Dear Bloggers and Readers

On behalf of Outlook Exchange bloggers team, would like to wish all of you,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2008!!

Continue support this web.

Management team.

Installing Exchange 2007 SP1

Final release of Exchange 2007 SP1 few days back. Managed to successful deploy it in one of the production environment.

Something to share here - you will recommend to install patch for KB 942027 - an issue of .net framework 64bit performance tuning.

If you have antivirus that is bind to Exchange services and IIS, you will need to stop the service for the moment.

It will then take about 20 minutes to install (depending on the spec of your machine).

Few thing to share here. Its a total reinstall of Exchange binary files. So, it will as usual check the pre-requisite on the installation, remove Exchange existing binary then install the binary. You will need to have a moment of downtime, thus, plan out your maintenance window.

Exchange 2007 SP1 download page

So, start roll it out and enjoy the benefit.

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

Outlook peformance and command line switches

Recently, received lots of calls on Outlook not performing as expected. Just to share, in Outlook 2007, if the Outlook not close properly, it will repair automatically; causing the CPU and memory high. Be patient. However, if time do not permits, you will need to go into Outlook command line switches, configure Outlook setting via command line.

Example,

outlook /cleanclientrules (This will clean outlook client side rules without launching Outlook)

To know more, do visit the following website:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HP010031101033.aspx

Exchange 2007 Public Folder Administration

As everyone knows that managing Public Folder in Exchange 2007 is nont easy. Few of our implemented customer requested for some help. Here it is. We would like to share on a tool, which is available from Microsoft for FREE - PFDAVAdmin. This tool is already available since Exchange 2003.

This Exchange Server tool can use to perform several tasks related to public folder management:

• Modify folder permissions on folders in the MAPI tree by using an interface similar to ESM on Exchange 2000/2003 which is not avail in E2007 prior SP1.
• Add, modify and remove ACEs
• Export and import folder permissions on public folders and mailboxes - this can be useful for some checking during maintenance.
• Export and import replica lists.
• Look for and remove item-level permissions in bulk.
• Exceed the limits imposed by the ESM user interface for values on the Limits tab.
• Display and modify folder properties in bulk.
• Modify the permissions of the Calendar folder in bulk.

Interesting? However, just a note. When Exchange 2007 SP1 is out, you may no need to think about this tool :) Do visit OCS 2007 launch this month. There is a session on Exchange 2007 SP1. However, in this article, we would like to share about the tool:

When you lauch this tool, the below window will prompt. Key-in your Exchange Server and GC server name.


You will then be able to see the PF hierarchie. And there you go, performing the feature mentioned above.

Cheers

Register COM objects in Windows Vista

Guys,

We have hard time registering com objects, eg: TABCTL32.OCX in Windows Vista.

It is due to the User Access Control.

To register it, you can go to msconfig, yes, msconfig - the great tool to use since win9x!~

msconfig > tools > disable UAC

then go to the particular directory,

regsvr32 TABCTL32.OCX

My apps then works!

Just 2 cents if you faced this issue.

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

Install outlook in an Exchange server?

Guys,

After reading some articles, seminars, statements and quesries, would like to share something on a statement "installing outlook into an Exchange Server".

In Exchange 5.5/2000/2003 era, all of us know that it is not recommend to install outlook client into an Exchange server, reason being MAPI32.dll file is written. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313889

However, this thing now changed due to Exchange 2007 re-coded. It is now recommend that administrators install outlook into Exchange 2007. One of the advantages is, as known, Exmerge no longer support in Exchange 2007. In Exchange 2007 64 bit, there are no tools to export e-mail to .PST or personal folder. To do this, you will need to install outlook into Exchange server, getting the client tools for administration purposes.

Cheers

Telnet client in Windows Vista

Guys, just for your info, Telnet is not installed with Windows Vista, but you can install it by following the steps below:

Click the Start button , click Settings, click Control Panel, click Programs and Features, and then click Turn Windows features on or off.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

In the Windows Features dialog box, select the Telnet Client check box.

Click OK. The installation might take several minutes.

You will then be able to get Telnet like in previous Windows.

Its a default security in Vista - do not install services/tolls that you will not use.

Exchange Support for Virtualization

Server Virtualization is nowo a hot topic. Lots of customer is consolidating thier servers.

Few projects that we involved have the same trend too. Working with one of the principle, they are core pushing it, whithout knowing the consequences, as always quote: "You need to size it correctly". How about from a Technical point, let say Microsoft Infrastucture point of view?

Till date, we will not recommended for DB type server, or any server that is high in IO, which include Exchange & SQL. We will recommend individual box with scale out method.

Another thing will be support. In an Enterprise environment, you will not want to take your business into a risk. Please glance through the following links for more information.

How about AD?
See this URL - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=64DB845D-F7A3-4209-8ED2-E261A117FC6B&displaylang=en

If you say, we still want to virtualize it, do remember:

• Don't use them where important services like Exchange/SQL/Apps
• Don't use them to on FSMO
• Don't use them as GC

You will then ask, why i need to virtualize? However, this will be good for branch deployment method...

Lastly, when you still ask, whether it works? The answer is YES. Some of our customers successfully implemented. But, again, this message has to be clearly convey and documented to the customer.

More info:
Support policy for Microsoft software running in non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/897615/

NOTE: Poo, look, Virtualization is still our goal and roadmap, what to do now?Our advise, look into Windows 2003 Virtualization, you will know why we say so, kindly visit one of my new blog, mention only Windows 2008. For vritualization, visithttp://windowserver.blogspot.com/search/label/Virtualization

ReadyBoost - Enhanced your Vist performance!

Recently, we bought a Thumb drive that is ready for BOOST up Windows Vista. Cool huh? Ya. Its only about 20% more expensive than normal Thumb drive.

What is ReadyBoost? Windows ReadyBoost can use storage space on some removable media devices, such as USB flash drives, to speed up your computer.

When you insert a device with this capability in Windows Vista, the AutoPlay dialog will offer you the option to speed up your system using Windows ReadyBoost. If you select this option, you can then choose how much memory to use for this purpose.

Some universal serial bus (USB) storage devices contain both slow and fast flash memory, and Windows can only use fast flash memory to speed up your computer. So if your device contains both slow and fast memory, keep in mind that you can only use the fast memory portion for this purpose.

The recommended amount of memory to use for this acceleration is one to three times the amount of random access memory (RAM) installed in your computer. For instance, if your computer has 1GB of RAM and you plug in a 4 GB USB flash drive, setting aside from 1GB to 3GB of that drive will offer the best performance boost. The minimum size for any USB flash drive to work is 256 MB.

Exchange 2007 Tour - First round

Guys,

We are currently running Exchange 2007 Tour. If you are interested for your company, do let us know. We do not charge anything.

Topic covers:

1) Exchange 2007 Introduction (With OWA Demo)

2) Exchange 2007 and its clients

3) Exchange 2007 and UM (With live UM Demo)

4) Others

5) Q&A

The total duration covered is about 1 hour. Those are in Malaysia, do send us e-mail.

Exchange PowerShell - Advanced Formatting

In this sample, we would like to share, if your Employer would like to know when your employee join the company (Assume that you create the e-mail address at the day the employee join the company).

The sample command show like this:

At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

get-mailbox sort-object whencreated format-table @{expression=″whencreated″;width=25; label=″Employee Join Date″}, @{expression=″name″;width=20; label=″User name″} > users.txt

Using Pipe in Exchange Management Shell

This session, we will learn about a subset of the users that match the criteria we enter – in this case, a name that is like max solution and anything (in other words, it starts with max solution). By the way, the $_.name means this object’s name. The where-object command goes through all objects and checks each one’s name against the criteria defined.

At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
get-user where-object {$_.name –ilike ″max solution*″}

In this command, we would like to have a result where users is not start with max solution.

At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
get-user where-object {$_.name –inotlike ″max solution*″}

To only get the users that have mailbox in Exchange, at the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
get-user where-object {$_.recipienttype –eq ″mailboxuser″}

How to fight SPAM

Guys,

Good day. Fighting SPAM is always the task for every administrators. Is Technology the part that needed to be enhance all the time? How about People and Process??

Read an interesting article from Microsoft. Perhaps have to educate your users in the company.

Read this:

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself/email/spam.mspx

MVP for Exchange

..

Guys,

Good day. We got an e-mail from Microsoft - a good news.

We are recognised as MVP for Exchange (Most Valuable Professional). We would like to extend this honor to all of you.

To the thousands of wonderful people reading, giving comments on this blog over these many years, thank you for your time. Your support is greatly appreciated and is not taken for granted.

Hope you all continuing support. Salute the spirit of community and enhancing people’s lives and the industry’s success everyday.

Thanks!

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.

Finding unused computers in the AD

Guys,

Recently, one of our customer is asking, how can we managed the computer accounts in AD? We want to delete the account that is not active.

This can be hard if:

1) You are still using Windows NT4, 2000 domain
2) Your Windows 2003 domain is not in Windows 2003 domain functional level

You can run the query:

dsquery computer forestroot -inactive (NoOfWeek)


What if i am not using Windows 2003 AD?

You can find more information using joeware utility - OldCmp

get it from http://www.joeware.net/freetools/

Exchange 2007 with other directory services

The fact of today enterprise environment, we will have multiple directory services - we are working on with one customer which would like to integrate with OpenLDAP.

Both AD and the OpenLDAP has its own defination of "identity", eg: Name, title, department, password +++ Thus, managing those become complex - users need to remember multiple logons with multiple passwords.

In response to this problem, Microsoft developed Microsoft Metadirectory Services to previde the syncronization. Now, it is called MIIS - Microsoft Identity Integration Server.

To further clarify, MIIS has two versions. IIFP (Identity Integration Feature Pack) is free for Windows 2003 Enterprise edition. It can integrate between multiple Active Directory forest.

The other one will need license and SQL. It provide metadirectory function that enable to synchronize, provision, deprovision identity information across a wide variety of directory services, include Novell E-directory, LDAP, Exchange 5.5, Samba, SAP and more...

Replicating Public Folder From Exchange 2000/2003 to Exchange 2007

Public Folder will need to replicated to Exchange 2007 before retiring the old Exchange 2000/2003 server.

Thanks to PFMigrate, no longer need to manually add the replica from the hierarchy and remove it after replication. To do this:

1) Download the PFMigrate from Microsoft Website.
2) To create a report of current public folder replication:

pfmigrate.wsf /S:OLDEXSERVER /T:NEWEXSERVER /R /F:C:\PFRpt.log

3) To replicate the System Folder:

pfmigrate.wsf /S:OLDEXSERVER /T:NEWEXSERVER /SF /A /N:10000 /F:C:\PFSYSRpt.log

4) To replicate other Public Folder:

pfmigrate.wsf /S:OLDEXSERVER /T:NEWEXSERVER /A /N:10000 /F:C:\PFALLRpt.log

5) To remove the replica from old exchange server:
NOTE: Please remove after few days, letting the replication to take place.

pfmigrate.wsf /S:OLDEXSERVER /T:NEWEXSERVER /D

Thats it.

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

POP3 in Exchange Server 2007

Guys,

We got a request on how to setup and manage Exchange 2007 POP3. Interesting enough, as some concept you will need to know.

POP3 is one of the service and supported protocol in Exchange 2007. However, by default, the service is not started.

We do not recommend you to use POP3 unless it is a need. Try to use Outlook Anywhere or OWA to replace it.

To enable it, simple change the POP3 service to start automatic, start the service. One concept to know - security is a main concerns, thus the POP3 started only support a secure login, m,eans with Certificate. For those that do not want this setting,

Go to Exchange Management Shell, type:

Get-PopSettings
to know more information about your existing POP3 configuration.

Set-PopSettings -LoginType PlainTextLogin
to change the login type from SecureLogin to PlainTextLogin.

Remember to restart the POP3 service. There you go.

Hold on, how to manage via Management Console? There are no GUI for you to manage POP3.

More info? http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa996347.aspx

DOS- TIP 1 - Store my password

Dear Guys,

DOS is actually the most basic OS to learn. Something to share on the years experience:

How to store my bank account number, personal password +++?

Lets see this copy command in Windows 9x, Windows 2000, Windows XP...

Do you know that you can join to similar files to one file? Let say you downloaded three movies file, 1.mpg, 2.mpg and 3.mpg. Its not cool to open file by file when watching it. Why not combine those three files?

Some of you all will say, i can use third party tools! Anyway, if you can perform this using DOS, why not?

the command show like this: copy/b 1.mpg+2.mpg+3.mpg result.mpg

It is just that simple.

Hey, thought you are sharing on storing my password?

Ok, thats hohw it works. Let say you have one of your travel picture, 1.jpg. You stored your password in one txt file called pass.txt.

type this command:

copy 1.jpg/b + pass.txt/a newpic.jpg

Delete the pass.txt file.

Thats it.

When someone open your file by clicking newpic.jpg, they will only see the picture. To view your password, use notepad to open the newpic.jpg. Ctrl + End, you will then see your password.

COOL!

Unified Messaging - Intro

Guys, UM seems interesting thing in Exchange 2007. However, how many of you know what is the terms and features in Exchange 2007?

Fax Receiving
If someone fax some documents to you, Exchange 2007 can recognise this and accept the fax. Lastly send to your inbox.

Call Answering
Exchange 2007 now picks up incoming calls for a user who does not be able to answer their phone in the office. It plays personal greetings, records voice messages; convert to e-mail and pass to the user's inbox!

Subscriber Access
This feature allows user to access thier Exchange mailboxes using a phone. Sometimes, called Outlook Voice Access. Exchange not only recognise DTMF (Dual tone multiple frequency) key press, but also voice commends! Imagine you are driving, and using a handsfree?

You can perform the following:
1) Listen to and forward voice messages
2) Listen to calendar info
3) Listen, forward and reply e-mails
4) Access, dial contacts
5) Accept or cancel meeting requests
6) Set a voice mail Out-of-Office message

Play on phone
Using Outlook 2007 and OWA 2007, you can play your voice mail on your internal phone rather from your computers. Privacy...

Auto Attendant
Hey, now you can use Exchange 2007 as your operator!

The features include:
1) Access for external operator if you still have any - of course!
2) Greetings for business hours and nonbusiness hours
3) Hours and Holidays schedules
4) Customise set of menus for external users

Cool enough? Let us share with you more on the architecture and components in next few posts.

Cheers

LDAP query limits

Recently, one of our partner faced some issue:

LDAP search only return 1000 items as the result.

FYI, this is the default setting/configuration in Windows 2003 Active Directory. However, you can actually change the settings/configurations via LDP.exe.

Want to know more how? Visit the following website, the KB article from Microsoft.


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315071

Cheers

Hi all,

Want to know more about Windows Mobile 6? Go tot his website. I have upgrade mine. Its cool!

Want to know more?

http://forum.xda-developers.com/

Feature that enable in Exchange 2007 SP1 - Beta

Guys,

Good day. Some of our Exchange 2007 customer asking about some features that will be available in Exchange 2007. Let us share here:

On Outlook Web Access:
1) Distribution List will be available where Pre-SP1 is not available.
2) You will be able to edit the server side rule in OWA
3) Delete Item Recovery option will be available
4) Be able to access Public Folder
5) Support MIME, be able to read signed, encrypted mail

This will clear the doubts.

Need to know more info? Visit Exchange 2007 SP1 Beta release:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/e/6/5e672458-592a-44a2-b489-11cec19d3c82/RelNotes.htm

Happy reading.

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".

Outlook Cache

In Exchange and outlook environment, outlook provide cache to the sender who email to send to. Pros and Cons, Pors - easier for sender; Cons - what if we modified the email address/account?

One of our customer request on how to solve this issue. Below show the method manual delete the cache in Outlook:

1. Make sure that Outlook is closed.
2. Open My Computer. In C:\ or D:\ - depending where you install Windows, unders Documents and Settings, (Your User Name), Application Data, Microsoft, Outlook - Where (Your User Name) is specified, choose the folder with the same name as your log in.
3. Select and delete the file named Outlook.nk2- this is where the cache is stored.

Cheers

Internet Explorer 7 - Problems with Outlook Web Access!!!

Hi Guys,

Few of our customers facing this issue:

Unable to compose/reply a message when accessing Outlook Web Access; however, this is not an issue using other browsers (including IE6). You will also see a red square with an “X” in it when try to compose a new message.

The reason for this issue is due to security - where IE7 do not accept ActiveX and MIME. How to solve it?

The Solution:
1. In OWA, click on the "options" in the left Task Pane.

2. Under “E-mail Security” and Click Install or Upgrade the S/MIME Control. This will download a new add-on.

3. Click “RUN” when asked about the Microsoft Outlook Web Access S/MIME install and security warning.

4. Close and RESTART IE7

Solving lots of people problem? yes, it is.

How to enable mailboxes in Exchange 2007 for users in particular OU?

With Exchange Management Shell, everything now possible:

Under Exchange Management Shell, type:

Get-User –OrganizationalUnit “DOMAINANME/OUNAME” Enable-Mailbox -Database “SERVERNAME\DATABASENAME”

press ENTER.

Poo, what if I have 1000 users inside? All 1000 users will be mailbox enabled!

Is that simple? Yes, it is.

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

Standby Continuous Replication (SCR)

Guys,

Lots of customer discuss with us on CCR, bad things are, they need to configured in same subnet. Good news! Exchange 2007 SP1 now supporting SCR - Standby Continuous Replication, which allows the failover to another datacenter/location!

Besides, Exchange 2007 SP1 solve some problems we mentioned in previous blog, which includes:

1) Personal Distribution lists
2) Rules
3) Monthly Calendar view
4) Deleted item recovery
and Public folder access!

Want to know more?

Visit: http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2007/02/23/435699.aspx - a quick glance on what Exchange 2007 SP1 provides!

MAPI Troubleshooting

MAPI is the protocol communication between Microsoft Outlook with Exchange server. Some of the time, we will find hard to troubleshoot this stuff. Read in some articles, sharing with you guys:

When troubleshooting Outlook with MAPI connectivity to an Exchange server, use the following

steps:

1. Identify network connectivity issues. If the Outlook client or the Exchange server is experiencing problems connecting to the network, Outlook will show a status of Disconnected, and no new messages can be transferred between the client and theserver. Sometimes, a simple ping or tracert will solve most of th issue.

2. Identify client configuration issues.
A client configuration issue can occur in Outlook configurations or in Windows configurations. An improperly configured client canprevent the computer from connecting to the Exchange server or create intermittent connectivity problems. Before going to the server, have a quick check, whether everyone is having the same issues, or only few?

3. Identify name resolution issues/DNS
Outlook clients must be able to resolve the name ofthe Exchange server they are connecting to. By default, Outlook 2007 clients use DNS host name resolution to resolve the name of the Exchange server to its IPaddress. If DNS servers are not available on the network or if the records in DNS areincorrect, Outlook clients are unable to connect to the Exchange server.

To troubleshoot MAPI on Exchange server itself, will write an article for that.

Some of the useful tools you might want to use
1) Ping
2) Telnet
3) RPCPing
4) Nslookup