Exchange Server always lacked in the high availability department. Sure, since Exchange 2000, it had clustering and 3rd party applications extended this option to provide redundancy for mailboxes across multiple sites, but the general feeling I got from using these mechanisms, is that they were less than perfect. Now, with Exchange 2007, Microsoft re-engineered it’s cluster services which now also includes log shipping and DRM (they call it CCR) capabilities.

Watch these features in action with Exchange 2007 Beta 2 here:

http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2006/08/09/428642.aspx

Anyone who has been an IT manager for a while knows the drill. Every once in a while comes a delivery guy and instead of Pizza, makes you sign for a bunch of Microsoft CDs. They all come packed in nice nylon bags which you open and then sort in a big bag. Unless you’re a big world-wide developer you might not need most of those CDs, since they are in all kind of languages that you do not speak.

Now, instead, you get a download only TechNet service Plus service where you can simply download a copy of anything you want when you want it. If your Internet line is very good, it might take you less time than browsing through a lost of sometimes obscure and outdated CDs.

This is a logical and welcome step by Microsoft. For more information go here:

 http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/m...2.aspx 

If you read this blog entry:

http://blogs.msexchange.org/walther/2006/08/04/exc...-2006/

you might be pleased to know that even more technical library changes have been made. The Microsoft documentation team is indeed a busy and productive one.

Read the update notes: 

 http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/excha...r=true

 And a list of updates and new articles here:

http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2006/08/08/428635.aspx

The Microsoft Exchange Team just posted an in-depth post regarding troubleshooting mail flow using it’s new shiny ExTRA tool.

Read it here:

http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2006/08/07/428616.aspx

The Microsoft Exchange Team just posted the inner works of the free/busy here:

http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2006/08/04/428597.aspx

As you might know the free/busy info is updated by the client. Is that the best arcitechture? I’ve always wondered. It seems, for now, this will go on with Exchange 2007 though the updating will be done using some XML publishing type service, but only when Outlook 2007 is used. This will possibly broaden the number of applications that can publish and read free/busy information in the future to all kinds of mobile devices.

Even more than Exchange 2003, the new Exchange 2007 will allow remote access from almost any device and provide improved functionality. Want to here more? Better yet, let Microsoft show you through a demonstration in their virtual lab. This event starts at Wednesday, August 09, 2006 9:30 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada).

 For more information:

 http://msevents.microsoft.com/cui/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032304351&EventCategory=4&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US

The best application level Firewall for Exchange just got better. Initially ISA was considered a weak product, barely above the web proxy, but after a few updates it got noticed for the security that it offers Microsoft products, its ease of use and its low cost. A lot of corporations implemented ISA internally to protect its Microsoft servers as internal attacks are a major and often overlooked threat.

Now, with the 2006 release Microsoft will try again to prove that its product is a worthy Firewall.

For more information:

http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/default.mspx

You can also tune to our sister site for tutorials and more:

http://www.isaserver.org/