---------------| Exchange & Outlook UPDATE |---------------
IN THIS ISSUE
*Commentary: Exchange 2007 Beta 2 Arrives
*Take the Windows It Pro Salary Survey!
*Calling All Windows It Pro Innovators!
*Exchanging Ideas: Outlook 2007 Preview
*New and Improved: Teneros Completes its SMB Offering
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***COMMENTARY: Exchange 2007 Beta 2 Arrives
by Paul Robichaux, Exchange Editor, [email protected]
My editors have been politely asking me to turn in my columns earlier, so I did—I sent in last week's UPDATE a week early and fully intended to follow it with part 2 of my exploration of SharePoint migration options. In the meantime, though, Microsoft released Exchange Server 2007 Beta 2, so I figured I could put off SharePoint for one more week to talk about what's in the Exchange beta.
Of course, I'm obligated to start by repeating the warning that Microsoft has splashed in big bold letters on the Exchange Team Blog: Don't install Exchange 2007 in your production environment unless you have a support relationship with, and permission from, Microsoft. For the complete explanation of why Microsoft takes this stance, see http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2006/03/30/423691.aspx; in brief, however, Exchange 2007 will change both your Active Directory schema and permissions on some existing Exchange objects, and because the code is still beta Microsoft won't guarantee that the changes will be free of side effects in your production systems. (Do what I do: Put Exchange 2007 on a virtual machine and forward all your mail to it using a server-side rule.)
Now, on to the good stuff. Exchange 2007 Beta 2 is a largely complete build of Exchange 2007. What does "largely complete" mean? Well, there are some things not yet included, such as the ability to automatically set up permissions on new receiving connectors. Other aspects are likely to change, such as the exact sender address used for messages generated by the Unified Messaging (UM) server. None of these items are likely to create huge changes in the code, but after all, this is a beta, and you'll undoubtedly find things that don't work the way you expect (or don't work properly).
Microsoft has a set of support forums available at http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/default.aspx?siteid=17. Although Microsoft isn't providing direct support to people who download the beta (except for customers in the Technology Adoption Program), several Exchange product team members and Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) are answering questions in the forums.
In conjunction with the beta release, the Exchange product group also released an update to the Microsoft Exchange Server Best Practices Analyzer, one of my favorite Exchange tools. This update includes the Exchange 2007 Readiness Check, which tests your environment to identify problems that you need to consider before deploying Exchange 2007 in production (which, as a reminder, you shouldn't do with the beta anyway!). Running the readiness check now gives you plenty of time to fix any problems in your environment.
What can you do with the beta? You name it! If you haven't already seen the new Exchange Management Console interface, that's probably going to be your first stop. Feedback on the new UI has generally been very positive, although I've seen a few gripes that the new console is too different from Exchange System Manager.
Of course, you might want to try the Exchange Management Shell as well, particularly if you have experience using other scripting environments. Microsoft has a site full of sample Exchange Management Shell scripts that you can review and experiment with—see http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/message/exch2007/default.mspx.
For bonus points, you'll probably want to experiment with the new version of Outlook Web Access (OWA), which is light-years ahead of OWA 2003. Even the OWA Light version for browsers other than Microsoft Internet Explorer is quite good. I've had lots of fun testing transport rules, which give you a very flexible toolset for controlling the flow of messages according to sender, recipient, or content. You can test Exchange UM using a Session Initiation Protocol soft phone (or a hard phone, for that matter, if you have one).
What else? Oh yes, let's not forget the new beta release of Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server—the product formerly known as Antigen—which you can download and test now with Exchange 2007 Beta 2. (Lest I forget, there are tons of new Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 features that work in conjunction with Exchange 2007, such as Microsoft Outlook 2007 AutoDiscover.)
It's an exciting time, and I look forward to hearing what you like, and dislike, about the new world of Exchange 2007. Next week, I promise I really will write more about SharePoint migration.
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***TAKE THE WINDOWS IT PRO SALARY SURVEY!
We need your help! Windows IT Pro is launching its third Windows IT Pro Industry Salary Survey, and we want to find out all about you and what makes you a satisfied IT pro. When you complete the survey (about 10 minutes of your time), you'll be entered in a drawing for one of five $100 American Express gift certificates. Look for the survey results—and how you stack up against your peers—in our December issue. To take the survey, go to:
https://websurveyor.net/wsb.dll/12237/WITPSalarySurvey06.htm
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***CALLING ALL WINDOWS IT PRO INNOVATORS!
Have you developed a solution that uses Windows technology to solve a business problem in an innovative way? Enter your solution in the 2006 Windows IT Pro Innovators Contest! Grand-prize winners will receive airfare and a conference pass to Windows and Exchange Connections in Las Vegas, November 6-9, 2006, plus more great prizes and a feature article about the winning solutions in the November 2006 issue of Windows IT Pro. Contest runs through August 8, 2006. To enter, click here:
http://www.windowsitpro.com/AWARDS/innovators_2006.cfm
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***EXCHANGING IDEAS
Focus: Outlook 2007 Preview
Beta 1 shows that we have a lot to look forward to
Outlook 2007 Beta 1 lets you work with RSS feeds and other new information sources, beefs up antiphishing protection, streamlines folder sharing, and provides two oft-requested improvements to the Out of Office Assistant, among other key features.
http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/50050/50050.html
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Have a question? Got answers? Join your peers in the Exchange discussion forums:
http://forums.windowsitpro.com/web/forum/default.aspx?forumid=8
Current Threads:
Mailbox Storage Exceeded although no emails!
Spam in a public folder
Unable to open your default email account folders
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Don't forget to sound off in our Instant Poll. This month's question is "Which Exchange 2007 feature appeals to you most?"
http://www.windowsitpro.com/MicrosoftExchangeOutlook
~~~~ Hot Spot: ~~~~
Learn the best ways to manage your email security (and fight spam) using a variety of solutions and tips.
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/ebooks/ironport/emailsecurity/?code=EXCHot0803
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***NEW AND IMPROVED
by Blake Eno, [email protected]
Teneros Completes its SMB Offering
Teneros announced the Teneros Application Continuity Appliance (ACA) for Microsoft Exchange 5000E series, which ensures continuous uptime to Exchange end users. The 5000E series is aimed at mid-market enterprises and branch offices of large enterprises and supports up to 500 users and a 500GB mailstore. The introduction of the 5000E series helps Teneros serve the entire small-to-midsized business (SMB) market, now supporting 75, 250, and 500 mailbox versions. The Teneros ACA requires no configuration changes to the Exchange server, doesn't install software agents, and can be installed quickly using a Web-based interface. For more information, contact Teneros at 650-641-7400.
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Wanted: your reviews of products you've tested and used in production. Share your experiences and ratings of products to "[email protected]" and get a Best Buy gift certificate.
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***EVENTS AND RESOURCES
These Windows-related events, papers, and resources will help you keep your knowledge and skills up to date and help you deploy, secure, and maintain the latest Exchange- and Windows-related technologies. For additional resources, visit
http://www.windowsitpro.com/events
Cross-Platform Data Roadshow
Oracle professionals will cover key concepts about Oracle and SQL Server in enterprise database computing. This event provides invaluable information about the benefits of 64-bit computing on the Windows platform, SQL Server BI for Oracle, high-availability proof points for SQL and Oracle, and much more.
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How will compliance regulations affect your IT infrastructure? Help design your retention and retrieval, privacy, and security policies to make sure that your organization is compliant. Download the full ebook today!
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Total Cost of Ownership—TCO. It's every executive's favorite buzzword, but what does it really mean, and how does it affect you? In this podcast, Ben Smith explains how your organization can use virtualization technology to measurably improve the TCO for servers and clients.
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When disaster strikes your Windows, SQL, or Exchange server, you need answers. Make sure that when an emergency occurs, you're prepared. Get the full eBook and get started on your recovery plan today!
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