AndersonPatricio.ca

Search query and in-place hold settings grayed out

Hi There,

If you are using Exchange 2013 RTM and even logged as administrator you are trying to create a new in-place discovery and hold and you get everything grayed out on either search query (Figure 01) or in-place hold settings page (Figure 02), don’t think that you have done wrong, you have just forgotten one details…

Figure 01

Figure 02

You must have permissions to do it! No worries, it’s a piece of cake using EAC. Here are the steps:

Logged on EAC, go to permissions, then admin roles and double click on Discovery Management. Added yourself to the group and logoff and logon, voilà you have the rights now to perform a in-place and hold

Cheers,
Anderson Patricio
http://www.andersonpatricio.ca
http://www.andersonpatricio.org (Portuguese)
Twitter: @apatricio

Exchange Server 2013 EAC .. cool details!

Hi folks,

In this post I would like to point out a couple of cools details while managing Exchange Server 2013 RTM.

#1. Alerts

During your management process using EAC you may move stuff around among servers and when the process is finished you will receive alerts. The two alerts below are about Move Batch process.

#2. Icons on the toolbar

We do have a standard icons on the toolbar and you can add more icons! When you click on … (which means More ) you will notice a + button on each line, if you click on those they will be added to your toolbar.

#3. Add removing columns..

If you open recipients, mailboxes you may noticed that there is no information about the mailbox database which in some cases are vital depending on which task you are about to do. So besides of the filter capabilities, you can always click on … (More) and then Add/Remove Columns and voilà !

Well, there are so much more on the EAC but those 3 are a good start to take advantage of the new EAC!

Cheers,
Anderson Patricio
http://www.andersonpatricio.ca
http://www.andersonpatricio.org (Portuguese)
Twitter: @apatricio

OAB in Exchange Server 2013 by MSExchangeTeam and a few comments

Hi folks,

Today’s post on MSExchangeTeam was about the new features of OAB in Exchange Server 2013 and that will improve a lot. Just in case I created a summary for you that is coming from 2007/2010 based on their post.

All kudos for the information for Bhalchandra Atre who wrote the original post.

Besides of the information provided by the MSExchangeTeam post I would like to reinforce a few points, as follows:

• Move-OfflineAddressBook doesn’t exist anymore because as explained in the MSExchangeTeam post the OAB became an arbitration mailbox
• OAB is ONLY managed by Exchange Management Shell, there is no option to do that using EAC. The only where you can see the OAB in EAC is on the database properties, ABP and mailbox properties.
• The OAB version is v4
• If you want to update an specific OAB, the cmdlet will be be Update-OfflineAddressBook –Identity “OABName”

Here is the original post with deeper details about the improvements: http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2012/10/26/oab-in-exchange-server-2013.aspx

Cheers,
Anderson Patricio
http://www.andersonpatricio.ca
http://www.andersonpatricio.org (Portuguese)
Twitter: @apatricio

Moving Mailboxes using a CSV file in EAC (Exchange Admin Center)

Hi folks,

We have so many features in the new release of Exchange Server 2013 and I’m going to start with the feature that allows the administrator to use a CSV to move mailboxes and we are going to use an improvement on the batch mailbox moves. Basically in Exchange Server 2013 the batch move mailbox allows the administrator to manage the archive move process, incremental sync to migrate the changes (pretty cool, uh?), administrator can be alerted by e-mail after the process finishes

Let’s go through the process to generate a CSV file (yeah, I don’t want to create that manually), and then use that file to move the mailboxes.

Let’s use the following scenario for this post: we have some users on a database and we want to move all of them to a different database, sounds good? Let’s do it!

Logged on the EAC, let’s click on recipients and then mailboxes, click on … and then Advanced Search

Let’s add a condition, and select Database and let’s select the database  that we want to move the users from and then click OK.

Awesome! It’s getting better, now we have a list only of the users that we need to move away from that specific database, let’s go back to … and then let’s click on Export data to a CSV file

Let’s select the fields that we want in our CSV, for the move mailbox process we just need Email address and that is the only one that we are going to select, then click on Save and let’s save the file on the Desktop and let’s name it as MoveMailbox.csv.

Before starting the move process let’s open the file and do some clean up, as follows:

• Make sure that there is no space on the first line between email and adress
• Remove any blank lines (usually 2nd and 3rd line, and also the last line of the file)

The result should be something like this..

Time to move!!!!!

Okay, we have the file, let’s go to migration tab, and let’s click on Add and then Move to a different database

On the first page (select the users), let’s select Specify the users with a CSV file and let’s select the file that we just worked on which is MoveMailbox.csv. Click Next.

In the move configuration page. We can define if we are going to move archive and define the target database for either (mailbox or archive), also we can define the bad item and the large item limit. Click Next.

In the start the batch page. We can define which account will receive a report at the end of the process, also when we want to start this new batch and also if we are going to suspend the move process and finish up later on. Click on New to start the process.

If you are impatient enough, you can check the process by clicking on refresh on the migration tab, however you can go for a coffee and get a nice message when the process is finished.

Using Setup.exe command line to install Exchange Server 2013 RTM

Hi guys,

If you want to install Exchange Server 2013 through command-line the process changed a little bit from the previous version, first is most likely that you are going to use PowerShell instead of command prompt, and for that you need to use .\Setup.exe.

The second thing is the Setup.exe instead of the setup.com. If you want to install the mailbox role on an existent Exchange Server 2013 organization you just need to run the following command:

.\Setup.exe /mode:install /Role:MB /InstallWindowsComponents /IacceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

We have also a new switch called /DisableAMFiltering which allows to turn on or off the anti-malware feature!

Cheers,
Anderson Patricio
http://www.andersonpatricio.ca
http://www.andersonpatricio.org (Portuguese)
Twitter: @apatricio

Installing ALL pre-requisites Exchange Server 2013 RTM

Hi folks,

In the previous post we went through the process to install just the software components which is way easier than the Beta setup process however I played around with my LAB here and we can speed up the process a little bit, as follows.

If we look at Microsoft documentation we need to run a long PowerShell to add all Windows Features required for the product before getting to the setup however there is a shortcut to bypass that. Basically, it’s all about the order that you perform your actions..

1. First, download and install the Filter Pack 2.0 (http:/go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=191548)  and its Service Pack 1 (http:/go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=262358)
2. Then, run Add-WindowsFeature Desktop-Experience and restart your computer.
   Note that we list all features installed before running the command.

After the server restart we will be able to run the Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 4.0, Core Runtime 64-bit (http:/go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=260990)

The main reason that you cannot download and start all 3 software components is because the UC Managed API requires the Desktop-Experience and this feature requires a restart otherwise we could get all that done without a reboot.

By the way, just for curiosity purposes, if in any given server with standard installation where you haven’t add any feature manually when you reach the Readiness Check page like the one shown below

You can go to the Powershell and check the Windows Features and voilà all features are there

Cheers,
Anderson Patricio
http://www.andersonpatricio.ca
http://www.andersonpatricio.org (Portuguese)
Twitter: @apatricio

Installing Exchange Server 2013 RTM pre-requisites on Windows Server 2012

Hello Exchange 2013 RTM admins!

If you are excited as I am you are rushing to your lab to deploy the RTM version, right? So before going there you may be wondering about the pre-requisites to be installed because on the Preview we had tons of them, right?

I hope I can make it easier for you, in a standard deployment of a server with both roles: Client Access and Mailbox these are the pre-requisites:

• Donwload Microsoft filter pack 2.0
  http:/go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=191548
  
• Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 4.0, Core Runtime 64-bit
  http:/go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=260990
  
• Donwload Microsoft filter pack 2.0 – SP1
  http:/go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=262358

The installation process is pretty straight forward and you just need to hit Next, Accept aggreements and Finish and you will be all set to start exploring the new Exchange Server 2013 RTM

Exchange 2013, Lync 2013 already available on Technet?

Folks,

It seems that Exchange Server 2013, Lync 2013 and SharePoint were published on Technet  

Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Help

After you complete a new installation of Exchange 2010 or after you add an additional Exchange 2010 server role to an existing Exchange 2010 server, you should complete the post-installation tasks. Because each server role offers several features that you can configure for your organization, make sure that you complete the post-installation tasks for each server role that you install.

Download it from here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35395

The New Exchange Reaches RTM!

Bonjour mes amis,

Yes, time has come and the new Exchange Serves is code complete (Yes, I’m talking about the Exchange Server 2013 Beta that you have been using).

Today we reached an important milestone in the development of the new Exchange.

Moments ago, the Exchange engineering team signed off on the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) build. This milestone means the coding and testing phase of the project is complete and we are now focused on releasing the new Exchange via multiple distribution channels to our business customers. General availability is planned for the first quarter of 2013.

We have a number of programs that provide business customers with early access so they can begin testing, piloting and adopting Exchange within their organizations:

• We will begin rolling out new capabilities to Office 365 Enterprise customers in our next service updates, starting in November through general availability.
• Volume Licensing customers with Software Assurance will be able to download Exchange Server 2013 through the Volume Licensing Service Center by mid-November. These products will be available on the Volume Licensing price list on December 1.

Read more at the  source: http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2012/10/11/the-new-exchange-reaches-rtm.aspx

Cheers,
Anderson Patricio
http://www.andersonpatricio.ca
http://www.andersonpatricio.org (Portuguese)
Twitter: @apatricio

System Center Service Pack 1 (BETA) for Exchange Administrators

In the new Service Pack 1 (still in BETA) for System Center 2012 the entire family of products receive new features however for us messaging administrators the Orchestrator received 2 new Integration Packs for Exchange, as follows:

o Exchange Administrator Integration Pack for Orchestrator in System Center 2012 SP1.

o Exchange Users Integration Pack for Orchestrator in System Center 2012 SP1.

More information: http://blogs.technet.com/b/infratalks/archive/2012/10/10/new-features-in-system-center-2012-sp1-part-1-of-2.aspx

System Center 2012 SP1 (BETA) download:http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34607

Update Rollup 4-v2 for Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 2 (KB2756485)

Earlier today we re-released the following Rollup Updates. These updates address an issue in which digital signatures on files produced and signed by Microsoft will expire prematurely, as described in Microsoft Security Advisory 2749655.

• Update Rollup 8-v2 for Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 3 (KB2756497)
• Update Rollup 7-v2 for Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 1 (KB2756496)
• Update Rollup 4-v2 for Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 2 (KB2756485)

Exchange 2010 SP2 RU4 now includes an additional fix:

2756987: Outlook only returns one result after you click the "Your search returned a large number of results. Narrow your search, or click here to view all results" message

Read more at source: http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2012/10/09/re-released-exchange-2010-and-exchange-2007-update-rollups.aspx

Managing Multi-Mailbox Search in Exchange Server 2010

Hello guys,

First of all Happy Thanksgiving for all Canadians!

Last week I released the 6th part of my series about Multi-Mailbox Search in Exchange Server 2010. Bear in mind that Exchange Server 2013 will bring nice features on this area. Here is a list with all articles.

• Managing Multi-Mailbox Search in Exchange Server 2010 (Part 1)

• Managing Multi-Mailbox Search in Exchange Server 2010 (Part 2)

• Managing Multi-Mailbox Search in Exchange Server 2010 (Part 3)

• Managing Multi-Mailbox Search in Exchange Server 2010 (Part 4)

• Managing Multi-Mailbox Search in Exchange Server 2010 (Part 5)

• Managing Multi-Mailbox Search in Exchange Server 2010 (Part 6)