Tag: Windows

How to setup a remote PowerShell-session with Exchange 2013

Now I want to manage my Exchange 2013 environment from the Windows 8 workstation, no Exchange tools are installed on the Windows 8 laptop. In a few simple steps you can open a remote PowerShell session to one of the Exchange Servers.

Logon to the Windows 8 machine and start the ‘Windows PowerShell ISE

 

$RemoteEx2013Session = New-PSSession -ConfigurationName Microsoft.Exchange `
                                     -ConnectionUri http://servername/PowerShell/ `
                                     -Authentication Kerberos -Credential (Get-credential)
Import-PSSession $RemoteEx2013Session

Save this to Remote Exchange 2013 Powershell.ps1

Don’t forget setting your Powershell to unrestricted with: set-executionpolicy unrestricted

Exchange 2013 Performance Health Checker Script

Awesome Script Smile
This script checks various configuration items on the server to make sure they match the recommendations published in the “Exchange 2013 Sizing and Configuration Recommendations” guidance on TechNet.  It also reports on OS, system, and hardware information.  It can be ran remotely, against a single server or a group of servers.  It takes some of the most common configuration causes of Exchange 2013 performance cases that we encounter in support and allows you to rule them out quickly without having to check each server or read through the entire TechNet guidance. 

This script needs to be executed from the Exchange 2013 Management Shell.

Here is a current list of items the script reports on:

Operation System version
Exchange Build
Physical/Virtual Machine
Server Manufacturer and Model (physical hardware only)
VM host processor/memory configuration recommendations
Exchange server roles
Pagefile Size
Power Settings
.NET Framework version
Network card name and speed
Network card driver date and version (Windows 2012 and Windows 2012 R2 only)
RSS enabled (Windows 2012 and Windows 2012 R2 only)
Physical Memory amount
Processor Model
Number of processors, cores, and core speed
Hyper-threading enabled/disabled
Processor speed being throttled
Current list of active/passive databases and mailboxes (optional)

HealthChecker

Download: https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/Exchange-2013-Performance-23bcca58

Virtualizing Internet Explorer 11 with ThinApp 5.1

With ThinApp 5.1 support for virtualizing Internet Explorer 11 was introduced.

1. Start your Windows 7 capture’n’build machine (Windows 7 SP1 with non Windows Updates)
2. Install Prerequisite updates for Internet Explorer 11
3. Download Download Internet Explorer 11 32-bit Installer English or Download Internet Explorer 11 64-bit Installer English
4. Start ThinApp Setup Capture
5. Do a prescan
6. Install Internet Explorer 11
7. Do a post scan
8. Build your project
9. Finish

Outlook slow after migrating to Exchange 2013

Outlook can be slow in Online modus sometimes when you move mailboxes to Exchange 2013. I seems that Windows 7 with Outlook 2007/2010 & 2013 sometimes have some issues.

Before applying this TCP Ack solution, the below conditions must be met:

– OWA connection and mail browsing is very fine, whereas an Outlook online mode (i.e. not cached mode) connectivity is quite sluggish when mailboxes are on Exchange 2013…

– If OWA is slow as well, then the issue may be a general network slowness issue – check the network latency using Ping

– On Outlook Connection Status dialog box (CTRL+Right Click the Outlook icon on the Windows notifications part of the taskbar), Avg. Proc. time is fine, below 50~60ms, and Avg. Resp. time is over 110ms.

More information about the TcpAckFrequency registry key:

Quoting from http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/328890

– TcpAckFrequency is a registry entry that determines the number of TCP acknowledgments (ACKs) that will be outstanding before the delayed ACK timer is ignored.

– TCP uses delayed acknowledgments to reduce the number of packets that are sent on the media (Wifi, Wire,…)

– As data is received by TCP on a particular connection, it sends an acknowledgment back only if one of the following conditions is true:

  • No acknowledgment was sent for the previous segment received.
  • A segment is received, but no other segment arrives within 200 milliseconds for that connection.

Typically, an acknowledgment is sent for every other TCP segment that is received on a connection unless the delayed ACK timer (200 milliseconds) expires.

– You can adjust the delayed ACK timer by editing the following registry entry.

Subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\<Interface GUID>

Entry:

TcpAckFrequency

Value Type: REG_DWORD, number
Valid Range: 0-255
Default: 2
Description: Specifies the number of ACKs that will be outstanding before the delayed ACK timer is ignored. Microsoft does not recommend changing the default value without careful study of the environment.

TcpAckFrequency.ps1
$strGUIDS=[array](Get-WmiObject win32_networkadapter -filter “netconnectionstatus = 2” | select -expand GUID)
foreach ($strGUID in $strGUIDS) {New-ItemProperty -path HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\$strGUID -propertytype DWORD -name TcpAckFrequency -value 1}

Updated

KB2888049 Update is available that improves the network performance of Internet Explorer 11 in Windows

Deploy Windows 10 with MDT 2013 Update 1 “Preview”

Deploying Windows 10 with MDT 2013 Update 1 Preview

Next you need the MDT 2013 Update 1 Preview. To get the preview, you need to first join the MDT Group on Microsoft Connect, if you’re not a member already. Then, prior to downloading the actual preview bits, you’ll need to grab the Windows ADK for Windows 10 Technical Preview, which is a prerequisite for running MDT.

The Build number which the best to use is the Windows 10 Technical Preview with build number 9926 Winking smile

So i installed some apps automaticly Winking smile
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Doing some bug check/feature check Winking smile Keep you posted Winking smile

Cumulative Update 8 for Exchange Server 2013

The Exchange team is announcing today the availability of Cumulative Update 8 for Exchange Server 2013. The Cumulative Update Package and UM Language Packsare now available on the Microsoft Download Center. Cumulative Update 8 represents the continuation of our Exchange Server 2013 servicing and builds upon Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 7. The release includes fixes for customer reported issues, minor product enhancements and previously released security bulletins. A complete list of customer reported issues resolved can be found in Knowledge Base Article KB3030080. Customers running any previous release of Exchange Server 2013 can move directly to Cumulative Update 8 today. Customers deploying Exchange Server 2013 for the first time may skip previous releases and start their deployment with Cumulative Update 8 directly.

We would like to call your attention to a few items in particular about the Cumulative Update 8 release:

  • Calendar and Contact Modern Public Folders favorites added in Outlook are now accessible in OWA
  • Batch Migration of Public Folders to 2013 improves migration throughput and PF migration experience
  • Smoother migration for EAS clients to O365 with automatic profile redirect upon successful Hybrid migration to O365 (EAS client must support HTTP 451 redirect)

For the latest information and product announcements please read What’s New in Exchange Server 2013, Release Notes and product documentation available on TechNet.

Cumulative Update 8 includes Exchange related updates to Active Directory schema and configuration. For information on extending schema and configuring the active directory please review the appropriate TechNet documentation. Also, to prevent installation issues you should ensure that the Windows PowerShell Script Execution Policy is set to “Unrestricted” on the server being upgraded or installed. To verify the policy settings, run the Get-ExecutionPolicy cmdlet from PowerShell on the machine being upgraded. If the policies are NOT set to Unrestricted you should use the resolution steps in KB981474 to adjust the settings.

Reminder: Customers in hybrid deployments where Exchange is deployed on-premises and in the cloud, or who are using Exchange Online Archiving (EOA) with their on-premises Exchange deployment are required to deploy the most current (e.g., CU8) or the prior (e.g., CU7) Cumulative Update release.

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2013 Update 1 Preview Now Available

The Enterprise Client Management team is happy to announce the availability of the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2013 Update 1 Preview!

What’s new with MDT 2013 Update 1 Preview:

  • Support for the Windows 10 Technical Preview (LTI only) and the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows 10 Technical Preview
  • Split WIM support for UEFI media scenarios
  • Completely revised Windows version logic including changes from string to integer comparison (“10” !> “6” but 10 > 6) and a new ZTIUtility function, GetMajorMinorVersion
  • Minor revisions to Deployment Workbench console interface

To Do List:

  1. Download the installer from the MDT Connect portal.
  2. Download the prerequisite Windows ADK for Windows 10 Technical Preview from the Microsoft Download Center.
  3. Try MDT 2013 Update 1 Preview (lab only!) and then submit suggestions, bugs and feedback via the Connect portal. (You are welcome to post comments here, but make your feedback actionable by posting on Connect.)

(New members must first join the MDT group of the Client Management program on Connect.)

MDT Create your own Default Task Sequence

MDT is a greate tool, You can create your own Default Task Sequence for Clients Servers!!

Normal i need to customize every Task Sequence that i create and that is so boring!!

I Create in this example a task sequence (ID & NAME) Server and Changed some things things like Windows Update.

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So now go to to that Folder \\DeploymentShare\Control\Server
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Copy the TS.XML

Go to: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Deployment Toolkit\Templates & save the TS.XML File

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Rename the TS.xml file. I my demo Ward Server Deployment.xml

Edit the Name and the Description:image

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When you maken now what to make a new Task Sequence, You will see Ward Server Deployment Listed. Freaking Awesome!!

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Hyper-V Reporting Script

Serhat AKINCI, a Hyper-V MVP, has just posted this very useful script:

https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/Hyper-V-Reporting-Script-4adaf5d0

In his own words:

It can be difficult to monitor and assess resources in large Hyper-V environments. This PowerShell based script helps you to understand virtualization inventory, capacity and general resource availability in your Standalone or Clustered Hyper-V Environment.

Highlights
  • More than 2600+ lines of PowerShell, HTML and CSS code examples.
  • Creates a plain but detailed and user-friendly HTML report which is compatible with all modern browsers.
  • Provides more detailed information via tooltips in the HTML report. (cells with asterisks and highlights)
  • Checks and installs required runtime environment prerequisites like Hyper-V and Clustering PowerShell.
  • Collects information by using standard Hyper-V and Clustering PowerShell cmdlets and custom WMI queries.
  • Shows alerts in the report for certain situations (utilizations, VM checkpoints, replication status, etc.)
  • Can be used directly from command-line or as a scheduled Windows task.
  • Supports report delivery via e-mail with advanced options. (authentication, TLS/SSL, multiple recipients)
  • Includes a mode that reports only alerts in the Hyper-V environment. (aka Highlights Only mode)
  • Advanced error handling and logging. (Console messages and log file)

You can see an full example report here: http://www.serhatakinci.com/files/get-hypervreport-v1-0-demo-output.html
Open-mouthed smile

Exchange 2013 Managed Availabilty and why do I need 200GB free space

I  like the Managed Availability and the “self healing” aspect of Exchange 2013.
But about SpaceMonitorLowSpaceThresholdInMB is nothing about to read. 

If you check your serverhealt with:
get-serverhealth -identity servername -HealthSet Diskspace | ? AlertValue -ne unHealthy | ft -autosize

You can get lots of Databases which are in an unhealthy state because the LowLogVolumeSpaceMonitor is configured to check if you have 200 GB of free space. That would be an great idea, if you have a large organization and you have lots of disks whith a huge amount of free space. But in smaller company it would be great to change this value.

With Exchange 2013 SP1 you should now be able to configure this. Go to all of your Mailbox Servers and in regedit go to the following path:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\ExchangeServer\v15\ActiveMonitoring\Parameters

If you have an DWORD called SpaceMonitorLowSpaceThresholdInMB then you’re lucky. If not, create a DWORD with the name and then you can change it to an Value which suits you more. But, as the dword is mentioning, its in MB not GB 😉

Updated 15-03-2015

No Reg Setting but Add-GlobalMonitoringOverride is better!!

SpaceMonitorLowSpaceThresholdInMB.ps1
write-host = “Default 175GB CU7”
$diskspace = Read-Host ‘What is the Minimum Free Disk Space in MB?’
Add-GlobalMonitoringOverride -Item Monitor –Identity MailboxSpace\StorageLogicalDriveSpaceMonitor -PropertyName MonitoringThreshold -PropertyValue $diskspace

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