Exchange Analyzer is a great tool for every Exchange Admin

Exchange Analyzer is a PowerShell tool that scans an Exchange Server 2013 or 2016 organization and reports on compliance with best practices.

Exchange Analyzer is a community project, and is currently a beta release seeking feedback and results from real world environments.

To read the latest information about Exchange Analyzer click here to visit the project’s ReadMe on Github. More information can also be found in the Exchange Analyzer Wiki.

Installation Instructions

1. Download the latest Zip file

2. Extract or copy the following files and folders to a computer that has the Exchange 2013 or 2016 management shell installed. For example, place all of the files and folders in a C:\Scripts\ExchangeAnalyzer folder.

    • Run-ExchangeAnalyzer.ps1
    • \Data
    • \Modules
    • \Tests

    3. Copy the folders in the \Modules folder to C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules\

    4. Open a new Exchange Management Shell

    Important Note: if you are updating your copy of Exchange Analyzer please make sure you copy the updated module in step 3.

    Running Exchange Analyzer

    To run the Exchange Analyzer open an Exchange management shell, navigate to the folder with the script files (e.g. C:\Scripts\ExchangeAnalyzer) and run:

    Interpreting Results

    Exchange Analyzer produces a HTML report with a simple “Passed/Failed” indicator and a list of passed and/or failed objects. Links to more info are provided to assist you with further interpretation of the report.

    Feedback and Questions

    Before submitting feedback or questions please review the Exchange Analyzer FAQ.

    You can help with bug fixes by submitting issues on Github. If you would like to contribute fixes or other code please review theExchange Analyzer Wiki.

    You can also send email to feedback@exchangeanalyzer.com.

    Change Log

    14/01/2016 – v0.1.0-Beta.1

    • First public beta release

    28/01/2016 – v0.1.1-Beta.2

    • Second beta release. Details of changes are here.

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    Beta Exam 345: Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 NOW AVAILABLE

    Are you an expert in designing and managing Exchange Server? Are you responsible for the Exchange Server 2016 messaging environment in an enterprise environment? If so, here’s your chance to start down the path to the MCSE certification for free AND help us improve the quality of this exam!

    We are opening up 350 beta seats for this beta exam (exam number: 70-345)… This means you can take the exam for free!! BUT… the seats are limited to first come, first served basis–so, register today (these codes will only work through February 12, 2016, meaning you have to register AND take the exam on or before that date)–and we need you take the exam as soon as possible so we can leverage your comments, feedback, and exam data in our evaluation of the quality of the questions. The sooner you take the exam, the more likely it is that we will be able to use your feedback to make improvements to the exam. This is your chance to have a voice in the questions we include on the exam when it goes live. 

    To prepare for the exam, review our prep guide and practice the skills listed: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-70-345.aspx. To prepare for this beta exam, check out my recent blog for ideas: https://borntolearn.mslearn.net/b/weblog/archive/2015/12/31/just-how-does-one-prepare-for-beta-exams-without-preparation-materials.

    ***Register for the exam at the same site and use code EXCH2016010B to take it for free, but these codes are only valid for exam dates on or before Feb. 12, 2016. Remember: There are a limited amount of spots, so when they’re gone, they’re gone. You should also be aware that there are some country limitations where the beta code will not work (e.g., Turkey, Pakistan, India, China, Vietnam); you will not be able to take the beta exam for free in those countries.

    Also, keep in mind that this exam is in beta, which means that you will not be scored immediately. You will receive your final score and passing status once the exam is live.

    Well…what are you waiting for? Register before all the seats are gone!

    https://borntolearn.mslearn.net/b/weblog/archive/2016/01/13/designing-and-deploying-microsoft-exchange-server-2016-beta-exam-now-available

    MS16-010: Security update in Microsoft Exchange Server to address spoofing: January 12, 2016

    This security update resolves a vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server that could allow information disclosure if Outlook Web Access (OWA) doesn’t handle web requests, sanitize user input and email content correctly.

    To learn more about the vulnerability, see Microsoft Security Bulletin MS16-010.

    Download:
    Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Service Pack 1 (3124557)

    Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 10 (3124557)

    Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 11 (3124557)

    Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 (3124557)

    Skype for Business 2015 Planning Tool

    The Skype for Business Team released Skype for Business 2015 Planning Tool. This tool asks you a series of questions about your organization and the features that you are interested in. The planning tool will then use your answers to recommend a topology based on the tested Skype for Business 2015 user model.
    Your organization may have a different user model. If so, you should adjust the recommended topology as necessary to fit your organization’s needs.
    What’s in the Planning Tool for Skype for Business 2015?

    • The Planning Tool now allow user to have up to 10 sites, including central site and disaster recovery site
    • The Planning Tool offers capacity guidance for Skype for Business Server 2015 new and updated features listed below.
    • You can answer the questions about these features in the Planning Tool, and then the suggested topology will contain information for those features, e.g hardware, network, DNS, certificate, IP, etc, according to the Skype for Business 2015 user model.
      • Persistent Chat
      • Archiving with Exchange integration
      • Mobility
      • Multi-view Video
      • SQL AlwaysOn
      • High Availability and Disaster Recovery
      • Office Web Apps
      • Exchange Mailbox
    • Skype for Business Server Planning Tool 2015 allows you to specify IPv6 IP addresses
    • Planning Tool identifies the IP conflicts across sites in the suggest topology. You can then choose to show or hide IP conflict in the topology
    • Planning Tool offers more user-friendly FQDN/IP/Port editing dialog
    • Planning Tool updates the suggested hardware requirements, DNS, and certificates with Skype for Business Server 2015 changes
    • Planning Tool updates the planning steps and deployment steps with Skype for Business Server 2015 changes
    • Planning Tool offers better support for accessibility requirements
    • Skype for Business Server Planning Tool 2015 offers improved export of Visio and Excel files. An exported Visio file matches the suggested topology diagram in the Planning Tool as well
    • Planning Tool no longer supports the following features:
      • Virtualized server design
      • Export the Planning Tool file to Topology Builder

    Get it: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=50357

    Source

    Certification Update for MCSE: Communication

    The MCSE: Communication certification is being updated to support Skype for Business skills.

    Starting 28-December, 2015, the following two new Skype for Business exams (currently in beta) will fulfill the MCSE: Communication requirements, provided that the candidate has already earned a qualifying MCSA credential:

    The following Microsoft Lync Server 2013 exams retire on 31-March, 2016, but will remain an accepted path towards earning MCSE: Communication until 31-July, 2016:

    Please see the MCSE: Communication web page for more details after 28-December.

    Cumulative Update 11 for Exchange Server 2013

    Cumulative Update 11 for Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 was released on December 15, 2015. Several nonsecurity issues are fixed in this cumulative update or a later cumulative update for Exchange Server 2013.

    This cumulative update fixes the issues that are described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:

    This update also includes new daylight saving time (DST) updates for Exchange Server 2013. For more information about DST, go to Daylight Saving Time Help and Support Center.

     

    Download Cumulative Update 11 for Exchange Server 2013 (KB3099522) now.

    Update Rollup 12 for Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 3

    Update Rollup 12 for Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 3 (SP3) was released on December 15, 2015. This update rollup fixesvarious issues. Before you install this update, you must remove all interim updates for Exchange Server 2010 SP3. Also, see this important information about how to install this update.

    This update fixes the issues that are described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

    This update also includes new daylight saving time (DST) updates for Exchange Server 2010 SP3. For more information about DST, go toDaylight Saving Time Help and Support Center.

    Download Update Rollup 12 for Exchange Server 2010 SP3 (KB3096066).

    Cumulative Update 10 for Exchange Server 2013

    Exchange Team has released Cumulative Update 10 for Exchange Server 2013.

    From the Microsoft Exchange Team blog:

    The release includes fixes for customer reported issues, minor product enhancements and previously released security bulletins, including MS15-103.

    Cumulative Update 10 does not include updates to Active Directory Schema, but does include additional RBAC definitions requiring PrepareAD to be executed prior to upgrading any servers to CU10. PrepareAD will run automatically during the first server upgrade if Setup detects this is required and the logged on user has sufficient permission.

    The updates released today are important pre-requisites for customers with existing Exchange deployments who will deploy Exchange Server 2016.Cumulative Update 10 is the minimum version of Exchange Server 2013 which will co-exist with Exchange Server 2016.

    For the full list of fixes check: KB3078678

    Cumulative Update 10 is available for download here.

    Rollup 11 for Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 3

    Exchange Team has released Update Rollup 11 for Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 3.

    From the Microsoft Exchange Team blog:

    This release provides an important fix for an Information Store crash when customers are upgrading their Lync server infrastructure to Skype for Business.

    Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 3 Update Rollup 11, is the minimum version of Exchange Server 2010 which will be supported in a coexistence deployment with Exchange Server 2016.

    Update Rollup 11 can be downloaded here.

    Install Exchange 2016 Prerequisites with Install-Exchange2016MailboxPrerequisites.ps1

    This script will install the needed prerequisites for the Mailbox Role of Exchange 2016 “Preview” on Server 2012 R2 .

    It will install the following:
    – Windows Componets
    .NET Framework 4.5.2
    Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 4.0, Core Runtime 64-bit

    You can download the script here:
    https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/Exchange-2016-prerequisites-9a0b5e17

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