Problem solve
Get help with specific problems with your technologies, process and projects.
Problem solve
Get help with specific problems with your technologies, process and projects.
How to implement Exchange address book policies
Exchange address book policies have replaced clunky global address list segmentation. Discover where they make sense and how to implement them. Continue Reading
In IT planning, try zero-based thinking
Zero-based thinking is a concept that's used extensively in the business world to turn around failing companies. It can work wonders in IT planning. Continue Reading
Seven things to know about Windows Server 2012 deduplication
It's no magic bullet, but Windows Server 2012 deduplication can help alleviate rising data storage demands. Continue Reading
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Finding Microsoft certification training -- for free
There's new Microsoft certification training material available to help developers earn the MCSD Windows Store Apps credential. Continue Reading
What happens to .ost files after restoring an Exchange backup?
An admin is curious as to what will happen to users' .ost files after restoring a backup. Our expert explains how to find out with a few quick steps. Continue Reading
A crash course on Exchange ActiveSync policies for iOS devices
As iOS devices invade organizations, it's crucial to understand Exchange ActiveSync policies. Password options and other restrictions are available.Continue Reading
Workaround tricks for avoiding the Windows Server 2012 GUI
There are reasons to keep the Windows Server 2012 GUI, but many admins want a workaround. With a little know-how, you can skip the Modern UI.Continue Reading
What is the best way to test Exchange 2010 server health?
An admin wants to know what his options are when it comes to checking Exchange 2010 server health. Our expert offers two suggestions.Continue Reading
How do I use a PowerShell filter to identify files by date?
Our expert answers one of the most common questions he hears from admins about using a PowerShell filter to find a file's accurate date.Continue Reading
Microsoft makes improvements to SharePoint workflows
The first thing to know about SharePoint workflows is that SharePoint 2013 actually contains two separate workflow platforms.Continue Reading
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Dynamic Quorum gives failover clusters a boost in Windows Server 2012
The Dynamic Quorum Management option in Windows Server 2012 can make failover clusters more resilient. Here's how it works.Continue Reading
How can I make and run a PowerShell script prompt for input?
When it comes to running a PowerShell script prompt for input, admins can get the best results by letting PowerShell do most of the work. Here's how.Continue Reading
How can I use Powershell remoting to pass info to remote computers?
When you have to locally execute something and share it with one or more remote machines, PowerShell remoting has a specific way to do it. Here's how.Continue Reading
Hybrid Office 365 setup: Configuring your federation farm
Configuring single sign-on for a hybrid Office 365 deployment takes several steps. Here's how to set up your Active Directory federation farm.Continue Reading
SharePoint licensing is becoming simpler -- and cheaper
Microsoft has made some changes to its SharePoint licensing requirements, potentially saving customers a lot of money.Continue Reading
Why quorum is important to Exchange 2010 database availability groups
When it comes to database availability groups, maintaining quorum is paramount. But what exactly is quorum, and how do you maintain it? Find out here.Continue Reading
Microsoft certification path takes another turn
It's a good move to reinvent and reinvigorate the most important lower and mid-tier credentials on the Microsoft certification path.Continue Reading
Examining multisite database availability groups in Exchange 2010
Multisite database availability groups are a solid high availability choice, but can pose problems. Fortunately, options are available.Continue Reading
10 new PowerShell cmdlets you'll need to know for Exchange 2013
Exchange 2013 includes almost 200 new Exchange-specific PowerShell cmdlets. Get started with the 10 most important.Continue Reading
Public or private CA: PKI deployment options for Exchange
Deciding which PKI deployment option to go with for digital certificates can be tough. Weigh the pros and cons of each before moving forward.Continue Reading
Three ways to tighten OWA 2010 security
As more users log onto corporate networks with smartphones and tablets, stout OWA 2010 security is vital. Three techniques limit potential risks.Continue Reading
Exchange 2013 storage considerations when virtualizing on Hyper-V
Practice caution when it comes to Exchange 2013 storage on Hyper-V and always remember these five crucial facts.Continue Reading
Deciding whether to run Server Core in Windows Server 2012
Our expert breaks down the advantages and disadvantages of deploying Server Core in Windows Server 2012.Continue Reading
An overview of 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.Continue Reading
Configuring iSCSI Targets on Windows Server 2012 Failover Clusters
In Windows Server 2012, admins can configure iSCSI Targets using the Server and Failover Cluster Managers and PowerShell cmdlets. Here's how.Continue Reading
Step by step: Exchange 2010 virtualization on vSphere
Any Exchange 2010 virtualization project requires a careful and methodical approach. Follow the steps outlined here to make your transition seamless.Continue Reading
The year's top SharePoint administration tips
The end of the year gives us a chance to review and compile the best SharePoint administration advice.Continue Reading
IT admins need to get Windows certification right
As long as the Windows certification exams you're working on also apply to the new MCSA credentials, keep at them. If they don't, then reconsider.Continue Reading
Tracking OWA connections to client access servers
One Exchange admin wants to know the best way to track OWA connections to his client access servers. Our expert has the answer.Continue Reading
How to change an Office 365 password policy using PowerShell
Though not obvious, you must use PowerShell to change an Office 365 password policy. Learn about the required connections steps and cmdlets you will need.Continue Reading
Strategies for SharePoint document management
SharePoint document management is a process -- not a feature.Continue Reading
All about Exchange mailbox database white space
In this expert Q&A, you'll learn what Exchange mailbox database white space is, ways to check how much you have in your deployment and other best practices.Continue Reading
Explaining client access server role changes in Exchange 2013
The client access server role has been reborn in Exchange Server 2013. While the changes may seem radical, they represent a change for the better.Continue Reading
Easier DirectAccess setup means a plausible VPN alternative for admins
DirectAccess used to be a complicated feature, but not anymore. In Windows Server 2012, simpler DirectAccess setup helps admins connect mobile users.Continue Reading
Is it safe to delete Exchange 2010 log files?
One admin wants to know if it's a smart idea to delete Exchange 2010 log files. To put it simply, it's not, and here's why.Continue Reading
Examining your Exchange Server SSL configuration options
Few organizations spend much time weighing their Exchange SSL options. Familiarize yourself with the different choices before making a decision.Continue Reading
Will you be hitting the books for Microsoft certification training?
New products mean it is time for new Microsoft certification training materials.Continue Reading
Enabling multi-server management in Windows Server 2012
By enabling remote management in Windows Server 2012, Microsoft opened the door for multi-server management remotely or locally.Continue Reading
Exchange 2010 setup error: Cannot create IIS virtual directory
One administrator encountered Exchange 2010 setup errors after uninstalling the platform. Find out what our expert recommends.Continue Reading
Windows Server Failover Clustering gets boost from PowerShell cmdlets
In Windows Server 2012, there are 81 new and improved failover clustering PowerShell cmdlets. Here's how to make the most of their capabilities.Continue Reading
Identifying Exchange Server synchronization issues for Sent Items
Users that access email on various devices may run into Exchange Server synchronization issues. The Sent Items folder is one area that can cause confusion.Continue Reading
FAQ: Troubleshooting common errors in Microsoft PowerShell
In this FAQ, we have our resident PowerShell expert answer some common questions to help admins troubleshoot errors in this scripting language.Continue Reading
Troubleshooting Exchange 2010 free/busy issues
Users rely on Exchange 2010 free/busy to keep their Outlook calendars up to date. If it goes down, you should check these key areas first.Continue Reading
Making effective use of SharePoint tags
There are different philosophies regarding the best way to make sure SharePoint tags do an effective job of helping users.Continue Reading
Exploring the Exchange Administration Center in Exchange Server 2013
As Exchange evolves, so does its management interface. Get a close look at the new Exchange Administration Center and see why it's an improvement.Continue Reading
Chkdsk improvements in Windows Server 2012 increase data availability
Data availability has been an issue for admins running chkdsk, but that's no longer the case in Windows Server 2012. Here's a look at what's changed.Continue Reading
Exchange Server 2013 preparation checklist
Whether you're planning on early adoption or waiting for Exchange 2013 SP1, here are several ways to prepare your current environment before migrating.Continue Reading
Updating Microsoft IT certifications with new MCSA exam
The 70-417 exam draws on topics from all base-level tests for MCSA: Windows Server 2012 certification.Continue Reading
How to customize Outlook 2010, important settings
Not all Outlook deployments are created equal. Learn how to customize Outlook 2010 using a free tool, as well as which settings you can tweak.Continue Reading
Introducing Exchange Server 2013 modern public folders
Responding to demands from the Exchange community, Microsoft is keeping public folders in Exchange 2013 and surprise, they're much improved.Continue Reading
Ensuring hardware compatibility with a Windows Server 2012 upgrade
With Windows Server 2012 available, admins have a lot to consider when it comes to hardware. Here's what you need to know before you make the move.Continue Reading
How to set up scale-out file servers in Windows Server 2012
In Windows Server 2012, failover clustering is configured to work with scale-out file servers for continuous availability. Here's how it works.Continue Reading
Multiserver administration and more with RSAT in Windows Server 2012
Microsoft's Remote Server Administration Tools received an update in time for Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8. What's new?Continue Reading
Revisiting DCPromo in Active Directory: what's changed?
Admins might have experience with the DCPromo tool in Windows Server's Server Manager. Learn about its history and where it's going.Continue Reading
Five best practices for virtualizing Exchange Server 2010 with Hyper-V
Virtualizing Exchange 2010 with Hyper-V isn’t as popular as VMware vSphere, but it’s gaining traction. These five best practices may prove helpful before you start configuring your environment.Continue Reading
Examining Exchange Server 2010 LUN architecture
When it comes to storage, Exchange 2010 is more flexible than previous versions. The one and two LUNs per database architectures are two options worth investigating.Continue Reading
How to repair the Outlook 2010 search index
Every Outlook 2010 user relies on search to some extent. When search goes down, you need to know how to diagnose the problem and quickly fix it.Continue Reading
Why does a PowerShell command run fine locally, but not remotely?
Admins starting to use PowerShell's Remoting features may run into some growing pains with remote commands. Combat these with a few simple tricks.Continue Reading
What’s the difference between MX records and smart hosts?
A new Exchange administrator is confused as to the difference between MX records and smart hosts. Discover what each does and their role in email delivery.Continue Reading
Office 365 archive mailbox and retention policy setup
Excessively large mailboxes are bad news for Office 365 deployments. Instead, create and configure archive mailboxes and corresponding retention policies.Continue Reading
Microsoft Online Backup Service in Windows Server 2012: Under the hood
Weigh the pros and cons of Microsoft Online Backup Service in Windows Server 2012. Some features could benefit IT shops.Continue Reading
Accessing Exchange message stores via programming languages
Many companies rely on non-Microsoft programming languages to access Exchange email. Find out how three languages talk to Exchange, where they're headed and more.Continue Reading
Locating unused Exchange Server mailboxes with PowerShell code
Unused Exchange mailboxes are not only a licensing issue, but also a security vulnerability. Pinpoint empty and inactive mailboxes with PowerShell.Continue Reading
Exchange 2010 setup error: Could not find domain controller
Did you receive an error message describing difficulty finding a domain controller during Exchange 2010 setup? Read the steps necessary to get around it.Continue Reading
Extracting data from memory dumps with Event Tracing for Windows
Admins facing Windows Server frequent hangs and crashes can use a number of tools, like Event Tracing for Windows, to catch a badly behaving task.Continue Reading
Restoring Exchange 2010 administrative permissions after a migration
One admin lost permissions after an Exchange 2010 upgrade. See why it happened, and get two fixes as we revisit our popular Ask the Expert program.Continue Reading
Taking the primary domain controller offline to rebuild it
Need to take an in-place upgraded PDC offline to rebuild it and use the second and third freshly-built 2003 DCs to handle services? Our expert explains.Continue Reading
A lesson on Exchange Server 2010 resource mailbox management
Resource mailbox management may seem tedious, but properly configured and customized mailboxes make life easier on admins and end users alike.Continue Reading
An Exchange Online administration primer for Office 365 newbies
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Become familiar with the basics of Microsoft’s Exchange Online administration prior to making the move to Office 365.Continue Reading
Why can't I compare the contents of PowerShell variables?
Even though it's a common problem that can frustrate administrators, it's possible to compare PowerShell variables by learning some simple commands.Continue Reading
Built-in NIC teaming in Windows Server 2012 gives IT pros a break
In Windows Server 2012, IT pros can prepare for failover scenarios using the newly built-in NIC teaming capability.Continue Reading
Converting VMware virtual machines to Hyper-V with VMC
If you need to consolidate into a Windows-based shop, Microsoft provides a free tool to convert VMware virtual machines to Hyper-V machines.Continue Reading
How to write reusable PowerShell scripts for Exchange Server
We’ve all heard about the virtues of PowerShell. Reusable scripts may not change your life, but they'll certainly change your job and save you lots of time.Continue Reading
How to rebuild an Exchange edge transport server
Since the edge transport server’s configuration info isn’t stored in Active Directory, you can’t rebuild it as you would other server roles. We’ve got the instructions you’ll need.Continue Reading
SMB 3.0 brings fault tolerant features, more speed
SMB 3.0 ushers in the next generation of server messaging features and brings in speed improvements and tricks.Continue Reading
How to repair a corrupt Outlook 2010 deployment
When Outlook goes down, don’t automatically download a third-party tool. Instead, try one of these approaches suggested by our expert.Continue Reading
How to send Outlook 2010 items via SMS text message
No smart phone, no problem! You can still configure Outlook 2010 to send mail, calendar items and more to users who have cell phones that aren’t ActiveSync-enabled. Here’s how.Continue Reading
Five Group Policy Preferences that replace Windows logon scripts
You don't need to deal with logon scripts any longer; these GPPs can solve the same problems without all the syntax hassle.Continue Reading
Choosing iSCSI as a low-cost alternative to Hyper-V High Availability
You don't have to break the bank for highly available virtualization. iSCSI storage offers plenty of benefits with the right implementation.Continue Reading
How to troubleshoot Exchange Autodiscover service issues
The Exchange Autodiscover service doesn’t typically need a lot of maintenance. But when issues crop up, make sure you’re ready.Continue Reading
Microsoft certifications: How MCSE and MCSA have changed
Microsoft's revamped certification program brings back familiar acronyms like MCSE and MCSA, but other important changes have occurred as well.Continue Reading
The top five Group Policy PowerShell commands
The GUI is great for some things, but these scripts will help make your Group Policy administration much more efficient.Continue Reading
Smart sizing for Exchange Server 2010 mailbox databases
There is no single size that fits the needs of all Exchange Server 2010 mailbox databases. But there are several aspects to consider when determining what’s best for your company.Continue Reading
Troubleshooting Exchange 2010 public folder replication issues
Public folders are here to stay. Therefore, you need to know how to fix them if anything -- like replication -- goes wrong.Continue Reading
How to change Office 365 user passwords via PowerShell
Sorry if you’re a bit weary of hearing reasons why PowerShell is so important. Here’s one more: you’ll need it for password management in Office 365.Continue Reading
What to know before repairing Exchange Server 2010 databases
Repairing an Exchange 2010 database is a potentially destructive operation. Following these carefully laid out instructions can help you avoid disaster.Continue Reading
Install WSUS updates immediately with Windows PowerShell
One little script can change your life. Use Greg Shields' 'Big Red Button' to automate patching and reclaim some hours in your day.Continue Reading
Revamped Windows Performance Toolkit improves performance monitoring
Performance monitoring gets a graphical boost with the release of several new event tracing tools.Continue Reading
Protecting SharePoint 2010 document libraries with IRM
Normally a Windows feature, Information Rights Management also lets admins limit access to SharePoint 2010 documents. Here’s how to set up IRM and handle its limitations.Continue Reading
How to fix Exchange 2010 virtual directory re-creation problems
Re-creating virtual directories in Exchange 2010 is a straightforward process, but that doesn't mean problems won't occur. First, check these trouble spots.Continue Reading
How to create custom driver databases with Windows Deployment Services
Plug and Play isn't just for USB devices. Here's how to put it to work in your installation environment.Continue Reading
How to run WSUS in a Hyper-V virtual machine
What do you need to consider when virtualizing WSUS? Our expert answers some common questions.Continue Reading
How to manually uninstall Exchange Server 2010
Severe damage to Exchange Server 2010 may require you to uninstall the program. Follow these tips to prevent harm to Active Directory.Continue Reading
Top five Group Policy improvements in Windows Server 2012
What's changed with Active Directory Group Policy in Windows Server 2012? Get an idea of some of the improvements in this tip.Continue Reading
Guide: Troubleshooting Microsoft Outlook
Got a Microsoft Outlook problem? Whether you’ve run into a confusing error message, your users are experiencing password or calendar issues, or you simply can’t connect, we’ve got the answer here.Continue Reading
New features in Microsoft IIS 8
Admins will find plenty of new features to like in the new version of Microsoft's web server – especially if they're hosting large-scale operations.Continue Reading
How to connect to Office 365's PowerShell in the cloud
Admins can get more granular control of Office 365 resources after connecting to PowerShell. Unfortunately, determining how to make that initial connection isn't immediately clear.Continue Reading
Is NTLM a smart way to authenticate to Exchange Server 2010?
Microsoft discontinued support for NTLM in Exchange 2010 RTM, then reinstated it in Exchange 2010 SP1. But is it a good way to authenticate to Exchange?Continue Reading
Top five features in PowerShell v3
PowerShell has become pretty hard to ignore. Here are the latest reasons to get up to speed with the scripting tool.Continue Reading
How can I monitor Hyper-V virtual machine traffic?
The more information you want about Hyper-V traffic, the harder it will be to get. Our expert explains why things will get better in Windows Server 8.Continue Reading