Exchange 2013 Server Requirements Calculator v6.1

Exchange Team Blog released new version of Exchange 2013 Server Requirements Calculator.

This version is updated to reflect changed incorporated in Exchange 2013 CU2 like increades maximum number of databases.

 

New version you can download here:

Exchange 2013 Server Role Requirements Calculator v6.1

 

List of changes in new version since 5.9 you can find below:

  • Fixed operator mistake in calcNumActiveDBsSF formula
  • Fixed missed validation scenario where the calculator could recommend a copy count that could not be deployed on the custom disk architecture
  • Optimized remaining servers formula
  • Fixed an issue where single datacenter, multiple databases per volume architecture with lagged copies didn’t calculate the correct number of
    copies/volume
  • Fixed VirtCPUFactor reference
  • Various comment changes
  • Improved cell highlights for insufficient disk capacity on storage design tab
  • Added additional storage capacities – 1.2TB, 6TB and 8TB
  • Fixed database count validation logic to take into consideration dedicated lagged copy servers

Also all informations about changes in each version you can find here:

Exchange 2013 Server Role Requirements Calculator release notes

Exchange Server 2013 CU3

CU3 for Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 was released yesterday 11/25/2013

File about 1,5 GB can be downloaded here:

Cumulative Update 3 for Exchange Server 2013 (KB2892464)

Exchange2013CU3

 

After instalation of CU3 your Exchange Server 2013 version number will be 15.0.775.38

The following new enhancements and improvements to existing functionality have also been added for Exchange Server 2013 customers:

  • Usability improvements when adding members to new and existing groups in the Exchange Administration Console
  • Online RMS available for use by non-cloud based Exchange deployments
  • Improved admin audit log experience
  • Windows 8.1/IE11 no longer require the use of OWA Light

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Exchange server 2013 Service Pack 1 will be in early 2014

The Exchange Team Blog announced that service pack 1 for the Exchange Server 2013 will be available in early 2014.

Probably this mean Q1 of 2014.

SP1 for Exchange Server 2013 will include below improvements:

  • Windows Server 2012 R2 Support - First answering one the most common questions since the release of Windows Server 2012 R2. Exchange 2013 SP1 will add Windows Server 2012 R2 as a supported operating system for Exchange Server 2013 with SP1. Let your planning begin.
  • S/MIME support for OWA – Support for S/MIME in OWA will be brought back in SP1. With SP1 customers will have S/MIME support across Outlook, Exchange ActiveSync clients, and OWA.
  • Edge Transport Server Role – The Edge Transport server role for Exchange Server 2013 will be available with SP1.
  • Fixes and Improvements – Of course, SP1 will include fixes and improvements in areas you’ve helped us identity. SP1 is the first service pack issued in the new Exchange Server cumulative update release model – thus SP1 is essentially CU4. The installation of SP1 will follow the same process as the prior Exchange 2013 CUreleases. SP1 will include all fixes included in previously released cumulative updates for Exchange 2013.

 

SP1 will require to update Active Directory schema.

Active Directory Schema updates for Exchange are additive and always backwards compatible with previous releases and versions

Exchange 2013 Architecture – Ignite Webcast

October 10th 2013 was a session about Exchange 2013 architecture.

Now you can watch this session in internet.

This session introduces you to the new Exchange Server 2013 architecture, which delivers numerous enhancements to deliver service-class performance and scalability from many lessons learned from Office 365. Come learn about the new Client Access Server and Mailbox roles as we dive into client access, transport, managed store, service availability, modern public folders, and more!

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Distribution List members report

When you want to have report of your distribution groups with information who belong to these groups you can create PowerShell script to write each group to separate file with all members.

First you need to decide if you wan to specify distribution groups (like in file) or you want to get all distribution groups.

To get groups from file use:

$DLs = get-content d:\scripts\DLgroups.txt

to get all distribution groups use:

$DLs = get-distributiongroup -resultsize unlimited | select name
foreach ($dl in $DLs){
 if (!(get-distributiongroup $dl)){
 Write-Host "$dl is not valid"
 } else {
 $dl_tmp = get-distributiongroup $dl
 $outfile = "d:\scripts\DL_$($dl_tmp.name)_.txt"
 Add-Content $outfile get-Date
 Add-Content $outfile "$($dl_tmp.name) $($dl_tmp.SMTPAddress)" 
 Add-Content $outfile "Members"
 Add-Content $outfile "Alias;Displayname;Company;Title;emailaddress"
 $members = get-distributiongroupmember $($dl_tmp.alias)

 foreach ($member in $members){
 $user = $member.alias + ";" + $member.DisplayName + ";" + $member.Company + ";" + $member.Title + ";" + $member.primarysmtpaddress.local + "@" + $member.Primarysmtpaddress.domain 
 Add-Content $outfile $user
 }
 } 
}

With this short script you will get one file for each distribution group with members of this group.

 

 

Core Solutions of Exchange Server 2013 JumpStart sessions available on Channel9

Few weeks ago we have informed you about webinar Core Solutions of Exchange Server 2013 JumpStart

Now we want to inform that all sessions about Core Solutions of Exchange Server 2013 are available on Channel9.msdn.com

You can watch them or download.

Sessions were presented by Jason Helmick and Mike Pfeiffer.

 

Module01

Core Solutions of Exchange Server 2013: (01) Deploying and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 47 minutes, 44 seconds

This module describes the new architecture, prerequisites and requirements, and management tools.

High Quality WMV

 

Module02

Core Solutions of Exchange Server 2013: (02) Configuring Mailbox Servers and Recipients 59 minutes, 44 seconds
In this module, you’ll learn about planning and configuring the mailbox server, managing recipients, address lists, and more

High Quality WMV

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Exchange Virtualization Ignite Webcast

Tomorrow you can take a part of Ignite Webcast – Exchagne Virtualization.

This session will help you decide if Virtualization makes sense for you and Exchange 2013. We will also describe supportability of virtualization features, explain sizing recommendations for deployments and review common problem areas and how to avoid them

Session starts: October 24th at 10:00 AM Pacific Time. (1 Hour presentation)

more information you can find here:

Ignite Webcast – Exchange Virtualization

Presenter: Jeff Mealiffe, Principal Program Manager Lead for Office 365 at Microsoft

Date/Time: October 24th at 10:00 AM Pacific Time. (1 Hour presentation)

Live Meeting Information:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Join online meeting
https://join.microsoft.com/meet/v-joshto/F00T8BQY
Join by Phone
+14257063500
+18883203585
Find a local number
Conference ID: 27579341
Forgot your dial-in PIN? |  First online meeting?    [1033])!]

Audience:

 Office 365 for professionals and small businesses
 Office 365 for enterprises

 

Analyzing Exchange Transaction Log Generation Statistics script

Exchange Team Blog released great script to get transaction logs statistics.

With this script you can easily plan deploying your Exchange Servers.
As a output of this script you will get information about transaction logs which where generated during specified time.

Now you can determine how many transaction logs are generated on an hourly basis. This helps figure out how much bandwidth will be required when replicating database copies between sites, and what the effects will be of adding additional database copies to the solution. If designing an Exchange solution using the Exchange Server Role Requirements Calculator, the percent of logs generated per hour is an optional input field.

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Exchange Server Deployment Assistant new better version

Exchange Team Blog released new version of great tool Exchange Server Deployment Assistant. 

This version was released on 10/02/2013

The Exchange Server Deployment Assistant now combines all the on-premises and hybrid deployment scenarios from both the Exchange 2013 Deployment Assistant and the Exchange 2010 Deployment Assistant into a single tool. We’ve eliminated the need for the installation of Silverlight and provide guidance for all Exchange Server deployments in a true one-stop shop experience. We’ve also kept the same, convenient question-and-answer format to create a customized, step-by-step checklist with instructions to deploy Exchange 2013 or Exchange 2010.

 

Using this tool first you need to select the one of the three basic deployment tracks:

  • On-premises
  • Hybrid
  • Cloud Only

ExchangeDeploymentAssistant

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Core Solutions of Exchange Server 2013 Jump Start free webinar

You can register to free Microsoft Virtual Academy Life Event about Microsoft Exchange Server 2013.

Exchange 2013 Jump Start webinarium

This online event Core Solutions of Exchange Server 2013 Jump Start will take place on October 8th 2013 at 9 am PDT

As a instructor team we will see :

  • Mike Pfeiffer – Microsoft Certified Master and Premier Field Engineer at Microsoft. He’s a big fan of automation and scripting, and he is the author of the PowerShell cookbooks for Exchange Server 2010 and 2013
  • Jason Helmick – Jason is a 25-year IT veteran and Senior Technologist at Concentrated Technology. He’s an avid supporter of the PowerShell community as board member and CFO of PowerShell.Org. He is the author of ‘‘Learn Windows IIS in a Month of Lunches’’ and contributing author to

 

During this session they will talk about below issues:.

– Deployment of the new Exchange roles
– Planning and managing the mailbox role
– Managing users and mailbox environments
– Managing address lists and policies
– Managing client access
– Managing mobile devices for email
– Troubleshooting message delivery
– Messaging compliance with transport rules
– Disaster mitigation and high availability

If you want to register for this session click on link below

Core Solutions of Exchange Server 2013 Jump Start – Microsoft Virtual Academy Live Event

To register you need to have MVA account, but if you don’t you can easily create it.

This session will take 8h, 9am – 5pm (PDT)