The Benefits Of MS Exchange Server 2007

By Nick Pegley

For today's businesses, e-mail is perhaps the most important communication method in use. An increased reliance on e-mail has drastically increased the volume of messages sent, even increasing the rate of business itself. Today's employee seeks efficient and remote access to online calendars, contacts, and email, regardless of what type of device they're using. Exchange Server 2007 from Microsoft was designed specifically to address the needs of a messaging system. Exchange Server's new capabilities provide improved protection, access and efficiency.

The IT professional's task is that of providing a messaging system that satisfies needs while remaining balanced in security and cost. As e-mail volume increases, security requirements become more challenging. IT staff must counter a multitude of security threats, including spam, viruses, noncompliance risks, and email security. Although security is a high-ranking priority, staff must always work within the constraints of time, money and resources. This causes IT to look for a system that will satisfy the requirements of the business, yet is cost-effectively managed and deployed.

Exchange Server 2007 provides protection, built-in. This reduces spam and viruses while enabling private communications and helping attain compliance.

* Smooth flow of communications with enterprise-class availability and reliability

* Protects data and users from destructive viruses and spam

* Secure communications are provided automatically within the company

With Anywhere access, employees can get to their e-mail, calendar, voice mail and contacts from a variety of clients and devices. Anywhere access requires an Internet connection; Outlook Voice Access requires a telephone connection.

* Improved collaboration, making it easier to find and share documents, schedules and data

* Employees are provided with a single inbox for e-mail, voice and fax messages

* Overall productivity is improved with a staff able to respond from work, home, or the road

* Quick and seamless delivery of an Outlook-style experience from a variety of devices

Better efficiency is made possible by networking features and optimization hardware, helping administration staff.

* Exchange Server data easily integrated with Exchange Web Services

* Efficient deployment with automatic client connections, roles-based architecture, and better diagnostics and monitoring

* Delivery of powerful x64 bandwidth optimization and computing

* Improved ability for administrators to find and fix problems, as well as task automation

Exchange Server offers benefits and capabilities to a broad range of clients. In addition, it supports the Outlook experience. MS Exchange Server 2007 can be integrated with Windows SharePoint Services and other Office applications and third-party systems and devices.

Nick Pegley is a marketing expert with All Covered: Technology Services Partner for Small Business, providing information technology consulting and IT services in 20 major U.S. metro areas. Outsource your procurement, installation and technical headaches..

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Pegley

Virtualizing of Microsoft Exchange Server

By Robin Brain

Microsoft Exchange Server is a product which is used for making the purpose of emailing faster. This software is designed to make the work more efficient. Since nowadays the e-mail pays a vital role in the business dealings, so many companies are going for the Microsoft Exchange Server which has made their work much easier and faster. Microsoft Exchange Server not only has increased the reliability but also provides the feature if adding servers for other applications and hence its utilization makes the workload much easier.

The main advantage of the Microsoft Exchange Server is that it is used for providing security enhancement to many software packages.

Harmful threats like viruses spam and hackers can be neutralized by the use of this server.

Hence it is much more reliable and provides the confidence to the customers and employees that their email system is well protected and full potential utilization of their system can be done with the help of this server.

• Going for the virtualization of Microsoft Exchange Server: -

i. This server provides a cost effective technique and hence providing a simpler business environment. The use and costs of e-mails can be managed and hence the complexities which are increasing day by day can be controlled by the use of M.E. server.

ii. Besides the helpful features like flexibility, increase availability, reduction in cost, disaster recovery simplifications, your hardware products can be tested and provided with a valid virtual solution. This is the technique used in the virtualization of this server.

iii. These services are provided by the two leading software companies - Microsoft® Exchange Server 2007 and VMware (leading data storage enterprise).

• Advantages of virtualization of Microsoft Exchange Server: -

It helps in increasing the reliability of the email system and also improves the disaster tolerant system by providing efficient infrastructure.

i. By encapsulating the Exchange Servers into virtual machines, it helps in simplifying the recovery of data for the improvement in the Exchange infrastructure.

ii. The VMware® Infrastructure plays an important role in protecting the servers. So it is even more powerful technique with virtual machine.

It helps in improving the performance by the information exchange.

i. With the introduction of 'New 64-bit architecture' in Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, the performance of the system has improved as much more RAM usage can be done with the better coordination with VMware virtual machine.

ii. Hence better access to the disk can be done and more memory can be used.

Coyote Creek Consulting is an IT Outsourcing Consulting company headquartered in Milpitas, CA with deep experience in enterprise level messaging technologies such as Virtualize Microsoft Exchange, Symantec Enterprise Vault and SharePoint Gold Partner.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Brain

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1156138

How to Install BES Express 5.01 Server on SBS 2008

By Val Sindelic

Blackberry recently introduced new version of Blackberry Enterprise Server for Exchange Server 2007/2010 which will help you transfer from older BES Professional Software Express 4.1 to new BES Express 5.01. In the old version software provided 1 user license and it was free and now it is completely free for BlackBerry users that are not enterprise. You will still need to get Blackberry Enterprise License if you are enterprise organization and have more than 75 users. There are some prerequisites that you need to install on your Small Business Server 2008 in order to successfully install and load BES server in your environment.

First you need to install Microsoft Exchange Server MAPI Client and Collaboration Data Objects 1.2.1. Second your server must have Exchange SP2 installed and all following rollups. It is always good to run SBS 2008 Best Practice Analyzer and check report prior installing BES Express 5.01.

After successfully installing MAPI Client and checking your Exchange SP2 and overall server health you can move on with prerequisites. Next step is raising domain functional level or at least checking it, because most of default SBS installations come with 2008 domain functional level. Go to Active Directory User and Computers, right-click on your domain and go to raise domain functional level. Make sure Windows Server 2008 is selected under available domain functional level. Now open Active Directory Domains and Trusts and right-click on your domain and select raise forest functional level. Make sure Windows Server 2008 is selected under available forest functional level.

Last stage in preparing for setup is setting up besadmin account in your domain which will have necessary privileges to access Exchange server and route all the emails. Open Exchange Management Console and go to mailbox under recipient configuration. In the Actions Pane click New Mailbox. Follow on-screen instructions to create new mailbox account. Call it besadmin and put the password of your choice. After wizard finishes with new mailbox creation go ahead and open Exchange Management Shell. Type the following command to set ViewOnlyAdmin role for besadmin

Add-exchangeadministrator "besadmin" -role ViewOnlyAdmin and press enter

Now type the command to assign the ms-Exch-Store-Admin, and send as permissions for besadmin account

Get-mailboxserver "yourservername" add-adpermission -user "besadmin" -accessrights ExtendedRight -extendedrights Receive-As, ms-Exch-Store-Admin, Send-As and press enter

Next step is to open Active Directory User and Computers and go to Builtin group under your domain and right-click Administrators Group, click Add and add besadmin account here. Now go to Group Policy Management under Administrative Tools expand default domain, Domain Controllers and right-click on Default Domain Controller Policy and click Edit. Go to User Rights Assignment under Computer Configuration>Policies>Windows Settings>Security Settings>Local Policies and add besadmin account right for Allow log on locally and Log on as a service.

With this you are done with prerequisites. Go ahead and login as besadmin to your SBS 2008 Server and you are ready to download BES Express. Software is absolutely free and RIM will only require registration. After registration you'll receive email where you can access your CAL keys.

Now that you are logged in as besadmin proceed with the installation. Run the download and setup will start automatically. Follow simple on-screen instructions to install BES Express on your SBS 2008. Create SQL Database, start services when asked, enter your CAL keys and finish the installation. Recommended is that you create password for default admin account and not use domain account as there are some discrepancies between IIS Application and domain accounts. When you get a screen where it asks you for Advanced Administration Settings just check User BlackBerry Administration Service Authentication and enter password of your choice.

Last thing is configuring your firewall, make sure that port 3443 is opened and forwarded to your SBS 2008 Server. After you are done with all the settings, restart your server and login as besadmin, go to Blackberry Administration web based console and login as admin with password you previously created. Here you can add new user, generate and email password key and your mobile workforce will start connecting with your Exchange Server and real-time activesync enabled on their smartphones.

Resources:

MAPI Client Download http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=E17E7F31-079A-43A9-BFF2-0A110307611E&displaylang=en.

BES Express http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/business/server/express/

Vlastimir Sindelic is a Principal Consultant and Senior Systems Engineer with Secure Networks ITC. He is also Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist on all server technologies including Sharepoint and Exchange Server. To find out more please visit San Diego Computer Consulting

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Val_Sindelic

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5574133

Benefits of the Microsoft Hyper-V Virtualization Platform

By Chris Armer

IT professionals are looking for virtualization solutions in the areas of flexibility, reliability, high availability, and fast disaster recovery. The Microsoft Hyper-V (Microsoft Hypervisor-Based Server Virtualization Technology) provides a reliable virtualization platform for businesses that require a powerful platform without breaking their IT budget.

The Microsoft Hyper-V's thin microkernelized hypervisor architecture allows users to virtualize their infrastructure. Through integrated management, users can manage their virtual and physical resources with only one set of tools. It is easy to plug into the IT infrastructure allowing your IT professionals to maximize their processes, management, provisioning, and current patching.

The Microsoft Hyper-V is available as a feature of Windows Server 2008. The 64-bit micro-kernelized hypervisor architecture gives the Hyper-V the ability to support a variety of devices. The result is improved security and performance. It delivers Broad OS Support for running different types of operating systems at the same time. This includes 32-bit and 64-bit systems across Linux, Windows, and other systems. As well, it can support up to four multiple processors in a virtual environment enables. This means that a user can benefit from multi-threaded applications in a virtual machine. This technology also includes virtual switch capabilities allowing the virtual machines to run with Windows Network Load Balancing (NLB).

Hyper-V allows for fast migration with minimal downtime which allows the user to benefit from high performance and minimal downtime. As well, you can easily return to a previous state and improve recovery and backup solutions. You can vertically scale your virtualization environment due to the multiple processors and cores at the host level. There is also improved memory access within virtual machines. This efficient technology maximizes utilization of test hardware which can help improve test coverage and reduce costs. With wide-ranging guest OS support, Hyper-V provides an immense platform for your development and test environments.

With Hyper-V, the Microsoft hypervisor-based server virtualization technology, it is now easier than ever to take advantage of the cost savings of virtualization. You have the ability to run multiple different operating systems on a single server in parallel and make the most of the power of x64 computing. The superior technology allows you to optimize your server hardware by multiple server roles consolidation so there are separate virtual machines running on a single physical machine. The Microsoft Hyper-V provides a reliable virtualization platform that meets the demands of businesses of all sizes.

Get more information on Microsoft Hyper-V and low cost hosting at Gigenet.com today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Armer

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5767760

Four Important Things While Setting Up Microsoft Exchange Server

By Reddy Sharath

Microsoft Exchange server is an extension of the Microsoft Servers, and is used by enterprises mainly for hosting of web-based electronic mails, and for organizing calendar events in the form of memo. Exchange servers are usually set up in offices where one server machine is used for maintaining active directory. It is usually one individual computer responsible for sharing its features with the terminals remotely attached to it via local network.

Four important things while setting up Microsoft Exchange Servers are -

1. Exchange is an application extension, so it requires the server edition of windows pre-installed on the computer. Usually the latest version of server edition is preferred for better compatibility, or for migration purposes. For example, Exchange 2010 can only be installed on Windows Server 2003 and 2008. Moreover, the recent Exchange releases are 64-bit, so the machine as well as the operating system needs to be 64-bit compliant. For best results, a fresh installation of server is usually done to avoid any complexities.

2. For a server to work in a local area network, it needs to have proper network settings. By default, Exchange configures IP addressing to be DHCP enabled. Since it needs to be a subnet controller, the IP needs to be set to static. Therefore it is required to mention a specific address that would be used. This IP needs to be included in the DNS list as well and then the gateway for the network needs to be specified in order to be able to connect to the internet.

3. For any server to work, it needs to have one computer to work as the active directory. Before installing Exchange, the active directory needs to be installed and properly configured. Active directory is essential for working as the domain supervisor, and the Exchange Server is usually kept as the first domain controller. Selecting a domain name is important as it will be associated with all the mail addresses if they are hosted in the server itself, and it cannot be changed easily.

4. The IPv6 settings are particularly important. It can be left in its default settings, with automatic DHCP, but it needs to be kept turned on for setting up Exchange, as some of its services will not start if IPv6 is not enabled. The active directory installation will continue as long as the IPv4 is made static, irrespective of the state of IPv6 as long as it is enabled.

For any assistance on Microsoft exchange, visit the free-to-use website - Techyv.com provides all types of solutions in the form of blogs, articles, tips and tricks!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Reddy_Sharath

Best Practices When Installing Or Migrating to Windows Server 2008 R2

By Tim P Johnson

Windows Server 2008 R2 is the latest Microsoft server operating system. There are some challenges to fully unleash its potential. Proper hardware configuration, installation, configuration and hardening security allow to use its full range of possibilities. Here is a list of best practices when upgrading or migrating to Windows 2008 R2 server.

• Verify that your hardware, devices, and drivers are supported by Windows Server 2008 R2.
• Make sure that your hardware configuration meets or exceeds minimum or recommended hardware requirements.
• Create full system documentation and schedule a backup of your system.
• Be consistent when naming servers and client workstations. Use names that clearly identify the role of new server, for example dhcp.domain.com for dhcp server, wsus.domain.com for windows server update services, sql.domain.com for sql database, etc.
• Use the Windows Server 2008 R2 Initial Configuration Tasks Wizard to conduct post installation tasks.
• When highest level of security is required use Windows Server Core installation option. Reduced number of services and components reduce potential surface of malicious infiltration.
• Use only Internet-standard characters in your computer name. This includes the letters A-Z (upper and lowercase), the numbers 0-9, and the hyphen.
• Test your backups. On regular basis verify backup integrity and test restore in lab environment.
• First thing after installation is finished rename administrator account and assign strong password. Enforce strong passwords through group policy settings.
• Install only the roles and features that will be necessary. Any additional features reduce server stability and security.
• Utilize Performance Monitor to capture performance data on regular basis to identify bottlenecks in system performance.
• Install Network Policy Server role to gain more granular control over user access to networks and services.
• If using VPN connections install at least two network cards in the server that handles VPN clients. Avoid using PPTP VPN connection type, utilize L2TP over IPSec encryption.
• Standardize servers hardware. Restoring backups after disaster to dissimilar hardware is problematic and often unsuccessful. If for some reason hardware standardization is not possible consider virtualizing physical servers.
• Create installation image and utilize Windows Deployment Services to automate installation process.

Tim has been writing articles online for nearly 2 years. He specializes in computer security. You can also check out his latest website at http://www.dorseymetrology.com/ which provides information about optical comparators.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_P_Johnson

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4338617

With Microsoft Direct Access, Who Needs VPN?

By Lisa Gecko

Do you ever need a file from the office computer, but you're on the train, at home or away from your desk? Wouldn't it be great to have immediate access to your data regardless of your location? This feature of Server 2008 R2, makes this possible. Using the Internet and the built in networking function in your Windows 7 PC, data can be retrieved quickly and easily.

What is Direct Access?

Direct Access on Microsoft's 2008 R2 server is a technology which uses the Internet to connect an end user system and servers to other network resources, be they inside or outside the corporate LAN.

In the past, in order for a remote computer to connect to the internal enterprise local area network, a VPN, or virtual private network was required. This too used the Internet as the link between server and client, but requires several things: client software installed on the workstation, end user initiation of the "dialer" to connect their PC to the company LAN, and IT installation and management of the VPN client software.

How is it Used?

Once configured, the remote user connects to the server with no user interaction besides turning on the PC and choosing the corporate network.

Once the employee connects to the Internet, they will be presented with all the servers and resources to which they have been granted permissions. This includes email, printers, and other computers.

For IT professional, there is no need to manage a VPN client as the solution operates from the machine level, meaning the computer will "know" what server is on their system. On their Windows 7 computer, will be a link to the company's network.

Additionally, the server can be used to publish group policies to your end users to help manage software and computer configurations.

For companies that have remote employees, mobile and telecommuting workers, this technology can ease the burden of IT needing to have the computer on site for software updates and management.

Not only do remote workstations and end users benefit, but other servers can connect to other resource servers running this feature. For instance, if a global company has an internal SharePoint document repository, remote servers located in regional offices can use the Internet to access remote data, and then present those files or resource to their local users, without the need to have the data stored on the local server. Again, all servers communicating will require Direct Access.

What is Required?

Besides the standards of Active Directory, a Domain Controller and DNS structure, the server must use R2 release of Windows 2008. Also, the server requires two internal network cards and two public IP addresses. Microsoft's web server, Internet Information Server is mandatory.

How is Security Handled?

As with other servers, you will configure authentication for end user and incoming connections. Other security services needed are PKI and IPSec. PKI certificates are issued to the clients to validate authenticity of the requester and the certificate over a public network, i.e. the Internet.

IPv6 is not required on the company LAN, but this technology can utilize the protocol. The IPv6 traffic will run across an IPv4 LAN and the Direct Server feature called ISATAP, "Intra-Site Automatic Tunnel Addressing Protocol" which handle this function when configured.

A routing protocol included is Name Resolution Policy Table or NRPT. This protocol creates a routing table on each DA client such that it will know how to handle traffic directed to the DA server versus other Internet traffic, like search engines and basic web browsing. If you are sitting in the airport or a café, DA server traffic will be transferred directly to it and other traffic will be routed accordingly.

The Benefits for You

Features of Windows 2008 R2 provide multiple benefits for IT management and end users. Whether your users are working at home, or sitting at the airport, an Internet connection with Direct access can easily link remote workers back to the company and server resources. Any data that is transferred in or out is secured using IPSec, certificates, encryption and user authentication. If you are considering using this solution, consult Microsoft's Deployment guide for a successful project and rollout.

To learn more about Lisa Gecko or using Direct Access on your virtual server, contact Infinitely Virtual by phone at (866) 257-8455, or visit: Virtual Server, Virtual Server Hosting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Gecko

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6495724

Backup and Recovery for Microsoft Windows 2008 Server

By Gary Haffer

It is critical for your company's data protection strategy that you backup Microsoft Windows 2008 Server data regularly and then you do not risk losing important information. Backup and recovery help you mitigate the risk of catastrophic loss of your data. If you correctly perform your Microsoft Windows Server backup processes multiple time per day then you have nothing to fear in case the servers crash and data is lost through some processing problems, hardware failure or some glitch. Microsoft Windows servers frequently store invaluable information and it is important to have a reliable backup of MS Exchange. One of the most advanced technologies used in backup of your Microsoft Exchange is Data Deduplication. There are a number of techniques and procedures you must follow to ensure that deduplicated backups of your Microsoft servers can be recovered should emergency affect your server. Very few companies can afford to lose this important information without suffering critical complications in their daily operations. It is not only the importance of the data but also the functions of various server applications that run on your Microsoft Windows server that are critical for most corporate operations.

For example, if the voice messaging system of top executives goes down, they will be unable to communicate with employees in branch offices or reach clients who may have set critical deadlines. Most executives access their voice mail systems when they need to remind themselves about the details of a project, appointment or other important matter affecting the health of corporate operations. If the system goes down and information cannot be retrieved, important emails can be lost forever.

Even if emails on MS Exchange Server and messaging are not critical to your main operations, the loss can impose difficulties. And other data maintained on your exchange server may indeed be critical. The loss of data in modern information systems is completely unacceptable. It is extremely critical to maintain systems capable of recovery of all or part of your data as quickly as possible. When you use a high quality backup and replication software to backup your Microsoft Windows Server or MS Exchange servers, you will be adequately protected against any data loss risks.

Modern global business require being online -and this leaves little time for administrators to recover their Windows Servers in case of server failure but if you are properly backed up then you should have no problems recovering the data. Traditional server backup software may not be up to the daunting task of duplicating enormous quantities of information quickly and efficiently but good quality server backup software will help you protect your Microsoft Windows 2008 Servers.

Great leaps in the capabilities of storage technology make redundant disk storage the popular method of choice for most centers relying on exchange servers. Good quality Windows Server backup software with deduplication and compression will help you protect your applications and data so that you never have to worry about it.

Discover which Windows 2008 Server has the "Must Have" features. Visit http://www.appassure.com/ and find out why AppAssure is #1 in Backup and Server Replication.

Gary E. Haffer is an author, consultant, writer, author, and expert in the technology field. He holds both a BSEE and MSEE degree from Northeastern University and offers tips, information, and reviews on many technology topics.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Haffer

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6647055

Now Microsoft release window 8 beta version

After window 7, Microsoft has released the next operating system for window users.Window 8 is the next operating system of Microsoft and the successor of window 7.
Firstly Microsoft  decided to release window 8 beta edition only for developers.But now Microsoft has released window 8 pre beta version for common user.
Now you can download the beta version for window 8 easily.It is free to download which mean anyone can easily download the beta version and there is no need of registration for window 8 beta version.

                           
This version is not the final version for window 8 .Interface of window 8  may change but this means that Microsoft release this beta version for developer so developers can develop new applications for  upcoming operating system 
window 8 offered different packages.
1) 64-bit version of just the operating system
2) 64-bit version with various developer tools
3) 32-bit version of the OS
  This video link will help you.                                                                       

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=p92QfWOw88I


Download and Installation

-      You can download beta version of Windows 8 from here

http://windows8beta.com/tag/windows-8-beta-download

Minimum requirements 

1) 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
2) 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
3) DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
4) 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
5) Taking advantage of touch input requires a screen that supports multi-touch
6) you can also install window 8 beta on virtual box and Vmware