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Problem solve

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

• Studs and duds in the Windows Server 2008 R2 feature set

  R2 made a feature-savvy entrance when it was released almost two years ago, but not every enhancement has lived up to the hype. Continue Reading

• Testing top Microsoft support tools for Windows 2008 compatibility

  For years Microsoft has worked to expand its slate of troubleshooting tools for admins. But with no Support Tools to download for the latest OS, do the same utilities still apply? Continue Reading

• Fighting off Microsoft Hyper-V security hacks

  Although hypervisors are built with security in mind, a sloppy Hyper-V host configuration can still open up your servers to a wide range of exploits. Continue Reading

• What does ASLR really mean for Windows security?

  While address space layout randomization may be a mouthful, the added protection could be critical to Windows security. But will ASLR really stop malware in its tracks? Continue Reading

• An introduction to Exchange 2010 ActiveSync throttling

  ActiveSync throttling policies are beneficial to Exchange 2010. They can protect a client access server from overload and can keep mobile device users from meddling with settings. Continue Reading

• What Server App-V means for applications in the cloud

  Microsoft is close to extending its application virtualization technology to the server. The question is, will it encourage more companies to invest in Azure?Continue Reading

• Applying regular expressions (regex) to Windows PowerShell

  It may seem daunting at first, but the combination of regular expressions (regex) with PowerShell can be an admin’s best friend when it comes to certain complex tasks.Continue Reading

• How a CAS array can protect Exchange Server 2010 from failure

  Exchange 2010 connects to clients via the client access server. Creating a CAS array can prevent the server from becoming a single point of failure. Here’s how to do it.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Xperf tutorial: New ways to monitor Windows performance

  Part of the Windows Performance Toolkit, Microsoft's Xperf utility easily trumps the monitoring capabilities of older admin tools like Perfmon. So how does it work?Continue Reading

• A closer look at the Ntdsutil command-line tools for Active Directory

  Dig into the slew of Ntdsutil commands in Windows Server 2008 and R2 that provide admins with improved Active Directory management.Continue Reading

• Living dangerously with Ntdsutil commands in Windows Server 2008

  While the Ntdsutil utility for Active Directory has been around since the days of Windows 2000, new functionality in Windows Server 2008 and R2 gives admins even more to work with.Continue Reading

• Five Quick Links: Windows Server troubleshooting

  Check out these quick-hit links for debugging Windows Server crashes and hangs, with details on the best (free) recovery tools for administrators.Continue Reading

• Do IIS Web servers make sense for virtualization?

  Web servers like IIS can be a good fit for virtualization, so long as all the key considerations are taken into account ahead of time.Continue Reading

• Isapi Rewrite Filter: A free URL rewriting utility for IIS 7

  Though Microsoft finally offers a URL rewriting add-on for IIS, admins might look to take advantage of the Isapi Rewrite Filter’s extended functionality.Continue Reading

• Monitor SharePoint with Outlook 2010 email alerts

  If you're an Exchange admin who’s been tasked with overseeing SharePoint, you can use a familiar tool -- Outlook 2010 -- to manage alerts.Continue Reading

• Making sense of Windows Azure's VM role

  The new VM role for Windows Azure should be a boon for organizations looking to host their virtual machines in the cloud, but it’s not ideal for all situations.Continue Reading

• Windows PowerShell and the .NET Framework: Connecting the dots

  You don’t have to be a developer to understand how .NET integrates with Windows PowerShell. By learning just a few basic concepts, admins can help put .NET within reach.Continue Reading

• How to use managed folders for Exchange 2010 message retention

  Managed folders are most often used to control message retention. Before you use them, you need to become familiar with the cmdlets and parameters to configure managed folders.Continue Reading

• What admins need to know about Windows Azure services

  Much has been said about what Microsoft's cloud platform means for developers. As for admins? It could be a case of the more things change, the more they stay the same.Continue Reading

• Is turning off User Account Control in Windows a good idea?

  Old-school admins might be tempted to turn off User Account Control for the sake of their legacy programs, but the practice could easily do more harm than good.Continue Reading

• Step up your Outlook Web App setup

  When Outlook Web App’s default settings just won’t do, it’s time to tweak. Certain configuration changes will help OWA run more efficiently and securely.Continue Reading

• Event Tracing for Windows: A fresh look at an old tool

  Though over a decade old, the Event Tracing for Windows utility might be the best troubleshooting tool that many admins have never heard of.Continue Reading

• Free Outlook tool fixes AutoComplete list annoyance

  Outlook's AutoComplete function is helpful, but doesn’t allow you to edit existing entries. This free download lets you edit, repair and track .nk2 files.Continue Reading

• Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2: Four features you wish it supported

  While Microsoft has made strides with its current virtualization management software, some still find it lacking in certain areas.Continue Reading

• Moving public folder calendars and tasks to SharePoint 2010

  Manually migrating calendar, contact and task data from Exchange public folders to SharePoint 2010 may seem daunting. These steps make it seem painless.Continue Reading

• Controlling IIS log file growth with IISLogs 2.0 utility

  With IISLogs 2.0 admins can manage, archive and compress log files on their own time, eliminating the need for custom scripts.Continue Reading

• Rebuilding an Exchange client access server in five steps

  According to Exchange Server documentation, you don’t need to back up a client access server. But you should know how to rebuild it. Get the steps.Continue Reading

• Top three Windows server crashes (and how to avoid them)

  Why wait until a server crashes to start the troubleshooting process? Admins can squash potential outages ahead of time by zeroing on the most likely culprits.Continue Reading

• How to use WMI with Windows PowerShell scripts

  With PowerShell, admins can harness the power of WMI to find all sorts of system and network information. The best part? It’s probably a lot easier than you think.Continue Reading

• Checklist for new Exchange Server administrators

  Are you a new Exchange admin who walked into an oddly configured server infrastructure? This checklist can help you make sense of the mess.Continue Reading

• How DNS devolution works in Windows Server 2008 R2

  Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 ship with built-in changes to the DNS name devolution process that help boost security and simplify client access to network resources.Continue Reading

• NFS role eases account mapping across Unix and Windows

  Admins can keep closer tabs on user permissions over networks running various server platforms via a new service for Windows Server 2008 R2.Continue Reading

• Dissecting ActiveSync logs in Exchange Server 2010

  ActiveSync logging information is valuable to Exchange 2010 admins for several reasons. We explore how to find and decipher the data.Continue Reading

• Link Shell Extension simplifies hard link creation for Windows NTFS

  Looking for a better way to build hard links and junctions for NTFS volumes? Link Shell Extension moves the process out of the command line and into Windows Explorer.Continue Reading

• Time management strategies for the IT pro

  How effective are you at managing your time? IT expert Kevin Beaver offers up some time-management best practices to help you get the most out of your workday.Continue Reading

• Free Microsoft tool accesses Exchange, Outlook MAPI stores

  What started as one Microsoft engineer tinkering with MAPI became a full-blown tool. See how MCFMAPI can access stores via a graphical user interface, helping you solve MAPI problems.Continue Reading

• How vulnerable is Microsoft IIS 7.5 to attacks?

  While version 7.5 is more secure out of the box than past IIS releases, it doesn't guarantee 100% protection.Continue Reading

• Step-by-step: Building a Windows Server instance in the cloud

  Setting up a cloud-based instance of Windows Server might be easier than you think -- especially when the hosting provider does most of the work for you.Continue Reading

• Outlook 2010 and Exchange 2007 connection error workaround

  Stumped by a 0x80070057 error when trying to connect Outlook 2010 to Exchange 2007? The cause might surprise you.Continue Reading

• The real price of Exchange Server in the cloud

  Do you think moving Exchange to the cloud is a good fiscal decision? Run the numbers again. What you save on an initial investment may cost you down the road—in more than simple dollars and cents.Continue Reading

• Best practice for Dynamic Memory allocation with Hyper-V R2 SP1

  Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 will finally add the ability to over-allocate memory with Hyper-V. The next step? Learning to optimize the feature for peak performance.Continue Reading

• DCs at sea: Configuring mobile Active Directory domain infrastructures

  It’s common for admins to deal with mobile users, but what if the domain itself moves? See how basic AD principles always apply -- no matter what the situation is.Continue Reading

• Registry hack lets OWA users reset their passwords

  All it takes is this simple registry hack to give users with expired passwords access to their OWA accounts.Continue Reading

• Tracking system resources with free WinObj utility from Sysinternals

  Mark Russinovich and company did Microsoft one better with the WinObj tool for tracking Windows system resources, though there’s still room for improvement.Continue Reading

• Manually move Exchange public folder data to SharePoint

  For years Microsoft has urged Exchange admins to migrate public folder content to SharePoint -- without supplying any tools to do it. Save money on third-party tools by doing it manually.Continue Reading

• Pros and cons of Windows Server drive encryption

  Despite the drawbacks of server-based drive encryption, tools like BitLocker can be invaluable protection against data breaches and other external threats.Continue Reading

• Limiting bandwidth use during Outlook offline address book syncs

  If you're using a newer version of Exchange with a legacy version of Outlook, you'll want to understand your bandwidth consumption and how to control it during OAB synchronization.Continue Reading

• Not sure what's running in a virtual machine? Use a batch file

  Not all programs perform as expected in virtual machines. These tips will help you quickly find what’s virtual and what’s not using batch files or Windows PowerShell.Continue Reading

• Managed service accounts boost server security in R2

  Microsoft introduced the managed service accounts feature with Windows Server 2008 R2 to help make the management of apps like Exchange more secure. So how does it work?Continue Reading

• Setting PowerShell execution policies in Exchange 2010

  Exchange 2010 doesn’t inherently trust PowerShell scripts. Admins can set different execution policies to control when scripts run. Determine which policy is best for your organization.Continue Reading

• Repair client access server issues to restore OWA and ActiveSync

  A corrupt client access server can bring ActiveSync and OWA to a halt. Our expert explains how to fix your most stubborn CAS problems.Continue Reading

• Core Configurator 2.0 puts the GUI back in Server Core

  Admins can implement Server Core faster with the latest version of Core Configurator, a GUI-based open source tool for Windows Server 2008 R2.Continue Reading

• Simplifying RBAC management in Exchange Server 2010

  The new RBAC permission model in Exchange 2010 can be a difficult concept to understand. Breaking it down per-level can be even more confusing. These free tools facilitate RBAC management.Continue Reading

• Controlling the output of Windows PowerShell commands

  Windows PowerShell features several cmdlets for writing data. Knowing which commands do what can help control the output of your functions and keep your pipelines clean.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting OWA login problems

  In the latest edition of the Exchange mailbag, our expert helps a few admins get to the bottom of their peskiest OWA logon problems.Continue Reading

• Exposing SMTP and IMAP’s security vulnerabilities in Exchange Server

  Even though SMTP and IMAP have built-in features to protect Exchange’s external mail transmissions, both protocols are still susceptible to security vulnerabilities. See how easily both can be compromised.Continue Reading

• Weighing MBSA against paid vulnerability scanners

  If you’re only looking for the vulnerabilities Microsoft deems most important, then MBSA is your tool. If you need more, you’re better off assessing other commercial vulnerability scanners.Continue Reading

• Override default OWA message attachment filters

  Is OWA filtering HTML attachments from your users' email messages? Don’t worry -- there’s an easy workaround to this security annoyance.Continue Reading

• Potential coexistence troubles during Exchange 2010 migrations

  Coexistence issues are a natural part of Exchange 2010 migrations, so keep an eye on client access servers and mailbox databases during the entire upgrade.Continue Reading

• Auditing AD administrators with Windows 2008 R2's Event Viewer

  When it comes to admin rights, knowing who you can trust is not always easy. But while auditing limitations won’t do you any favors, new features in R2’s Event Viewer can help.Continue Reading

• Changing file attributes in bulk with free utility

  The updated BulkFileChanger tool gives Windows admins the power to modify files en masse. As for renaming files? Stay tuned.Continue Reading

• Error handling with Windows PowerShell

  The ability to deal with errors is critical to writing quality PowerShell functions. Here you'll find basic tips for detecting errors and figuring out what went wrong.Continue Reading

• Preparing for the inevitable move off Exchange 2010 public folders

  Even you're even considering migrating public folders off of Exchange Server, pulling data reports will help you understand which folders are most important and which ones are just wasting space.Continue Reading

• Securing Exchange Server communications via SMTP and IMAP

  IMAP and SMTP have built-in security features to protect Exchange Server's external mail transmissions. Do these legacy protocols offer enough protection?Continue Reading

• How to separate primary and archive mailboxes in Exchange 2010 SP1

  If you've already deployed personal archive mailboxes in your Exchange organization, our expert explains how to move them to a separate database in Exchange 2010 SP1.Continue Reading

• API Monitor utility traces application performance for Windows

  Admins can use updated API monitoring software to hook into API calls and get an inside look at application mechanisms for improved tracking capabilities.Continue Reading

• Building an automated permissions management solution with Icacls

  Using basic Icacls syntax, admins can create an automated solution to ensure correct network file permissions at all times.Continue Reading

• Your BitLocker To Go Active Directory policy options

  In the second installment of his two part series, Phil Cox reviews recommended BitLocker To Go settings that should be configured in your organization.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Jet session issues for Active Directory databases

  Unbeknownst to some admins, issues related to Jet sessions can cause Active Directory database performance problems. Learn what to look for -- and how to fix what you find.Continue Reading

• Understanding Active Directory operations: The Jet database

  Unlock the secrets of how the Jet database engine works within Active Directory and learn to troubleshoot database-related issues.Continue Reading

• Free Outlook add-on a must in the developer's toolbox

  Whether you're a Outlook development newbie or a seasoned extended MAPI whiz, this free tool shows you the nuts and bolts of MAPI and gives you access to Outlook Object Model objects.Continue Reading

• Sysinternals RAMMap utility sheds new light on Windows memory usage

  RAMMap, one of the latest offerings from Sysinternals, provides an in-depth overview of server memory usage that can't be matched by native Windows programs.Continue Reading

• Role group management commands for Exchange Server 2010

  Role group management has changed in Exchange Server 2010. Take a look at which EMS commands you'll need to use to create role groups, add and remove members and more.Continue Reading

• Flash Memory Toolkit offers diagnostics, repair tools for USB drives

  As USB drives become more popular, so do utilities designed specifically for USB flash drives. The Flash Memory Toolkit includes helpful tools for troubleshooting and repairing USB flash drives.Continue Reading

• Uncovering the hidden meeting workspace feature in Outlook 2010

  SharePoint meeting workspaces haven't disappeared from Outlook 2010 -- they're hidden. Our Exchange Server expert tells how to find and install this feature.Continue Reading

• Configuring VLANs for a flexible Hyper-V environment

  With Hyper-V deployments, admins tend to focus mostly on the server, but paying equal attention to the network can minimize issues with scalability and security later on.Continue Reading

• Top tools for fixing Windows NTFS corruption issues

  There are several utilities out there designed to salvage NTFS data and restore your hard disk, but even the best ones have pros and cons.Continue Reading

• Exchange ActiveSync explained

  Exchange ActiveSync brings control and security to mobile environments, while providing ease of use to employees. The numerous benefits of EAS are discussed in the first installment of our "Exchange explained" series.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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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