Blocking certain outlook version to access Exchange 2007

Running a campaign with Microsoft Malaysia - a day with MVP. Again, its interesting.

There is one question regarding on how to block certain version of outlook being accessing Exchange 2007? Is it possible? The answer for sure it is.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb885056.aspx

The above technet article shows on how to disable by particular mailbox, as well as per server basis. Now, you can fully ensure your environment is using Outlook 2007...

Storing PST on server? You should think few times...

Recently, we have been busy touring Malaysia to share our thoughts about Microsoft Exchange Server. Hope the Exchange business will just flow into not only Max Solution, perhaps Microsoft too :)

However, in one of the bank that we visited, there is an interesting question and idea - We want to store all the PST to the network storage. Is it recommended?

After thinking for few seconds, for sure, the first question is, WHY?

Some reasons for the summary:
1) We want to keep the Exchange DB small
2) We want to keep a copy of users' email
3) Storage nowadays can consider cheap
4) Do not want to heavy load Exchange server...

Hold on... Do we need to put PST file in server to get those features?

Few things to share:

First of all, it is not "possible" or recommended to put all user's PST in a network storage. See the following article - a good one from Microsoft.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/297019/en-us

Second of all, to meet the auditors, governance compliances, a company should think about a cool recent product - DPM 2007. This will fulfill the requirements for 1,2 & 3...

Guys, this is our advice, to ensure you will be able to gain the performance, yet, protecting your data.

Do read Microsoft or our blogs for the next version of Exchange - another great product to solve most of the industry issues.

Standby Continuous Replication Steps

Thanks for drop by on my track session during OCS Launch 31 Oct. Some of you actually asking for the step on the SCR demo.

Here you go. To enable SCR, you will need to have:
1) Both source and target to be Exchange 2007 SP1
2) One store per storage group

Assumption:
Source Server Name: DC1
Target Server Name: W2K8-E2
Source SCR Storage Group Name: SG1, Store Name: SG1.edb
Target SCR Storage Group created SG1Port, Store Name:Mbx1Port

Steps:
For the source SCR,
# **** This is to enable SCR to SG1 ****
Enable-StorageGroupCopy SG1 -StandbyMachine W2k8-E2 -ReplayLagTime 0.0:0:0#
**** This is to check the SCR Status in W2008 ****
Get-StorageGroupCopyStatus SG1 -StandbyMachine W2k8-E2

For the target SCR,
# **** We will now go back to the production Server and Simulate Failure ****
# **** Now, time to Restore the enabled SCR ****
Restore-StorageGroupCopy DC1\SG1 -StandbyMachine W2k8-E2 -force:$true
# **** Now, we will move DB portability DB ****
Move-StorageGroupPath W2k8-E2\SG1PORT -SystemFolderPath C:\SG1 -LogFolderPath c:\SG1 -ConfigurationOnly -Confirm:$falseMove-databasepath W2k8-E2\SG1PORT\Mbx1Port -EdbfilePath C:\SG1\SG1.edb -ConfigurationOnly -Confirm:$false
# **** Allow the Database to be overwritten ****
Set-Mailboxdatabase W2k8-E2\SG1PORT\MBX1PORT -AllowFileRestore:$true
# **** Mount the Database ****
Mount-Database W2k8-E2\SG1PORT\Mbx1Port -Confirm:$false
# **** Update Mailbox configuration in AD to map to the DB portability copy ****
get-mailbox -database DC1\SG1\SG1 where {$_.objectClass -NotMatch '(SystemAttendantMailboxExOleDbSystemMailbox)'} Move-Mailbox -ConfigurationOnly -TargetDatabase W2k8-E2\SG1Port\Mbx1Port -Confirm:$false

There you go. You might want to put into a powershell script and rename it to .ps1

Happy SCRing

Booking resources in Exchange 2007

Guys,

Recently, we gave some talks, some of the participants actually asking, how can we help the users to decide what room to book?

As administrators, you be able to provide more information on the particular resources, eg: the room is with the mounted projector, with Tele Conferencing facilities, or even with Plasma TV. Sounds cool?

To add the resource information, you will need to add it via Exchange Management Shell. You will then be able to put in the information defined intot he resources mailbox.

In Exchange Management Shell, you can set the resources configuration using this command:

set-resourceConfig -ResourcePropertySchema "Room/WithProjector", "Room/WithVideoConf"

To check on the configuration made, you can type this command:

Get-ResourceConfig



After the configuration done, you will be able to set the resource mailbox with the information set in Management Shell.



Your users will then be able to see the information set by you, the administrators. Its indeed a big help to your users to choose the right resources.



Cheers

Disclaimer in Exchange 2000 and 2003

Guys, one of our peers asking if you can add disclaimer for Exchange 2000 or Exchange 2003 using native tool?

There is a work around for the event sink, yes, it is FREE... however, you will need to register the event sink.

An MS KB article that explain on adding or removing disclaimers:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/317327

For Exchange 2007, things become easier... using Transport Rules.

Attachment Filtering in Exchange 2007

Guys,

Do you know what we can apply attachment filtering in Exchange 2007? Yes, it is free.

However, you will only be able to configure this in Exchange Management Shell.

Detail about this, you can utilise Outlook 2007, AD and Exchange 2007 for attachment filtering.
1) Outlook 2007 has 2 level filtering. Level 1 filtering means attachment that not allowed. Level 2 filtering will prompt the users to download prior running it. By default, there are nothing in level 2.
2) Using group policy, administrator can "open up" Level 1 attachments to users so they can choose whether to accept the attachment.
3) Using Exchange Management Shell in Exchange 2007. This is the cool thing to share. , to use Management Shell, few things to know: Get, Add, Remove and Set.

Example, you would like to know whether the filename is being block:
Get-AttachmentFilterEntry filename

To add an attachment:
Add-AttachmentFilterEntry -name VIRUS.EXE -type FileName
Add-AttachmentFilterEntry -Name image/jpeg -Type ContentType

To remove:
Remove-AttachmentFilterEntry -Identity filename:virus.exe

To set the action after block:
Set-AttachmentFilterListConfig -Action Reject -RejectResponse "This attachment is Virus"

Seems cool till here? Something to share, not that good news, above mention cmdlet only available in Edge Transport Server, not the Hub Transport.

Cheers
Poo

Exmerge in Exchange 2007?

In our recent Exchange 2007 Level l400 class, one of the student actually asking for Exmerge - can it work in Exchange 2007? As for till date, the answer is NO.

What to do now?

Use Export-mailbox

More information can be found in the Exchange team blog:

http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2006/12/18/431934.aspx

Do not display "Display Name" in Internet Mail

One of our customer, again, asking if they can block "Display Name" which by default shown to receipient. (e.g. "Ahmad Badawi") in email messages.

In Exchange 2003, go to Global Settings->Internet Message Formats->Default->properties-> Advanced tab->uncheck "Preserve Sender's Display Name on messages"

In Exchange 2007, you can use EMS
set-RemoteDomain * -DisplaySenderName:$false

Your receipient will then not receive the "Display Name".

You set Exchange 2007 resource, what else need to be done?

Exchange 2007 allow us to creat resources mailbox, eg: Meeting Room, Projectors++. Once created, you will need to ensure the resources created to auto accept any query or request on the particular resource. Previous Exchange, you will need to login one by one to the particular mailbox to configure it. In Exchange 2007, after you create the resource mailbox, what else need to be done? You will need to run the following command in Exchange Management Shell:

NOTE: You can also set the resource capasity now! Eg: in one of your meeting room, only be able to fit 20 people, you can type in resource information, under the property of the object.

Set-MailboxCalendarSettings –AutomateProcessing AutoAccept

To verify, you can:
Type in MSH, Get-MailboxCalendarSettings to check whether the automate process is configured for the resource created, eg: Meeting Room 1

Hope this help and clarify