For example, now that customers are free to migrate to Exchange 2013, we’ve covered numerous helpful topics that folks are sure to run into during their migrations, such as:

• Where’d my administration tools go in Exchange 2013?
• What is the Exchange 2013 Managed Store?
• Does Exchange 2013 need an edge?
• Why does an Exchange 2013 migration require a coexistence period?

These aren’t the only questions we’ve answered since January, so do yourself a favor and head over to the expert answer section of our site and peruse commonly asked Exchange questions, both old and new.

Also, we’re always looking for new talent to answer reader-submitted questions and write expert tips. If you’re interested in the opportunity, feel free to email me at your leisure.

If you have questions of your own, feel free to either write me personally, or drop them in our editor mailbox. Either way, I’ll see them and pass them on to one of our experts.

Until next time,

Matt

Below, you’ll find some of our top performing content from Q1 2013. Take a look, and you’ll see why these articles were so popular with our readers the first time around.

* An admin’s guide to configuring Gmail in Microsoft Outlook

Do your users want to access Gmail within their Microsoft Outlook clients? There are various setups available.

* Our top five Outlook 2010 tips of 2012

We did the research and found out which Outlook 2010 tips were tops in 2012. Have a look and you’ll see why.

* Troubleshooting Exchange Autodiscover service issues

The Exchange Autodiscover service doesn’t typically need a lot of maintenance, but when issues crop up, it’s important to be ready.

* An inside look at the Exchange 2010 ActiveSync Quarantine feature

Underused but important, the Exchange 2010 ActiveSync Quarantine feature helps restrict which devices connect to Exchange. Here’s what you need to know.

* 10 new PowerShell cmdlets you’ll need for Exchange 2013

Exchange 2013 includes almost 200 new Exchange-specific PowerShell cmdlets. Get started with the 10 most important.

* MVP reviews his first year with Microsoft Office 365

A year ago, a longtime MVP migrated from on-premises Exchange Server to Microsoft Office 365. Read about his experiences and reasons behind the move.

Have a nice weekend!

-Matt

If you’re not familiar with Paul or his terrific site, allow me to put it very simply. Paul writes about anything and everything Exchange Server-related. He’s has a multitude of terrific in-depth articles on Exchange migrations, PowerShell code, backup and recovery, ActiveSync, DAGs and, well you get the point.

Don’t take my word for it though, visit his site and follow him on Twitter if you don’t already.

Paul was nice enough to answer some questions on his background, including how he started working with Exchange, favorite aspects and much more — which you can read below.

Please join me in congratulating Paul by tweeting this post.

1. How did you begin working with Exchange Server and related technologies?

Back in 1999, I got my first job in IT working on the help desk in a government department that ran Exchange 5.5. I still remember the tiny mailbox quotas and heavy .pst file use. I’d never even had my own email address before then.

Over the next few years, I worked in a bunch of different operations and projects roles, but Exchange Server was always a part of that. I had moved into a consulting role right around the same time Exchange 2007 shipped, and one day my boss asked me if I wanted to take over for the messaging lead who was leaving to go live overseas. That was the beginning of my focus on Exchange Server in my career, and it’s been that way ever since.

2. What’s your favorite part of working with Exchange Server and related technologies?

Exchange Server integrates and interacts with so many different things. I like to think about all the people in all areas of a business, as well as the various aspects of IT infrastructure like storage, virtualization, load balancers, firewalls, WAN, mobile and more.

The complexity can be challenging, but also a lot of fun. I really do enjoy dealing with the constant stream of new things that crop up. You can work with the product for years and still be learning new things, or coming across new scenarios that expose you to different facets of the product.

3. What are you excited to work on this year and why?

I’m looking forward to Exchange 2013 CU1 shipping so that we can accomplish coexistence with Exchange 2007 and Exchange 2010. Getting involved in some migration projects here should be very interesting.

I didn’t get the chance to dive into Lync or Office 365 much last year, so I also want to spend more time on those products.

Finally, I’m also co-authoring a new ebook on Exchange 2013 and PowerShell at the moment. We’re hoping to finish that in the next couple of months.

Do you have someone you’d like to nominate? Email me.

 Until next time,

-Matt

In a proactive announcement earlier this week, the Exchange team announced that the cumulative update for Exchange 2013, previously promised by the end of Q1, would be pushed back two days.

In February, the Exchange team announced a new way to service Exchange Server. It would roll out cumulative updates (CUs) at the end of each quarter. The updates replace past rollup updates, and the schedule was intended to give IT shops a better idea of when updates would become available. The hope was that the predictability would not only help Exchange shops, but the Exchange team and testers as well. It would give them a set amount of time to fix the bugs present in the product.

The first Exchange 2013 CU was to allow for coexistence with Exchange 2010 and Exchange 2007, helping Exchange shops begin the migration process to Exchange 2013. Now they’ll have to wait just a little bit longer.

“Of course I’m a little disappointed, but I fully support Microsoft’s decision not to release the CU just yet,” said Michael VanHorenbeeck a technology consultant at Systems Integrator Xylos Corp. in Belgium. “It proves to me that Microsoft is making an effort to improve the quality of the product — and its updates — a welcome change after the debacles with previous updates.”

Another member of the Exchange community shared a similar sentiment. “It’s basically just two days late, not really a big deal, and I prefer quality more than just having those bits, said Dave Stork, an IT architect based in the Netherlands. “I would have been more upset when it was delayed for a month or so.”

Another IT pro explained why the release would be delayed. “Waiting a few more days is a small price to pay when we’ll get an update that doesn’t require people on Exchange 2010 SP3 to install yet another update on Exchange 2010 CAS servers, said Michel de Rooij, a unified communications consultant in the Netherlands.

“Looking at the time required by some companies to test, accept and put updates in production, introducing another update for the current production platform would be unwelcome. I applaud this decision,” he added.

Look for Exchange 2013 CU1 on April 2.

Until next time,

Matt

The Exchange team has held strong to its statement about CU1 being available “in Q1 2013.” Now as we get closer to the end of the first quarter, we’ve seen several announcements regarding tools and information that will be important as organizations look to move to Exchange 2013 and Office 365.

* First, there was a blog update on the TechNet URLs for Exchange 2013. This caused a stir when it was first announced, and folks still aren’t happy about the URL changes. However, the fact remains that the info contained within these pages will be critical as companies plan for and migrate to Exchange 2013.

* About a week ago, we saw an update on Exchange Server 2013 Deployment Assistant (ExDeploy). If you’re not familiar with previous versions, ExDeploy is a Web-based tool that helps administrators plan Exchange upgrades and installs. The tool asks several migration-related questions, then spits back a checklist on what you’ll need to do to properly deploy or configure Exchange.

The Exchange 2013 version helps admins plan not only for on-premises deployments of Exchange 2013, but also hybrid and Office 365 environments.

 * Last week Microsoft also released the Exchange 2013 version of the Jetstress tool. This will be extremely important to organizations that want to be among the first to run Exchange 2013 in production. Simply put, the Jetstress tool tests disk stability and performance before placing an Exchange 2013 server into production. This is a highly recommended download.

* Today we saw an update to the Remote Connectivity Analyzer (RCA). This tool lets admins check Exchange, Lync and Office 365 connectivity problems. The updated version of the RCA includes several new Office 365 tests that are sure to be put to good use this year.

I, for one, am glad to see all this updated information prior to the CU release. Like others, I was surprised that the SP3 release didn’t officially allow for coexistence with Exchange 2013. But now that I’ve seen this information trickle out before the CU1 release, it certainly seems like a good sign of things to come.

-Matt

When Exchange 2013 hit RTM, few really questioned why Microsoft released a new product that so few could actually use in production. Sure, you can deploy it in greenfield environments — and labs are an option — but how many greenfields are out there, and who has time to test something in a lab along with their regular, every day workload?

Exchange 2013 has now been generally available for well over a month. Some industry folks are testing, and frankly the reviews have not been kind. Several Exchange MVPs have blogged about missing or incomplete features, bugs and other maladies. Other admins and consultants have started experimenting and run into problems as well. OWA and Exchange Administration Center issues are at the top of many “here’s what needs to be fixed” lists.

The only way to fix the problems that exist in Exchange 2013 is to push forward with the update. It will allow for coexistence and let more folks roll Exchange 2013 out. By doing so, the number of people testing Exchange 2013 will grow exponentially. Thus, they’ll be able to experiment and work with the product and report back to Microsoft with any and all bugs they find. Only by having human beings work with 2013 will Microsoft be able to iron out all the kinks.

Let’s see that Service Pack soon — and one for Exchange 2007 too.

Until next time,

Matt

Fast forward to today and we’ve been slowly, yet steadily building the program back up. We’ve got numerous Exchange MVPs and experts ready to answer your pressing questions, whether novice-, expert-level or somewhere in between.

Here are just a few examples of questions our experts have tackled:

• What’s the best way to track OWA connections to client access servers?
• Is it smart to delete Exchange 2010 log files?
• What’s the difference between MX records and smart hosts?
• Should I use NTLM to authenticate to Exchange 2010?

Unfortunately, there’s not an obvious place on our site to submit questions, so be sure to keep both my email address and our editor@searchExchange.com address handy. You can also bookmark this page and refer back any time you have a question you’d like to ask one of our experts.

So join the revival! You’ll help yourself as well as all the readers who come to our site and search on similar issues.

Until next time,
Matt

Two big announcements resonated with readers and our contributors keep churning out terrific tips. In case you missed them the first time around, below you’ll find five articles that kept fellow readers clicking this month.

Exchange Server 2013 hits general availability, but upgrades must wait (@ExchangeTT)

Exchange 2013 hit general availability in early December, meaning admins can download it and start experimenting.

Google drops Exchange ActiveSync support on free Gmail (@stuartj1000)

Google wants to take more control of its mobile email strategy by phasing out Exchange ActiveSync. But was it a smart move? IT pros weigh in.

New Exchange 2013 features tighten integration with SharePoint (@BrienPosey)

Two new Exchange 2013 features help further Microsoft’s commitment to making SharePoint and Exchange integration airtight.

Explaining client access server role changes in Exchange 2013 (@DevinGanger)

Microsoft overhauled the client access server role in Exchange Server 2013. While the changes may seem drastic, they definitely represent a change for the better.

Top five OWA 2013 improvements that benefit mobile users (@BrienPosey)

OWA 2013 offers several improvements that target users and administrators who are frequently on the move. Familiarize yourself with the top five.

Anderson is a Microsoft MVP and came very highly recommended. As the individual who nominated him said, “I don’t know where he gets all the time.” And I couldn’t agree more. It’s terrific to see someone who not only accomplishes so much, but also adds so much to his professional community.

Below you’ll find just a small sample of his contributions:

• Anderson tweets numerous times daily, with lots of helpful links and information about Exchange, OCS, System Center and other Microsoft technologies (follow him @apatricio).
• He is a tip writer and blogger for MSExchange.org, contributing two technical tips per month as well as numerous blog posts.
• Anderson also has two personal websites: First, there is his site for English speakers. It includes news and tips on Exchange and other Microsoft technologies. There’s also his Exchange resource site for Portuguese speakers. This site includes over 1,000 articles covering Exchange and other Microsoft technologies, as well as videos and tutorials.
• He contributes to the Microsoft Exchange BR discussion group, which covers Exchange issues and solutions for the Brazil, Portugal and Angola communities, and helped create two Microsoft Virtual Academies. The first academy helped new admins understand the basic concepts of Exchange, while the other prepared them for Exchange certifications.

Anderson was also kind enough to share what he how he came to work with Exchange Server, what he enjoys most about it and what he’s looking forward to working on in 2013.

Can you give a brief description of how you began working with Exchange Server and related technologies?

I started my career with Microsoft. My first infrastructure was managing accounts in a Windows NT Server 3.51 and Exchange 5.0 environment. From that point on, I started studying and testing the product.

I also had the opportunity to be part of several transitions from Windows NT4/Exchange 5.5 to Active Directory and Exchange Server 2003. That was a great experience. It was a great opportunity to learn the architecture of those new products from the beginning.

 What’s your favorite part of working with Exchange Server and technologies?

Email is one of the key products for any company, and everyone expects it to be up 24/7. In order to do so, we need to put a lot of effort into design and planning; that is one my favorite areas of building a new mail solution. After the deployment process, I really enjoy working with high-availability and disaster recovery scenarios.

What are you excited to work on in 2013 and why?

The Exchange team has been improving the product with each version. This release includes several improvements. My top three areas I’m most excited to work with are the Exchange architecture, high availability and better integration with Lync and SharePoint.

Please join me in congratulating Anderson Patricio by tweeting this post.

Happy holidays to all,

-Matt

This month’s winner is Michael Van Horebeeck.

Michael works as a technology consultant with Xylos, an information and communication technology services provider and Microsoft partner in Belgium. Michael is a great choice for our first ever Exchange pro of the month due to his terrific contributions in the Exchange community.

Michael routinely takes time out of his schedule to contribute to the ProExchange.be site, as well as the UC Architects podcasts. If you aren’t familiar with either, do yourself a favor and check them out.

Michael was kind enough to answer a few questions as to how he came to work with Exchange, his favorite aspects of the technology and more. You can also follow Michael on Twitter @mvanhorenbeeck.

Do you know someone who is deserving of our Exchange Server pro of the month award (it might be you)? Don’t be shy — send us an email.

 1. Can you give a brief description of how you began working with Exchange Server and related technologies?

I actually was “thrown” into Exchange many years ago when a client was forced to move to Exchange 2003 from Exchange 5.5 during an infrastructure upgrade. At that time, I knew close to nothing about either and was forced to learn about them the hard way (memories)!

I guess that experience somehow made Exchange really stick in my mind as I’ve been primarily working with it ever since.

 2. What’s your favorite part of working with Exchange Server and technologies?

Without a doubt, it is the progress that’s made in every release. It’s interesting to see how Exchange has re-invented itself a few times over the years.

Like many others, I’m really into the Exchange architecture part. So, I guess that the client access server role is probably my favorite part, along with PowerShell.

 3. What are you excited to work on in 2013 and why?

I’m excited to finally put Exchange 2013 into production! It’s a pity we have to wait until [Exchange 2010] SP3 to become available before we can do anything though. We don’t see that many green field installs nowadays, unless if you’re moving from another platform like Notes.

I also hope to find some more time to write articles. I’ve been so busy at work lately, so I haven’t been able to write as much as I’ve wanted to.