Problem solve

Problem solve

Get help with specific problems with your technologies, process and projects.

• Free PHP add-on brings accelerated speed, support to Windows Server

  Admins can gain improved functionality of PHP applications running on Windows Server through Windows Cache Extension, an open source PHP add-on utility. Continue Reading

• Adding risk management analysis to a disaster recovery plan

  Incorporating risk management techniques within your disaster recovery plan will help identify critical business needs as well as other DR solutions. Continue Reading

• Using DavMail to access Exchange’s Outlook Web Access from any POP3/IMAP-compatible mail client

  You can connect mail clients other than Outlook to an Exchange server using DavMail, a free open source application. Learn what settings need to be tweaked to be operational on Exchange in a Thunderbird or other open source mail client environment. Continue Reading

• Built-in security tools help defend Exchange Server 2010

  Exchange 2010 includes more built-in security tools than previous server versions. This tip examines some common vulnerabilities and which native tools protect against them. Continue Reading

• Resolving Adprep duplicate Link ID errors for Windows Server 2008

  Admins need to run the Adprep utility to avoid failure when adding a Windows 2008 DC to a down-level domain. But what if Adrpep itself fails? Continue Reading

• Icacls syntax basics: Automating Windows file permissions

  Believe it or not, the Icacls tool in Windows can be used to create a fully-automated permissions management solution – once you understand the basic syntax.Continue Reading

• Open source distributed file system (DFS) solutions go beyond Windows

  Even though DFS is commonly linked to Windows Server, there are several other non-Microsoft options out there as well – and they're free.Continue Reading

• The compliance benefits of Windows identity and access management

  A sound identity and access management strategy is key to keeping regulators off your back. Here are six ways IAM factors into the compliance equation for Windows environments.Continue Reading

• Outlook add-on removes duplicate email messages

  Removing duplicate email messages in Outlook can free up valuable storage space and CPU time wasted during indexing. This Outlook add-on automatically searches for and deletes redundant messages.Continue Reading

• Alternative PowerShell commands for Active Directory management

  While Microsoft has added many new cmdlets for PowerShell 2.0, admins can also use additional options from Quest Software and other outlets when working with Active Directory.Continue Reading

• Provisioning for success with Hyper-V virtual machine deployments

  With the ease in which new virtual machines can go up these days, VM sprawl can quickly get out of hand without the proper provisioning standards in place.Continue Reading

• Taking a second look at domain controller virtualization

  The prospect of virtualizing domain controllers used to be a heavily debated issue. But with steady advancements in server virtualization, it might be time to take another look.Continue Reading

• Rebuild an Exchange 2007 server after a crash

  This tip will help you prepare for an Exchange 2007 server crash. Learn why you need to bring Windows back up first and what not to do when rebuilding an Exchange 2007 server.Continue Reading

• Create Outlook 2007 rules to organize email

  Creating rules in Outlook 2007 will help Exchange Server administrators and users organize inboxes. This tip explains how to create and define different rules.Continue Reading

• HWiNFO utility provides free Windows hardware scans and reports

  Administrators can find in-depth server hardware information and generate reports with HWiNFO, an updated freeware utility for Windows systems.Continue Reading

• Hackers' guide to Windows file server security

  Many network hacks can quickly happen right under your nose. Learn to test your file servers from common attacks by taking on the mindset of a hacker.Continue Reading

• Exchange unified messaging setup: From start to finish

  Setting up an Exchange 2010 unified messaging server in a lab lets you test new UM features before putting them into production. One expert explains a quick and cost-effective approach to this sometimes cumbersome process.Continue Reading

• Why it pays to know Exchange Server 2007 administrative controls

  Step up your knowledge of Exchange Server 2007 administrative roles before diving into Microsoft's new Exchange Server 2010 administrative model and groups.Continue Reading

• Sysinternals Autoruns utility beefs up software debugging

  Already popular among Windows admins, the Autoruns utility has been tweaked to further improve the process of troubleshooting software issues on slow or unresponsive systems.Continue Reading

• Should Windows users have full administrative rights?

  Giving Windows users full administrator privileges can help reduce your workload, but it also leaves your environment vulnerable.Continue Reading

• Six ways to improve identity and access management (IAM) for Windows

  The evolution of the enterprise has put a huge emphasis on identity management. These steps will help you take control of IAM – before it takes control of you.Continue Reading

• Help your IT team avoid burnout

  See how to make your IT team more effective by monitoring workloads and teaching employees to watch out for signs of burnout in this excerpt from the IT Manager's Handbook.Continue Reading

• Free Windows server utility brings blue screens back to life

  Blue screen of death? Bad. Free tools? Good. Learn how one freeware utility can help Windows admins resolve system crashes in a hurry.Continue Reading

• Centralize multiple email accounts within Outlook 2007

  Many people have multiple email accounts, but have to access different mailboxes to check their mail. With these steps, you can easily configure Outlook to display all profiles so users can check email from one location.Continue Reading

• Should you install Microsoft Hyper-V on Server Core?

  The Hyper-V role for the Server Core installation of Windows 2008 R2 can be a practical alternative for managing virtual environments, but it's not ideal for all scenarios.Continue Reading

• How to create an Exchange message-tracking report

  Discover the Exchange Management Shell commands you can use to create custom message tracking reports.Continue Reading

• Inside the new PowerShell 2.0 commands for Active Directory

  Windows Server 2008 R2 comes with a bevy of new PowerShell cmdlets for managing AD. Here is a rundown of the key commands, with details on how they work and when to use them.Continue Reading

• Diagnose Exchange Server mail flow failures

  Exchange Server is mature and generally stable, but delivery problems can and do occur. Microsoft offers a few tools, including its Message Tracking tool, to get to the bottom of some of the peskiest mail flow problems.Continue Reading

• Centralize Outlook contact lists in an Exchange 2003 public folder

  Global access lists store contact info for co-workers, but not for anyone outside your organization. Making a public folder an address list keeps external contacts in one location.Continue Reading

• What's so great about R2's new AD Administrative Center?

  Microsoft revamped the way admins manage certain tasks with the ADAC in Windows Server 2008 R2. See how it compares to the AD Users and Computers snap-in from past releases.Continue Reading

• Configuring applications in Windows with Group Policy preferences

  Application behaviors can be tweaked and pushed out to your network via a logon script or Group Policy preference. See why choosing the latter could make your life a lot easier.Continue Reading

• The very best Sysinternals tools for Windows server security

  Admins can save themselves a lot of aggravation by taking advantage of Microsoft's free Sysinternals toolset. Here are some of the top security utilities available.Continue Reading

• A look at Microsoft's Outlook Social Connector

  Outlook Social Connector is a new feature in Outlook 2010 that aggregates information from social networking sites and displays it alongside email messages from Outlook contacts.Continue Reading

• AD Rights Management Services and the protection within

  For IT pros, the days of simply securing the perimeter are long gone. AD Rights Management Services is just one of many solutions designed to help protect data from the inside.Continue Reading

• Create hundreds of Exchange 2010 mailboxes for real-world lab testing

  Setting up users in a test lab can be a good way to demonstrate various tasks. But what if you want to create hundreds of users? Using a PowerShell script and these instructions, you can create hundreds of users with mailboxes in Exchange Server ...Continue Reading

• Unified communications defined

  Is your organization looking into the benefits of unified communications, but you don't know where to start? This tip from industry analyst Marty Parker explains UC, how it's different from unified messaging and where it may fit in your Exchange ...Continue Reading

• Free WSUS utility offers on-the-fly patch management for Windows

  A new app improves on the process of automated Windows updates – without the need for a WSUS server.Continue Reading

• Key considerations for Hyper-V virtual machine deployments

  When it comes to server virtualization with Hyper-V, there are certain factors that simply can't be ignored, such as processor needs and storage I/O.Continue Reading

• Rethinking clustering and high availability in Exchange Server 2010

  Microsoft revamped high availability and clustering in Exchange Server 2010. Database availability groups replaced CCR, LCR and SCR and a major architectural change reduces the time it takes for mailbox servers to failover. Get all the details in ...Continue Reading

• Reconfiguring .pst file home locations on Exchange

  Find out how to set home default locations and autoarchive your .pst files.Continue Reading

• Eight tips every IT pro can use towards becoming a better presenter

  Compiling PowerPoint slides does not make an IT pro a good presenter. These eight tips will strengthen your presentation and public speaking skills. Use them to wow your next audience.Continue Reading

• Say goodbye to Windows logon scripts with Group Policy preferences

  In certain scenarios, Group Policy preferences can help admins overcome the challenges and limitations of basic logon scripts. See what you might be missing in this tip.Continue Reading

• Fixing certificate mismatch errors in Outlook 2007

  When acquiring X.509 certificates to use ActiveSync and OWA on your Exchange 2007 Server, you need to include the correct details in your request. If you don't, certificate mismatches can occur. This tip explains how to troubleshoot those errors.Continue Reading

• Resolving a MAPI error message in Exchange Server 2003

  Find out how to resolve an error pertaining to control the number of connections per user during MAPI sessions in Exchange Server 2003.Continue Reading

• Why you need to test your disaster recovery plan

  Your disaster recovery plan may seem flawless, but formal testing can prove otherwise. Here are some reasons why performing a dry run of your DR plan can save you time and money.Continue Reading

• Reduce help desk calls with the Exchange Control Panel

  Find out which options in the Exchange Control Panel give users the power to perform certain Exchange Server 2010 tasks on their own – without having to call the help desk.Continue Reading

• PowerShell scripting hits the Web with new mobile utility

  A new Web-based utility for Quest's command-line automation tool gives admins the ability to execute PowerShell scripts directly from their browsers.Continue Reading

• Voicemail improvements in Exchange Server 2010 unified messaging

  One of many unified messaging improvements in Exchange Server 2010 is the ability to protect voicemail messages. Get a rundown of available options and supported codecs for storing messages.Continue Reading

• Outlook add-in personalizes bulk email messages

  If you want to personalize and send bulk email messages in Microsoft Outlook, you might want to try MAPILab's Send Personally Outlook add-in.Continue Reading

• Monitoring Windows DFS health with diagnostic reports

  Windows Server 2008 features new reporting capabilities to help admins stay one step ahead of potential DFS replication problems.Continue Reading

• Explaining the difference between IMAP and POP3 in Exchange Server

  Take a look at what qualities IMAP and POP3 offer and the differences between each protocol in Exchange Server 2003.Continue Reading

• Properly analyzing your Windows server vulnerability scan results

  Not everything picked up by a vulnerability scan is as critical as some would have you believe. In fact, a lot of it can be taken with a big grain of salt.Continue Reading

• Five mistakes to avoid when deploying Hyper-V virtual machines

  While Hyper-V is relatively simple to set up, there are still plenty of gotchas to consider. Here are some of the most common configuration blunders that can trip you up.Continue Reading

• Benefits of using email-enabled SharePoint document libraries

  By email-enabling document libraries in SharePoint, you can share information with co-workers for a set period of time.Continue Reading

• Top Exchange Server 2007 virtualization considerations

  Appropriate planning is crucial when consolidating workloads through Exchange Server 2007 virtualization. Properly placing virtual machines (VMs) and what each Exchange server role does are just two things to consider.Continue Reading

• Using Group Policy preferences for immediate and scheduled tasks

  The scheduling tools in Group Policy preferences let you run a command across an entire infrastructure quickly and easily.Continue Reading

• Exchange Server 2007 clustering explained

  Read this tip to learn about cluster continuous replication (CCR), standby continuous replication (SCR), local continuous replication (LCR) and other clustering methods in Exchange Server 2007.Continue Reading

• What to look for when troubleshooting DSAccess for Exchange Server

  Analyzing Event 2080 to troubleshoot DSAccess problems in Exchange Server 2007 and Exchange 2003 is a great practice. Looking at the correct data is the only way to ensure the health of your domain controllers.Continue Reading

• Why is Microsoft Outlook blocking attachments?

  Microsoft Outlook blocks email attachments to protect the Exchange Server organization from malware and viruses. This can be frustrating if it blocks safe attachments. Here are two workarounds you can use to make sure users can open safe attachments...Continue Reading

• Microsoft Azure's place in the cloud

  Cloud services are likely in your future. For Windows shops, see how Microsoft's Azure stacks up against the other big players and how it might fit in your long-range enterprise plans.Continue Reading

• Can't write email or reply to message in OWA

  Avoid email issues in OWA on Exchange Server 2003 by applying these updates.Continue Reading

• Five Group Policy preferences you must implement right now

  GPPs have a lot to offer the Windows domain, but not everyone takes advantage of them as much as they could.Continue Reading

• Testing an Exchange Server 2010 unified messaging setup

  Microsoft doesn't officially support virtualizing the Exchange Server 2010 UM server role, but that doesn't mean you can't run it in your lab.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting KDC 7 event errors when no one else can

  Finding the cause of errors logged as Event ID: 7 Source: KDC can be tricky business, especially when the error leads you down the wrong path. These steps will help you find the real cause – and fix it.Continue Reading

• Is DirectAccess a threat to Windows security?

  DirectAccess may be connectivity nirvana for remote users, but some admins have questions about the security risks involved.Continue Reading

• How Exchange Server 2010 Shadow Redundancy prevents message loss

  Hub transport servers are more resilient in Exchange Server 2010 because of Shadow Redundancy. See how this feature protects you from message loss – even during a hub transport server failure.Continue Reading

• Permanently remove a POP email account from Outlook 2003

  Our expert offers a way to get rid of an unwanted POP email account from Microsoft Outlook 2003.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Exchange Server 2007 issues

  From users inexplicably receiving duplicate email messages to synchronizing mail contact data between two servers, our expert has the answers to your questions concerning Exchange Server 2007.Continue Reading

• The state of email content filtering -- and what you can do

  Proper email content filtering goes a long way toward keeping your organization secure from information leakage. What works? What doesn't?Continue Reading

• Standalone versus domain-based namespaces in Windows DFS

  When setting up namespaces in Windows DFS, be aware that the popular choice may not be the best fit for your environment.Continue Reading

• Solidify your Exchange Server security incident response plan

  One of your duties as an Exchange administrator is to create and follow an incident response plan. Here's why it's important to prepare for a security breach in your Exchange Server organization.Continue Reading

• Active Directory Web Services brings new power to R2

  Admins running Windows 2008 R2 might be interested in Active Directory Web Services, a new interface for accessing Active Directory and AD Lightweight Directory Services.Continue Reading

• Backing up SharePoint-related SQL Server databases

  Find out exactly which database backup and recovery models you'll need for a full backup and restore of a SharePoint-associated SQL Server database.Continue Reading

• Planning for disaster recovery with Microsoft Hyper-V

  Virtualization is supposed to simplify disaster recovery, but is Microsoft's Hyper-V up to the task? It can be – if you plan accordingly.Continue Reading

• WAMPStack: Fast (and easy) deployment of Apache, MySQL and PHP

  Not sure how to set up a WAMP stack? BitNami's WAMPStack product is an all-in-one solution that installs Apache, MySQL and PHP quickly and with minimal hassle.Continue Reading

• Grant users access to another user's Outlook 2007 mailbox

  A situation may arise in which you need to delegate one Outlook 2007 user access to open another user's mailbox. Or you may want to monitor a user's mailbox without that user's knowledge. Read this tip to find out how.Continue Reading

• Exchange Server 2003 clustering explained

  Many organizations run multiple versions of Exchange Server. Since high availability features differ, you need to understand which clustering solutions are available in each version. Let's start with a discussion on Exchange Server 2003 clusters.Continue Reading

• The philosophy of just-in-time server provisioning

  By taking advantage of virtualization and other technologies, admins can learn to provision and deploy new servers quicker than ever.Continue Reading

• Accessing old mail remotely with OWA

  You have a few options when trying to access old email copies remotely while using OWA on Outlook 2007.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Exchange Server 2003 transaction log transfer problems

  If you are having Exchange Server 2003 transaction log transfer problems, know what steps to take if you have multiple databases on a drive.Continue Reading

• Managing transaction log files in Exchange Server 2007

  Discover what to do with transaction log files on Exchange Server and why these files are so important to your database.Continue Reading

• Security testing: Finding the best method for your Windows servers

  The type of testing you choose can dramatically impact the security of your servers. See which approach is right for your environment.Continue Reading

• Windows PowerShell: What you absolutely need to know

  You won't get far with PowerShell unless you know the basics. This article breaks down the key components and terminology to get you started.Continue Reading

• Three technical skills every IT admin should have

  If you're an IT administrator lacking in a technical background, learn all you can about these three fundamental principles. It will make all the difference in your career.Continue Reading

• Defining the relationship between Outlook, AD and Exchange Server

  Find out how Outlook, AD and Exchange are connected and the roles each play for users.Continue Reading

• The anatomy of a Distributed File System namespace

  Namespaces in DFS present users with a centralized view of file server resources. This article dissects the basic components of a DFS namespace.Continue Reading

• Crash course on Microsoft Outlook 2007 calendar sharing

  Microsoft Outlook 2007's calendar is a great way to keep tabs on your schedule and let co-workers know when you're free. Learn how to share your calendar and access other user's calendars.Continue Reading

• Active Directory in R2: Features to care about, others to ignore

  From the ADAC to managed service accounts, Active Directory in Windows 2008 R2 has several new capabilities. See the ones worth checking out -- and those that probably aren't.Continue Reading

• Managing external data access in SharePoint governance

  Permitting external access to SharePoint data allows employees to do their jobs, even when they are out of the office. However, be sure the methods you use to allow remote access to SharePoint comply with your governance plan.Continue Reading

• Security best practices for Microsoft Hyper-V installations

  Virtualization opens up a whole new can of worms around network security, but taking the proper steps at the beginning can help ensure your VMs are protected.Continue Reading

• A case for social computing in the enterprise

  Step outside your comfort zone, and take advantage of SharePoint's blog, wiki and My Site features to unlock your users' potential.Continue Reading

• Nine Exchange Server risks you shouldn't overlook

  Missing patches, inadequate malware protection and OWA weaknesses can set up your Exchange Server for attacks. What security measures have you overlooked?Continue Reading

• Getting hired in IT: How to stand out

  The unemployment rate is high so there is plenty of competition for IT jobs. What can you do to stand out from the pack?Continue Reading

• What's new in Microsoft Outlook 2010?

  Microsoft upped the ante with Outlook 2010 by adding new features to help users increase productivity and become less reliant on the Help Desk.Continue Reading

• VPN Reconnect: Powerful networking for when the network isn't powerful

  Connection drops are a fact of life for on-the-road workers. But VPN Reconnect, a new capability in Windows Server 2008 R2, simplifies the process of reestablishing a connection.Continue Reading

• 10 ways to improve your disaster recovery plan in 2010

  Improve your confidence in your entire disaster recovery process by testing and maintaining it as an active business plan.Continue Reading

• Mercury/32: An alternative mail server for Windows

  Looking for an alternative to Microsoft Exchange? Mercury/32 provides basic SMTP and POP3 mail services on any 32-bit Windows system.Continue Reading

• New unified messaging features in Exchange Server 2010

  Unified messaging is available in Exchange Server 2010, with a few new features. Get a peek at the voicemail transcription and call answering rules features and what they do.Continue Reading

• The real deal with internal security threats

  Are your Windows servers at risk? Learn how (and why) to secure your network against malicious insiders.Continue Reading

• An introduction to dynamic storage provisioning for Windows

  Administrators can and save money reduce wasted disk space by implementing dynamic server provisioning in their environments.Continue Reading