Tutorials

Tutorials

• Tutorial: How to determine which ports Exchange Server is using

  Discover three different methods for determining what ports are in use by Exchange Server -- RPCDUMP, Netstat and Tasklist.  Continue Reading

• Part 1: Exchange Server mailbox-enabled and mail-enabled recipients

  Tutorial: Managing Exchange Server 2003 recipient objects -- part 1 of 4.  Continue Reading

• Tutorial: A primer on DNS and MX records

  One of the major components that helps an e-mail message reach its intended recipient is a Mail Exchanger DNS record -- better known as an MX record. This four-part tutorial explains what MX records are and how they work. It then describes ...  Continue Reading

• Part 1: Disk performance best practices for Exchange Server databases

  Best Practices Guide: Optimizing Exchange Server disk performance -- part 1 of 8.  Continue Reading

• Part 2: Disk performance best practices for Exchange Server transaction logs

  Best Practices Guide: Optimizing Exchange Server disk performance -- part 2 of 8.  Continue Reading

• Part 4: Disk performance best practices for Windows pagefiles

  Best Practices Guide: Optimizing Exchange Server disk performance -- part 4 of 8.  Continue Reading

• Part 5: Disk performance best practices for Exchange Server indexing

  Best Practices Guide: Optimizing Exchange Server disk performance -- part 5 of 8.  Continue Reading

• Active Directory Security Guide

  This guide offers plenty of must-know tips on maintaining a secure Active Directory environment, starting with the basics and moving on to more advanced practices.  Continue Reading

• Step-by-Step Guide: Exchange Server capacity planning with Performance Monitor

  Don't let growth-related performance issues and outages catch you by surprise. This step-by-step guide will teach you how to use the Performance Monitor tool for Exchange Server long-term capacity planning and trend analysis.  Continue Reading

• Tutorial: How to protect Exchange Server from spam blacklists

  It is sometimes possible to get blacklisted by various antispam companies, even if your organization has never sent a spam message. This is a serious problem that can severely harm day-to-day business operations. This four-part tutorial explains how...  Continue Reading

• Tutorial: How to set up a front-end Exchange Server cluster

  Front-end Exchange servers can become overloaded if too many users attempt to use Outlook Web Access simultaneously. In this tutorial, I explain how you can configure a Network Load Balancing Service cluster or DNS-based round-robin cluster to ...  Continue Reading

• Step 3: Domain controller communications

  Domain controllers control the keys to your Windows kingdom. They need to be even more secure than your other servers. Ensure their security by following these steps from Active Directory expert Derek Melber.  Continue Reading

• Step-by-Step Guide: How to repair Exchange-related IIS virtual directories

  Exchange Server depends on Internet Information Server (IIS) virtual directories for a number of functions related to Outlook Web Access, Outlook Mobile Access and ActiveSync. IIS virtual directories are generally stable, but can become corrupted by...  Continue Reading

• Learning Guide: Printer Management

  Printer management is a fact of life for network administrators. Browse our tips, articles and expert advice for the ins and outs of setting up, fine tuning and troubleshooting these persnickety peripherals.  Continue Reading

• Step-by-step guide: Cracking network passwords

  Weak passwords can be a huge security vulnerability. You can mitigate this risk by attempting to find your weaknesses before a malicious hacker does. Contributor Kevin Beaver provides a step-by-step guide on how to crack your own network passwords.  Continue Reading

• Step 1: Ethical hacking methodology

  Weak passwords can be a huge security vulnerability. You can mitigate this risk by attempting to find your weaknesses before a malicious hacker does. Contributor Kevin Beaver provides a step-by-step guide on how to crack your own network passwords.  Continue Reading

• Step 2: Tools you should use for Windows password testing

  Weak passwords can be a huge security vulnerability. You can mitigate this risk by attempting to find your weaknesses before a malicious hacker does. Contributor Kevin Beaver provides a step-by-step guide on how to crack your own network passwords.  Continue Reading

• Tutorial: Indexing Exchange Server public folder content

  Exchange Server 2003 offers its own mechanisms for indexing public folder content. Public folder indexing allows users to more easily search for specific information across a public folder store. In this tutorial, SearchExchange.com contributor ...  Continue Reading

• Step-by-Step Guide: How to create a VPN for your wireless network

  With wireless networks proliferating it is a good idea to understand what it takes to build a VPN for a wireless gateway. Contributor and Microsoft MVP Brien Posey details the necessary steps in this step-by-step guide.  Continue Reading

• Active Directory Planning and Design Guide

  This guide offers tips and resources on how to develop a plan to implement and design Active Directory.  Continue Reading

• Backing up Exchange Server with Microsoft VSS

  Learn about how the Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) backup process works for Exchange Server and the pros and cons of implementing it.  Continue Reading

• Step 7: Changing your DNS server's MX record

  Step-by-Step Guide: How to use ISA Server as an SMTP filter, step 7: Changing your DNS server's MX record.  Continue Reading

• Step 1: Installing the SMTP service

  Step-by-Step Guide: How to use ISA Server as an SMTP filter, step 1: Installing the SMTP service.  Continue Reading

• Step-by-Step Guide: Time Management

  In the hustling bustling world of IT, one thing Windows computing managers never have enough of is time. How often have you arrived at work in the morning with an ambitious agenda, only to find yourself sitting at your desk eight to ten hours later ...  Continue Reading

• Step-by-Step Guide: Prepping for MCSA and MCSE certification

  When it comes to pursuing Microsoft certifications, nothing beats well-rehearsed preparation and practice. Though the details involved in pursuing the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) certification differ somewhat from those involved...  Continue Reading