Tips

Tips

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Automating Exchange mailbox creation and provisioning step-by-step

  If you're looking to steal more valuable time to put toward other more important tasks, take a look at these cmdlets that can automate mailbox creation and provisioning for your users.  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

• 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 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

• 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

• 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

• Step-by-step guide: Remote Desktop Gateway configuration

  The Remote Desktop Gateway role service extends the reach of Remote Desktop Services. Here's how to set it up, step by step.  Continue Reading

• Three reasons behind Exchange 2010 Management Console failures

  It’s not uncommon for the Exchange 2010 management console to break down. Some failures may be attributed to changes made since Exchange 2007, but there are other causes as well.  Continue Reading

• Centrally managing out-of-office messages in Exchange Server 2010

  Is out-of-office message management possible in Exchange 2010? Microsoft doesn’t officially support it, but our expert attempted a couple methods to find out.  Continue Reading

• Complete your Exchange 2010 migration: Move data using PowerShell

  You’ve taken the necessary precautions and followed all the right steps. Complete your Exchange 2010 migration by moving public folders, PST files and mailboxes with PowerShell.  Continue Reading

• Cost considerations: When blade servers meet virtualization

  When it comes to cost-effectiveness, do blade servers and virtualization combine to make CFOs happy?  Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Outlook Anywhere: Where to start

  Several factors can stop Outlook Anywhere from working correctly. Familiarize yourself with the most common pain points and learn their fixes here.  Continue Reading

• All Outlook 2010 Trust Center settings are not created equal

  The Outlook 2010 Trust Center offers plenty of security settings to administrators. That doesn’t mean they’re all important though.  Continue Reading

• Using Microsoft PerfView to profile process performance data

  Microsoft made its internal performance monitoring tool available to the public. Here's how it offers an advanced peek at application processes.  Continue Reading

• Managing access control with Windows Rights Management Services

  Active Directory's Rights Management Services is a good way of managing access to data, but there are caveats.  Continue Reading

• Bringing Windows RDS to the web: Designing the DMZ

  Remote Desktop Gateway secures Internet access for Remote Desktop Services applications – if you set it up properly.  Continue Reading

• Distinguishing between mail contacts and mail users in Exchange 2010

  It’s easy to confuse mail users with mail contacts in Exchange 2010. Our expert sorts out the differences between these seemingly interchangeable terms.  Continue Reading

• Kerberos platform interoperability connects Windows to the rest of the world

  The Kerberos authentication protocol ensures safe connections between multiple platforms. Find out just how it creates secure connections in this overview.  Continue Reading

• Why you should consider SCOM for Exchange Server monitoring

  Are you relying on complicated performance monitor counters to track your Exchange servers’ health? If so, you may want to give SCOM a try.  Continue Reading

• Using the Windows Application Compatibility Toolkit

  The Windows Application Compatibility Toolkit can help make Windows Server upgrades easier.  Continue Reading

• The pros and cons of Exchange vs. MDM for mobile management

  With so many users accessing Exchange mail remotely, IT pros have to make mobile device management a priority. Should you use Exchange Server or Mobile Device Manager?  Continue Reading

• Using Xperf stack walking to pinpoint kernel performance issues

  The Xperf tool helps admins diagnose performance issues, but how do you granularly determine what function calls are eating up precious resources?  Continue Reading

• Three methods to repair OWA

  Admins have several options to repair OWA. The trick is choosing the technique that has the least amount of impact on your OWA user base. Consider these three fixes.  Continue Reading

• Configuring and optimizing SharePoint 2010 search

  Search has been around since SharePoint’s inception but it isn’t enabled in SharePoint 2010. Here’s how to configure search while minimizing the impact on sites.  Continue Reading

• Five ways to improve your Exchange Server 2010 backups

  Exchange Server backup is an everyday task that is easily optimized. Follow these five best practices to enhance Exchange 2010 backups and fast-track restorations.  Continue Reading

• Fixes for faulty Outlook and hosted Exchange connections

  Some early Office 365 adopters have experienced Outlook connectivity problems. We've identified the culprits as well as the solutions.  Continue Reading

• How System Center 2012 enables Hyper-V private clouds

  Microsoft is pushing private cloud with the latest releases of its systems management products. Find out if they can help you get a handle on your internal resources.  Continue Reading

• Exchange Server 2010 licensing considerations and requirements

  Microsoft licensing is tough to grasp. In this tip, we explain in plain English how Exchange 2010 licensing works to help you choose the best licensing model for your environment.  Continue Reading

• Hidden gems in Windows Server 2008 R2's Resource Monitor tool

  You don't have to download a freeware tool to adequately monitor your system performance. Here's how to leverage the new features available to Windows Server admins.  Continue Reading

• Top five tips for optimizing Active Directory Group Policy performance

  As your number of managed GPOs increases, so does the performance hit to your machines. Get in front of the problem by taking these simple steps.  Continue Reading

• Lessons learned from an Office 365 migration

  Office 365 migrations take time and careful research, but even then, some mistakes are inevitable. Find out what one expert learned during his company’s move to Office 365.  Continue Reading

• Configure SharePoint 2010 to send notifications through Exchange 2010

  Email notifications are a great way to alert admins and users to SharePoint changes; you just need a mechanism to deliver them. That’s where Exchange 2010 comes in.  Continue Reading

• What to do when DNS records disappear

  When working with DNS records in Active Directory, a small mistake can quickly become a big problem. Follow these steps to speed your recovery.  Continue Reading

• All about Exchange 2010 distribution list management

  Do you dread having to manage distribution lists? The Exchange Management Console and Shell simplify the job, and you always have the option to offload the task to users.  Continue Reading