If you have Exchange Server 2010 and it has internet access I recommend running the following cmdlet. Submitting feedback and error reports can only make future releases and updates better. Best of all the data is anonymous and submitted over SSL.
Get-ExchangeServer | Set-ExchangeServer -CustomerFeedbackEnabled $true -ErrorReportingEnabled $true
Coming summer 2011 Microsoft have decided to recognise demand for Exchange MCM status and provide exam only options, removing the mandatory 3 week course.
While this is great for those who would struggle to take 3 weeks out of their business I am not sure it is the best idea. To me MCM is about deep dive learning with other Exchange IT pros and establishing relationships in the community and Microsoft product teams.
The people I know who have been through the 3 week training have come away with new experience and knowledge. So while I’ll jump at the chance to do the exam only MCM myself, I just don’t think it will be the same.
Read the press release here, http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2011/may11/05-16MicrosoftCertifiedMaster.mspx.
Get information on Exchange MCM here, http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/master-exchange.aspx.
Daniel Noakes
Dummy.file to me is an empty file with and allocated size on disk. With Exchange I create one on each LUN hosting mailbox databases or logs. Simple to create and just one line to your build document/script.
> fsutil.exe file createnew c:\dummy.file 20971520
Should a LUN fill up rapidly resulting in a dismounted database I can delete dummy.file and mount the database. I can then take action to reduce the database size or manually truncate logs. Coupled with Opalis you could delete dummy.file based on a SCOM disk alert, start online mailbox moves and send notifications without having to touch the server. Opalis could even raise a PO for more storage. :-)
Obviously LUNs should be sized correctly in the first place, but in large dynamic infrastructures this last resort can prove useful and give some breathing space.
You can also modify the Exchange database size limit using the registry, http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb232092.aspx. this approach works, but isn’t a simply to restore service as deleting a file.
I hope you find this as useful as I have other the years.
Daniel Noakes
I’ve been working with the Lync Web Scheduler as an alternative to the Outlook add-in to schedule Lync meetings online for the past few days. Functionality includes:
Download it here, http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=b7d8f948-fa64-4c51-8b54-2223954d1fa4. Installation is straight forward and getting started is simply a matter of browsing to https://lyncpoolfqdn/scheduler.
Its only available in English (US flavour) at the moment and can’t handle reoccurring meetings.
Daniel Noakes
When running Get-ExchangeServer for Exchange 2010 SP1 the following results are returned listed as “..Exchange2007..”.
IsExchange2007TrialEdition : True
IsExpiredExchange2007TrialEdition : False
I’m pretty sure this is not intentional, and to be honest really makes no difference to me. Just seems that they could drop the “2007” bit and never worry about updating for future releases.
Daniel Noakes
