I wanted to write a blog post to document how I do some day-to-day things. It helps me to keep track of my work habits, refine them and perhaps help some others who are looking for some solutions. My current rig is a Apple MacBook Pro 13” unibody. It has the 250Gb drive with 4Gb memory. I am running the latest version of OS X Leopard. I am really enjoying the 13” form factor. It is a little smaller and lighter than the previous 15” unibody which, to me, just felt heavy. I also don't notice the lost ......

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As I contemplate the design that was going to be an organizational upgrade to Exchange 2007 – I am now shifting gears towards skipping to an upgrade of Exchange 2010. Some things that are influencing my decision: The ability to use lower tier storage without compromising performance on the mailbox server. Thanks to all of the database optimizations like sequential writes, db schema re-design and table optimization, cache changes, etc. The database is now truly a portable and replicable object. Now ......

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Announced today were the new features for the next OS version release for the Mac OS X – 10.6 – code named Snow Leopard. Each of the previous seven released over the last eight years since OS X was introduced ushered in over 1000 new features. Number of new features being slated for introduction with Snow Leopard? Zero. None. Nada. Okay, wait, there is one. Native OS integration with Microsoft’s Exchange server. Apple publicly acknowledged the market share Exchange server holds and has built native ......

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One of the nicest things in Exchange 2007 is the way the installation and support interface has been improved. So much has been written about PowerShell but I am a big fan of the way they continue to improve the GUI experience as well. First of all, the subtle use of providing PowerShell syntax with every wizard execution is a great way to make beginners more comfortable with the command line. The second is the feedback you get upon installation of Exchange server. In days past you would get some ......

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Microsoft has released four new whitepapers detailing how Exchange 2007 is used internally. I am a big fan of these papers. I like to see how the maker designs, uses and maintains its own software. You always find some good tips and previously unknown tricks. Some of the best sessions I have ever been to at TechEd have been the "how we do this at Microsoft" ones. Exchange Server 2007 Design and Architecture at Microsoft Managing the Calendaring and Collaboration Process By Using Exchange Server 2007 ......

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I love these white papers from "How Microsoft Does IT." Obviously these guys are very skilled and knowledgeable when it comes to deploying their own technology. The insight you get is invaluable and really comes in to play when designing your own installations. From the web site: Ever wondered how a large enterprise plans and implements design and architecture of its next generation of messaging system? View this content to find out how engineers from the Microsoft IT messaging team will uncover ......

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Microsoft TechNet Magazine has released another excellent architectural diagram for one of Microsoft's "back office" systems. This time Exchange 2007 is up to bat and this diagram has all the under the covers goods like Client Access, Edge, Transports and Clustering. Download this bad boy and head on over to your local large format printer (or Kinkos). Previous versions have also come enclosed in the latest issue of TechNet Magazine. As of the last issue this one hasnt shown yet, but perhaps it will ......

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I don't think I am violating the multi-paged pre-exam NDA by offering this tip after sitting for 70-236 this morning: know they powershell syntax and commandlets. Easily 75%+ of my test involved trying to choose which syntax I should use to perform a configuration related task in Exchange 2007. I have heard there was some powershell on the exam. I even looked over the "skills being measured." This is the only item among 20 or so: "Implement bulk management of mail-enabled objects." Hmmm. I was not ......

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Microsoft has released rollup 3 for Exchange Server 2007. You can download it here. This rollup also contains all the fixes from rollups 1 and 2. It is also rumored to also contain a fix that allows for IMAP connectivity to the soon forthcoming Apple iPhone. Other fixes include: • 931328 (http://support.microsoft.c... An integer is added to the end of the legacyExchangeDN attribute of a newly created mailbox in Exchange 2007 • 930468 (http://support.microsoft.c... The attachment ......

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Microsoft has another great podcast up around the messaging design that went in to its Exchange 2007 environment. And please Microsoft, let me download the entire podcast so I can listen to it offline. IMO that is a requirement to be a podcast. Streaming sucks. From the download page: Ever wondered how a large enterprise plans and implements design and architecture of its next generation of messaging system? View this content to find out how engineers from the Microsoft IT messaging team will uncover ......

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As of SP2, Exchange 2003 was supported in production in a Microsoft virtual environment. Now that Exchange 2007 requires 64 bits to be supported in production and Microsoft does not have a virtualization platform that supports a 64 bit guest, Exchange 2007 is not supported in production in a virtual environment. From the Microsoft document Technical Architecture of Exchange 2007: Exchange 2007 and Virtualization Exchange 2007 is not supported in production in a virtual environment; however, as stated ......

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You know with all the web advances (is that the 2.0 web or the 3.0 web?) that the next version of OWA was going to rock. I am happy to say that it really rocks. A lot of people have blogged about the free Microsoft and Unisys Exchange 2007 demo account you can request. I got one quickly and fired it up. If anyone would like to email me my address is chris.haaker@exchange2007de... . This means you spammers! Let's see what this baby can do! One of the features I really love spending a fair portion ......

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You Had Me at EHLO just posted some information on Exchange 2007 SP1. This one stood out - it will be a bit before Windows Server 2003 SP2 is implemented. Of course, it will be a bit before Exchange 2007 is implemented! Regarding the operating system, SP1 for Exchange 2007 will require Windows Server 2003 SP2. This will be a hard dependency for installation, so the operating system must be upgraded to Windows Server 2003 SP2 before you upgrade the Exchange 2007 RTM installation to Exchange 2007 SP1, ......

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When I first learned a lot about the Edge Server role in Microsoft Exchange 2007 last year at TechEd, I asked about the reporting that would be available. IT managers and directors love to request metrics on spam, discarded email and volume and the Edge server seemed to be the place where the raw data would best be obtained. Today I see a Message Statistics Sample Agent on Microsoft Downloads. From the official release: The Message Statistics sample agent examines and records aggregate information ......

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Many of you that have been working with and paying attention to Exchange 2007 already know this - the new SMTP protocol has been re-written from the ground up as a separate component that is no longer dependent on IIS. Here is some more detail from DepLarge.doc - a guide on deploying Exchange 2007 in a large environment from Microsoft. New SMTP Transport Stack In Exchange 2007, the SMTP protocol is provided by the Microsoft Exchange Transport service (MSExchangeTransport.exe). In earlier versions ......

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The Exchange team blog posted a great article on the features available with different versions of Outlook when coupled with different versions of Exchange on the back end. One of the cool features when using Outlook and Exchange 2007 is enhanced Out of Office Assistant. You have the option to customize and turn off or on Out of Office messages for those inside your organization and those outside your organization. Very nice. You also have a number of rich text formatting options available so you ......

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Beta exam 71-237 ITPro: Designing Messaging Solutions with Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 has been released. With this exam you will earn credit towards the certification for Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Messaging Administrator. The exam goes live on March 1st and the beta ends on March 27th. It should go live within 30-60 days of that date if previous beta tests have been any indication. You are allotted four hours for this test. Find exam preparation information: http://www.microsoft.com/le... ......

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Please join the Southern Ohio Exchange Users Group on March 7, 2007 for a night of presentations highlighting Exchange 2007 and Windows Vista. We will be presenting several technical demonstrations on Exchange 2007 including deployment, operational efficiency and Unified Communications. We will also have some fun and informative Windows Vista technical demonstrations as well. Please register here so we have an accurate head count for food and drinks. The meeting will begin promptly at 6:30pm and ......

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I love Harold's webcasts on Exchange. He is a highly knowledgeable TechNet presenter. I recommend checking out his on-going 24 Hours of Exchange 2007 webcast series (I would list the link here but finding an event on the Microsoft website is about as frustrating as it gets IMO). I just completed hour 11 which focused on Policies and Compliance. Here are some highlights: Hub transport rules are not replicated to all the hub transport servers by any Exchange replication engine nor are they stored in ......

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The "You Had Me at EHLO" blog is running a contest for the most excellent Exchange 2007 limerick. Grand prize is a Microsoft Zune engraved with the Exchange 2007 logo and catchphrase ...

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I am pleased to announce that we will be having Paul Robichaux speak at the February meeting of the Southern Ohio Exchange User's Group. The meeting is taking place on February 1st in Mason, Ohio at the new Max Technical Training Center. You can read more about it at the website for the group. Paul is a well-known Exchange MVP, speaker, consultant and author. I will have the registration site up soon for the meeting. Paul will be speaking on the new unified messaging features in Exchange 2007. Technorati ......

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For all of you Exchange engineers out there dying to know how the certification path for Exchange 2007 is shaping up, check out these informational webcasts talked about over on Trika Harms zum Spreckel's blog. One of the best titles for a blog I have seen lately. If you have ever been to TechEd, you can't help but smile ......

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A week out of the blogosphere feels good - and a refreshing way to recharge the batteries! Of course, now I have to wade through 700+ news items. I have not removed my laptop from its bag since December 22nd. It was hard at times, but I made it. I noticed a lot of people are getting their blogs in a knot over Microsoft giving out some review laptops loaded with Windows Vista Ultimate to select bloggers. I wasnt selected so it is hard for me to be anything but envious. On the other hand, I find it ......

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One of the new strategies for Exchange 2007 servers is to use Continuous Local or Cluster Replication (CLR or CCR) and then run the backups off of the replicated database, leaving the active one alone. However, as we know, running online backups on the database clears the transaction log files (as long as circular logging is turned off) when completed. What happens in this new scenario since backups aren’t run against the active database? Scott Schnoll, master of Exchange Server clustering, has the ......

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From the Exchange Team blog "You Had Me at EHLO" (which IMO is one of the best blog titles ever): Exchange 2007 is RTM. Documentation Technorati tags: Exchange 2007, Exchange, RTM, Microsoft Exchange, You Had Me at EHLO ......

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This new paper from Microsoft details the Forefront Security for Exchange beta. From the site: Forefront Security for Exchange protects organizations against the latest threats by managing multiple antivirus scan engines at multiple layers throughout the e-mail infrastructure. This approach allows Forefront for Exchange to minimize the average window of exposure for emerging e-mail threats by providing continual signature updates from multiple antivirus labs around the world. Forefront also protects ......

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A big thank you to the presenters at the November Southern Ohio Exchange User's Group meeting! Matt Hester from Microsoft presented on Exchange 2007 and Windows Vista. It was great to get some more information on unified messaging which is possibly the most requested topic where Exchange 2007 is concerned. We also heard from Tim Brunner on Symantec's Enterprise Vault product and how it helps medium to large organizations with compliance and retention. Our next meeting will be in January and you can ......

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The You Had Me at EHLO Exchange blog has a great article on how with Exchange 2007 you no longer do recipient-based tasks from within ADUC (Active Directory Users and Computers) but from within the Exchange 2007 Management Console (or PowerShell). This is great news for a large enterprise where the AD and Exchange engineers may be on seperate teams and not so great for smaller shops where one or more engineers do both roles ......

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Amanda has a great overview of the new Exchange 2007 management console over at the EHLO blog. It has some great screenshots and comparisons with the Exchange 2003 ESM to highlight the changes in the way you interact with Exchange 2007. Personally, I love the new console. The three pane layout allows for you to get more done in less screen real estate. However, once I finish mastering the PowerShell, I dont plan on being in the new ESM much ......

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I have finally squeezed out a blogcast (done during my lunch break so it is rough – be kind please) and have it posted here. I plan on ramping up in the next one to two weeks, especially with some Exchange 2007 content. Below are some links to the content I reference in the blogcast. Enjoy. Ask the Experts: Windows Vista Disk Imaging with ImageX and Windows Imaging Format (WIM) Windows Vista deployment is based on disk imaging, and the operating system will come with a built-in disk-imaging ......

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The Exchange Scripting Center is holding a contest for the best one line PowerShell script that addresses some form of Exchange 2007 administration. See the contest announcement here. The winner will get a trip to the Exchange Server 2007 launch – whenever and wherever that is!

GOPWRSHL and unleash to capabilities of Exchange Server 2007!

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