Topology service will continue with limited permissions.

Event ID: 2601
Source: MSExchange ADAccess
Category: General
Type: Warning
Description: Process MSEXCHANGEADTOPOLOGY (PID=1784). When initializing a remote procedure call (RPC) to the Microsoft Exchange Active Directory Topology service, Exchange could not retrieve the SID for account <WKGUID=DC1301662F547445B9C490A52961F8FC,CN=Microsoft Exchange,CN=Services,CN=Configuration,...> - Error code=80040a01. The Microsoft Exchange Active Directory Topology service will continue starting with limited permissions.

Após uma pesquisa na Internet, rapidamente cheguei à conclusão que a origem do problema tinha a ver com o facto de o protocolo IPv6 estar inactivo nas propriedades da rede.

O Exchange Server 2007 precisa do IPv6 activo para correr em Windows Server 2008 (a menos que se desactive completamente o IPv6). Há uma série de componentes do Exchange que dependem do IPv6, conforme descrito neste artigo TechNet: IPv6 Support in Exchange 2007 SP1.

Se decidirem desactivar completamente o IPv6, sigam os passos descritos por David Chen neste Forum TechNet (eu não tive oportunidade de testar):

  1. Open Registry with "Regedit"
  2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip6\Parameters
  3. Create a dword (32-bit) value and name it as "Disabled Components" and then click OK
  4. Double click "Disabled Components" and type 0xffffffff(hexadecimal value) or 4294967295 (Decimal value)
    Please note: The above value 0xffffffff(hexadecimal value) or 4294967295 (Decimal value) will disable all IPv6 components, except the IPv6 loopback interface.

E embora algumas pessoas afirmem que é necessário configurar um endereço IPv6 fixo (como Alexander Zammit), o facto é que eu deixei as opções por omissão (obtain an IPv6 address automatically), reiniciei o processo de instalação e tudo correu optimamente.

6 de junho de 2008

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Microsoft Tech·Ed EMEA 2008

Já abriram as inscrições para o Microsoft Tech·Ed EMEA 2008.

Como tem sido habitual nos últimos anos, o evento está dividido em 2 partes: Tech·Ed EMEA 2008 IT Professionals e Tech·Ed EMEA 2008 Developers.

Be a part of this year’s Tech·Ed EMEA 2008 IT Professionals, 3-7 November 2008, in the CCIB, Barcelona, Spain.

Microsoft Tech·Ed EMEA 2008 IT Professionals is the Microsoft premier technical education conference just for IT professionals. For five days, you and 5,000 of your peers will learn how to architect, plan, deploy, manage and secure a connected enterprise from Microsoft experts and industry leaders. Experience more than ever before at Tech·Ed EMEA 2008 IT Professionals.

Be a part of this year’s Tech·Ed EMEA 2008 Developers, 10-14 November 2008, in the CCIB, Barcelona, Spain.

Microsoft Tech·Ed EMEA 2008 Developers is the Microsoft premier technical education conference just for developers. For five days, you and more than 4,000 of your peers have countless opportunities to explore about the latest cutting-edge technologies from Microsoft.

Registem-se antes de 31 de Julho para obterem o desconto Super Early Bird (€300€)!

5 de junho de 2008

Mailbox Size GUI Script for Exchange 2007

No seguimento do meu post de ontem sobre uma ferramenta gráfica, gostaria de voltar ao assunto, anunciando a mais recente contribuição do Glen Scales: Version 5 of the Mailbox Size Gui Script for Exchange 2007 (clique na imagem para aumentar).

No velhinho Exchange 2003 System Manager era realmente fácil obter uma lista de todas as mailboxes e o respectivo tamanho. Esta é sem dúvida uma das funcionalidades que os messaging administrators por esse Mundo fora mais sentem falta na consola de administração do Exchange Server 2007.

Claro que para os viciados em PowerShell, esta é uma tarerfa básica (consultem este post do Devin Ganger ou este outro no site dos ExchangeNinjas), mas para quem prefere ferramentas gráficas (como eu), esta ferramenta do Glen é uma verdadeira pérola.

4 de junho de 2008

Exchange 2007 Content Agent Log Message Tracker GUI

Andava para escrever há séculos sobre este fantástico script que o Glen Scales escreveu, parece que é desta! Este pedaço de código em PowerShell, Exchange 2007 Content Agent Log Message Tracker Gui, permite facilmente pesquisar os logs relativos ao Content Filtering Agent.

Embora seja possível manuasear os logs dos agentes antispam utilizando apenas PowerShell puro e duro, tal como o Bharat tão bem explica neste post Exchange Server 2007: Managing And Filtering Anti-Spam Agent Logs, para todos aqueles que não gostam da linha de comandos, este script pode ser uma bóia de salvação.

Este é o aspecto do GUI (clique para aumentar):

De acordo com as palavras do Glen, aqui fica fica uma breve introdução às potencialidades do script:

  • There are textboxes to allows you to search based on the from and/or To address.
  • There is a drop down list to allow you to select a SCL level to look at so you can choose to filter by only messages that have been assigned a specific SCL value.
  • The Extra sections has the aggregate options. Currently it has four aggregate option it can aggregate:
    • By SCL this shows you by SCL Value how many messages where received between the dates specified
    • By Receiver will show you grouped by receiver how many messages have been received for each SCL value
    • By Sender will show you grouped by Sender(P1) how many messages have been received for each SCL value
    • By Date will show you by Date how many messages have been received for each SCL value.

Se quiserem criar um shortcut para lançar o script, e partindo do princípio que este foi gravado na pasta "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft\Exchange Server\Scripts\", esta é a linha de comando necessária:

%windir%\system32\windowspowershell\v1.0\powershell.exe -PSConsoleFile "C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\bin\exshell.psc1" -command ". 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\Scripts\cagentTracker.ps1'"

Se os resultados obtidos com esta ferramenta não forem suficientes, fiquem sabendo que o Exchange inclui, out-of-the-box, alguns scripts de PowerShell que constroem alguns relatórios bem interessantes. Mais uma vez o Bharat fez um excelente trabalho em descrevê-los: Keeping tabs on Antispam filters: A few handy scripts in Exchange Server 2007.

2 de junho de 2008

Campanhas de recolha de fala do MLDC

Uma das novidades introduzidas com o Exchange Server 2007 foi o Unified Messaging (UM).

Uma das características do UM é a capacidade de interagir com o servidor de correio electrónico através de uma simples chamada telefónica, usando para isso o Outlook Voice Access.

Ora, para tornar isto possível é necessário desenvolver os necessários Language Packs para reconhecimento e sintetização de voz.

Infelizmente para nós Portugueses, não existe o Language Pack para Português Ibérico, apenas existe o do nosso povo irmão, o de Português do Brasil.

Mas não se preocupem, o MLDC já está a tratar do assunto. Mas para aperfeiçoar o Language Pack são necessárias muitas horas de "treino" do motor de síntese e de reconhecimento, sendo por isso necessário efectuar a recolha de voz.

Para incentivar a participação, existem neste momento 2 campanhas bastante interessantes com oferta de Xboxes ou mesmo de dinheiro. Todos os detalhes podem ser obtidos no blog da equipa do MLDC Portugal, Máquinas Falantes:

Já não sou MVP

Alguns de vocês podem ter reparado que o logótipo de MVP já não aparece na barra do lado direito deste blog.

E existe uma boa razão para isso, é que desde há algumas semanas que faço parte da Microsoft Portugal, onde desempenho funções de Technology Solution Specialist na área de Core UC. Quer isto dizer que tenho a oportunidade de trabalhar com 2 das mais excitantes tecnologias da Microsoft: Exchange e OCS.

Ser MVP foi uma experiência fantástica, tive oportunidade de conhecer pessoas bem interessantes, algumas toranram-se amigos para toda a vida.

E lanço daqui o repto para que todos participem de alguma forma numa comunidade técnica: comecem um blog, respondam questões em newsgroups, escrevam artigos técnicos... Há tantas formas de virem a fazer parte deste grupo de pessoas inspiradoras e apaixonadas, por isso, de que é que estão à espera?

30 de maio de 2008

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Update para Outlook 2007 permite suportar formato iCalendar

A Microsoft disponibilizou o update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 (KB950219) que introduz melhorias de compatibilidade com o formato Internet calendaring (iCalendar) e com servidores IMAP em geral.

Overview
This update extends Outlook 2007’s support for the iCalendar standards. The update also improves Outlook 2007’s compatibility with some IMAP e-mail servers.
This update adds support for the following iCalendar features:

  • Propose New Time for iCalendar Meetings: Users can now respond to a meeting invitation received in iCalendar format with a proposal for a new meeting time.
  • Extended Yearly Recurrence: Supports recurrence patterns for appointments or meetings that recur every N years, where N is greater than or equal to 1.

This update also includes miscellaneous improvements to IMAP compatibility.

Aqui fica o link para o correspondente artigo da Knowledge Base: An update is available for Outlook 2007 that improves Internet Calendar functionality and improves compatibility with IMAP servers.

29 de maio de 2008

Exchange Server Error Code Look-up

A Microsoft disponibilizou uma versão actualizada (v6.0.4011.0) da ferramenta Exchange Server Error Code Look-up.

Overview
Use the Error Code Lookup tool to determine error values from decimal and hexadecimal error codes in Microsoft Windows® operating systems. The tool can look up one or more values at a time. All values on the command line will be looked up in Exchange’s internal tables and presented to you. If available, informational data associated with the value or values will also be shown.

Aqui ficam 2 exemplos do output desta ferramenta:

C:\temp\Err>err 0x8004010f
# for hex 0x8004010f / decimal -2147221233 :
  ecNotFound                                     ec.h
  ecAttachNotFound                               ec.h
  ecUnknownRecip                                 ec.h
  ecPropNotExistent                              ec.h
  MAPI_E_NOT_FOUND                         mapicode.h
# 5 matches found for "0x8004010f"

C:\temp\Err>Err.exe -528
# for decimal -528 / hex 0xfffffdf0 :
  JET_errMissingLogFile                     esent98.h
# /* Current log file missing */
# 1 matches found for "-528"

O site TechRepublic tem um excelente artigo sobre esta matéria: Quickly identify problems using the Exchange Error Code Look-up tool.

Webcasts de Exchange em Junho 2008

Informação tirado do blog da Eileen Brown:

TechNet Webcast: Forefront Security for Exchange Deployment Best Practices (Level 300)
Tuesday, June 03, 2008 - 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Pacific Time
Mike Chan, Senior Product Manager, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032377121&Culture=en-US

MSDN Webcast: Building Asynchronous Contextual Collaboration with Exchange Web Services (Level 300)
Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Pacific Time
Chris Mayo, Technical Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032378675&Culture=en-US

Momentum Webcast: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Mailbox Role Memory Characterization Using HP BladeSystem (Level 200)
Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Pacific Time
Stuart Ladd, System Engineer, HP
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032378658&Culture=en-US

MSDN Webcast: Behind the Scenes with Communications Server 2007, Communicator 2007, and Exchange Server 2007 (Level 300)
Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Pacific Time
Chris Mayo, Technical Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032378646&Culture=en-US

28 de maio de 2008

Outlook 2007 demos

A Microsoft disponibilizou algumas demos de Outlook 2007. Passados estes meses desde que comecei a utilizar o Outlook 2007, ainda há tanto para aprender!

  • Work with SharePoint calendars: Multiple calendars giving you multiple headaches? Stop juggling back and forth and start seeing your calendars all together — in Outlook 2007. When you link your calendar from a Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 site to Outlook 2007, you can view and work with the SharePoint calendar right alongside your Outlook calendar. When you make changes in one calendar, the two calendars are synchronized automatically. You can overlay the calendars to make viewing your complete schedule even easier. You can download the demo here any time you like.
  • Stay on top of things with Outlook flags: Don't play catch-up — let Outlook flags help you keep up. Flags are colorful reminders for items you need to follow up on, whether tasks, messages, or contacts. Outlook 2007 offers several options for setting flags to complement the way you work. Flags can give you pop-up reminders and they also appear in the To-Do Bar, where you can easily see what actions you need to take each day. The demo shows you how to get started using flags and stay on top of your job. You can download the demo here any time you like.
  • Add creativity to your e-mail: You can make your e-mail messages stand out with a few touches from the tools in Outlook 2007. Go from plain white to exciting with eye-catching features like page colors and textures, shading styles, and shapes. You can apply WordArt styles like shadows or 3-D, as well as highlighting and font colors. While you experiment with various graphic effects, you'll see instant previews of your choices in the e-mail message. Watch the demo for quick tips on adding fresh looks to your e-mail! You can download the demo here any time you like.
  • 3 ways to share your Outlook Calendar with others: Sharing calendars can make it easier to collaborate with people both inside and outside your company. This demo shows you three ways that Outlook 2007 offers for sharing your calendar. If your company uses Microsoft Exchange Server, you can share your calendar within the organization by using that feature. You can also send a snapshot of your calendar in e-mail to people outside your company. And you can publish your calendar on the Microsoft Office Online Web site and restrict how much detail is shown and who can access it. You can download the demo here any time you like.
  • Take inches off your workspace with the updated Navigation Pane: Are you using the Outlook 2007 Navigation Pane as your communications launching pad — where you can get to your most important folders and views with just a click or two? This demo shows you how to change the size of the pane to free up more space, customize the buttons and icons so you see what you want first, and arrange the folders for your convenience. You'll also see how easily you can change the organization whenever you want. Watch the demo and see how to make the Navigation Pane work better for you. You can download the demo here any time you like.

Microsoft Online Migration Toolkit

A Microsoft está verdadeiramente empenhada na promoção dos seus serviços online.

O Microsoft Online Migration Toolkit é composto por alguns materiais que pretendem auxiliar o planeamento da migração de uma infra-estrutura Exchange Server para os serviços Exchange Online. O toolkit inlcui vários documentos, tais como: project plan, communication plan, tracking spreadsheet, procedures, e-mail templates, Known Issues e FAQ.

Aqui fica um excerto do Migration Project Checklist:

Planning

  1. Identify migration project manager.
  2. Build migration project team.
  3. Build migration Support team.
  4. Develop migration project plan.
  5. Develop migration procedures.
  6. Develop migration communication plan.
  7. Develop migration tracking process.

Pre-Migration

  1. Configure Microsoft® Online for your organization.
  2. Establish e-mail coexistence.
  3. Establish directory synchronization.
  4. Validate your migration plan and procedures.
  5. Communicate.
  6. Qualify people for migration.
  7. Identify and track people to be migrated.
  8. Users perform Before Migration procedures.

Migration Day

  1. Activate the Microsoft Online accounts.
  2. Migrate mailbox content.
  3. Perform post migration validation.
  4. Send Welcome communication.

Post Migration

  1. Users perform After Migration procedures.
  2. Users complete post-migration survey.
  3. Delete local Microsoft Exchange Server mailboxes.
  4. Enable incoming e-mail.

A Microsoft espera que metade das mailboxes de Exchange migrem para um modelo hosted durante os póximos 5 anos.