My annual visit to Novell BrainShare last week was, as always, enjoyable and informative. While the vendors with whom I spoke weren’t all that pleased with the level of traffic on the exhibits floor, the event seemed well attended and fairly busy.
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Binary Tree, the company behind the CMT Universal migration tool, have released a white paper explaining the process steps and associated costs involved in transitioning an IBM Lotus Notes and Domino environment to a Microsoft platform.
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Cemaphore Systems has created an application that synchronizes e-mail content between Outlook and Exchange and Gmail. Call it disaster recovery in the cloud.
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After completing this lab, you will learn how to pre-configure Windows Server 2008 for installing Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1), install Exchange Server 2007 SP1, verify installation, and explore new enhancements in Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access.
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MSExchange.org is the second most popular admin site in this article over at NetworkWorld.com. Guess which site is listed as number one? Yes you’re right one of our sister sites 
And what would our forum be like without you guys!
On Tuesday and Wednesday 8th/9th of April we will be holding the 3rd Combined IT Pro User Group events in Reading at the Microsoft office in TVP.
This event will involve all of the UK IT Pro User Groups and will have a massive range of breakout sessions so there will certainly be something to appeal to everyone.
For loads of information including the full agenda and registration form see the link below:
Finally, on each evening of the event (8th and 9th April) we will be holding a small event in Reading at a local restaurant. There will be food, networking and a tech quiz with some prizes! This event is limited to 40 places and the sign up form will be live on the same site above over the weekend.
REDMOND, Wash. — March 2, 2008 — Monday from the annual Microsoft Office SharePoint Conference, Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft Corp., will announce that the company will offer Microsoft Online Services to businesses of all sizes. This announcement marks a significant step for Microsoft toward expanding its software plus services strategy.
“The combination of software plus services gives customers advanced choice and flexibility in how they access and manage software,” Gates said. “With Microsoft Online Services, businesses can deploy software as a subscription service, from servers they manage on-site, or a combination of the two, depending on their specific needs. In the future, customers and partners should expect to see this kind of choice and flexibility for all of Microsoft’s software and server products.”
Today Microsoft also opened a limited beta trial of the new services; U.S.-based companies can register for the trial. The new services are scheduled to be generally available to businesses of all sizes in the second half of the year.
Based on the proven, business-class software available in Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, the new services enable businesses to access e-mail, calendaring, contacts, shared workspaces, and web conferencing and video conferencing over the Web. The new services are managed through a single Web-based interface, designed to meet the needs of IT professionals. Through this security-enhanced interface, IT professionals can monitor the performance of the services, add and configure users, submit and track support requests, and manage users and licenses.
Enterprise Foundation
Bill Gates talks about SharePoint, Enterprise Search and Microsoft’s cloud computing strategy.
Watch the video (.wmv, 6 min 47 sec)
In September, Microsoft announced the worldwide availability of Microsoft Online Services for businesses with more than 5,000 users. Today’s announcement extends the same performance, scalability, security and service level capabilities to all businesses.
Autodesk Inc., Blockbuster Inc., Ceridian Corp., Coca-Cola Enterprises, Energizer Holdings Inc., Ingersoll-Rand Company Ltd., PFT-Medway and XL Capital group of companies are among the first companies moving their communications and collaborations solutions to Microsoft Online Services.
“To become the best beverage sales and customer service company, we must drive efficiency and effectiveness throughout our company while significantly increasing opportunities for collaboration among employees, customers and suppliers,” said John Brock, president and chief executive officer, Coca-Cola Enterprises. “By working with a world-class leader like Microsoft to leverage the power of software plus services, we can continue to drive innovation throughout our organization and more effectively address the complexities of today’s global business environment.”
Flexible Licensing Model
To help companies take advantage of Microsoft Online Services, Microsoft introduced a new licensing model with flexible options for customers.
New customers and customers without Microsoft Software Assurance can purchase Microsoft Online Services as a per-user subscription. Existing customers with Software Assurance on their Microsoft Client Access Licenses can purchase a user subscription at a discount, enabling them to maximize their existing Microsoft software investments. Customers with a subscription have rights to both Microsoft Online Services and to access on-premises server software, giving them the ability to blend Web-based services with on-premises software.
Microsoft will offer Exchange Online and SharePoint Online together with Office Communications Online and Office Live Meeting as a suite of services or as individual service offerings.
Expanding Partner Opportunities
Microsoft Online Services create new opportunities for partners to resell, customize and provide consulting, migration and managed services for customers. Atos Origin S.A., BT, Ceryx Inc., Evolve Partners Inc., Getronics NV, HCL Technologies Ltd., and Unisys Corp. are among the first partners to announce they will support Microsoft Online Services and provide offerings based on the new services.
“Microsoft Online Services provide partners with opportunities to expand reach, grow revenue and increase speed to sales and implementation,” said Chris Capossela, senior vice president of the Information Worker Product Management Group at Microsoft. “By extending our enterprise software offerings as a subscription service, our partners have the ability to develop and deliver new services with little overhead but maximum revenue potential.”
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.
Source: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/mar0...R.mspx
Terry Myerson, corporate vice president for Exchange, talks to PressPass about the importance of the new agreement between Microsoft and Apple to offer built-in support for Exchange on the iPhone, and the increasing popularity of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 among mobile professionals.
REDMOND, Wash. – March 6, 2008 – People today depend on being able to stay in touch no matter how close or how far away they are from the office or home.
For businesses, that means a host of challenges to make sure their communications foundation is secure, reliable and accessible across many mobile devices – from notebooks to PDAs and smartphones.
Microsoft has been helping companies overcome those challenges and streamline their communications infrastructure with Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, and the popularity of Exchange Server 2007 among corporations has influenced many mobile device makers to support Exchange right out of the box.
Terry Myerson, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Exchange
Today, Apple announced it plans to join the list of mobile device makers that offer built-in support for Exchange mobile e-mail, licensing Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync for the iPhone.
To get some context around this announcement, PressPass spoke with Terry Myerson, corporate vice president for Exchange.
PressPass: What are some of the details around today’s announcement?
Myerson: We’re happy that Apple is adding the iPhone to the growing number of mobile devices that connect with Exchange Server. As part of a business agreement with Microsoft, Apple will build Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync into the iPhone – making it possible for iPhone owners to access Exchange and take advantage of its secure mobile communications features.
PressPass: Why is it important for iPhone to support Exchange?
Myerson: More and more companies are turning to Exchange Server 2007 as the foundation for a reliable and secure communications platform. At the same time, there are more mobile devices coming to market that are popular for both personal and professional use. The Apple iPhone is one of those popular devices that now join the long list of smartphones able to connect to Exchange. This is one of those win-win propositions in that it helps us serve iPhone users, and it helps Apple serve the needs of the enterprise. It is also a testament to the innovation taking place at Microsoft, and the value our IP brings to the entire ecosystem.
PressPass: This announcement has been widely rumored for a while now. How is it that two rivals like Microsoft and Apple can come together on such a big announcement?
Myerson: People like to think Microsoft and Apple are at opposite ends of the technology spectrum, but despite the perception of a Microsoft-Apple rivalry, today’s announcement is actually one in a long history of cooperation between the two companies.
We started talking with Apple about licensing Exchange ActiveSync before the launch of the iPhone last year. In fact, I met with Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing Phil Schiller almost daily for a period of two weeks ironing out the details of the agreement. The result is a true collaboration between Microsoft and Apple.
We continue to compete with Apple in the computer arena and media player business. When it comes to mobile phones, Windows Mobile still delivers the premier mobile e-mail experience for Microsoft Exchange Server, by delivering the Outlook experience on a mobile phone and with the most complete support for Exchange’s many enterprise device management policies. But, we also partner with many mobile device makers – including Apple – and believe that by making Exchange an open platform, our customers and partners, ultimately, will be the beneficiaries.
Overall however, Microsoft knows cooperation and collaboration among diverse companies – from technology to hardware to content providers is becoming more commonplace. In today’s world, open innovation and collaboration is simply smart business; in tomorrow’s, it will be an absolute necessity.
PressPass: How does Exchange ActiveSync connect mobile devices to Exchange?
Myerson: Early on – with Exchange Server 2003 – we recognized there was no cohesive solution for sharing information and communications securely over the air. We set out to innovate around that and the result was Exchange ActiveSync. Exchange ActiveSync enables a mobile phone to synchronize email, calendars, tasks, and contacts with Exchange Server over the air. We wanted to make sure Exchange ActiveSync was compatible with as many mobile devices as possible, so we built it on an open platform. Apple joins Motorola, Nokia, Palm, Sony Ericsson, Symbian and many others that license Exchange ActiveSync for mobile devices. Thanks to Microsoft’s open platform and broad technology licensing program, more than 170 smartphones come ready for Exchange Server mobile e-mail out of the box today.
PressPass: Who benefits the most from this announcement?
Myerson: We believe all mobile professionals and corporations benefit. After the iPhone launched, it quickly became one of the best selling phones on the market, but enterprises were banning the device from their networks for several reasons, chief among them being the lack of support for Exchange Server. According to Gartner, Exchange Server is used in 43 percent of enterprises – and based on Microsoft data, we estimate that 81 of Fortune 100 companies, along with millions of users, use Exchange as their primary messaging and calendaring platform. When it comes to wireless email, enterprise adoption continues to grow, and more and more businesses are choosing Exchange Server for their mobile messaging solutions.
PressPass: What are some of the features iPhone users can expect with Exchange ActiveSync built-in?
Myerson: Our goal with Exchange ActiveSync was to create an open solution that lets mobile device makers pick and choose the kinds of features they want to activate. In other words, it’s really up to Apple what features they want to support in iPhone. That said, Apple has a wide range of features they can provide iPhone users to take advantage of Exchange Server’s rich communications platform. For example, by licensing Exchange ActiveSync, Apple can build a wireless e-mail client on iPhone that synchronizes e-mail, calendars, tasks and contacts with Exchange Server over the air. Apple also has the option to enable features that allow businesses to manage the iPhone through security policies in Exchange Server 2007, including remotely wiping all data from a lost or stolen iPhone, and requiring security provisions for email such as a password and pin access. These are important features that more and more companies depend on Exchange Server to deliver – and that iPhone owners now have the opportunity to experience for themselves.
Related Links
Microsoft Resources:
• Mobile Messaging with Exchange ActiveSync – White Paper
• Overview of Exchange ActiveSync
Other Resources:
• Blog: Exchange Server 2007 SP1 Mobility Features
• Blog: Exchange Server 2007 SP1 Policies
Source: http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/Features/2008/m...tories
The Exchange Load Generator (LoadGen) document describes installing Exchange Load Generator on a client computer and then steps through configuring, creating, running, customizing, repeating, and stopping the test. Information is provided about the user interface, the XML configuration file, and the command-line program, each of which performs specific functions of the tool. Additionally, there are topics for using System Monitor and LoadGen data, things to consider when looking at test results, and consolidating System Monitor data and analyzing LoadGen. Non-task descriptions include operational recommendations, features of the tool, and a reference of performance counters.
Exchange Load Generator is used as a simulation tool to measure the effect of MAPI clients on Exchange servers. LoadGen enables you to test how a server that is running Exchange responds to e-mail loads. To simulate the delivery of these messaging requests, you run Exchange Load Generator tests on client computers. These tests send multiple messaging requests to the Exchange server, which causes a mail load. LoadGen is useful for administrators who are sizing servers and validating a deployment plan. Specifically, LoadGen helps determine whether each of your servers can handle the load that they are intended to carry. Another use for LoadGen is to help validate the overall solution.
The Exchange Load Generator and the accompanying documentation replace the Load Simulator tool and information.
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