VOIP Telephony Concepts used with Exchange Unified Messaging

VOIP Telephony Concepts used with Exchange Unified Messaging

To successfully deploy Unified Messaging in an Organization, you need to know Voice mail and telephony concepts such as Circuit Switching, Packet Switching and VOIP.

Circuit Switched Network

It is a dedicated connection that connects two nodes so that the two nodes can communicate with each other. After a call is established only two nodes can use the connection until one of the two parties ends the call. Circuit Switched Network ensures a level of service by transferring large amount of data with guaranteed transmission capacity. There are two types of Circuit Switched network, they are:
· Analog Circuit Switched Network
· Digital Circuit Switched Network

Public Switched Telephony Network (PSTN)

PSTN is a technology using which multiple calls can be transmitted over the same physical medium. PSTN shares available bandwidth more efficiently over the same physical network connectivity.

Connectivity Concepts

T1 and E1 Lines: They work more or less in the similar war and can carry multiple digital voice channels. T1 is used mostly in North America and Japan while E1 is mostly used at UK, Australia and New Zealand. T1 can carry 24 channels per frame, out of which 23 are used for voice while one is used for data signaling. E1 can carry up to 32 channels per frame out of which 30 are used for voice and 2 are used for data signaling.

Trunk Lines: Trunk lines are used to connect Corporate PBX to the Phone Company’s Central Office Switch.

Tie Lines: Tie Lines are T1 or E1 lines that is used to connect 2 or more Corporate PBX systems using Inter-PBX Network signaling or Protocols.

Time Division Multiplexing (TDM): TDM is a technology for transmitting a number of separate voice signals separately over a single physical high Bandwidth phone line. Using this technique the line can be divided into smaller multiple fixed bandwidth channels, each carrying its own voice signal. This shares the transmission productivity of the high bandwidth line. This is how T1 and E1 lines are divided.

Analog PBX systems

Analog PBX systems use the following protocol

In-Band Dual Tone Multi Frequency (DTMF) signaling: It defines a Protocol where call signaling contains DTMF tones. These are within the voice frequency range and are carried in the same channel as voice. The Call Diversion information is supplemental signaling, but it is required to support voice mail.

Out of Band RS232 Signaling: It defines a supplementary protocol where the call signaling is carried on a separate channel from voice. This is done on a separate wire or serial connection using RS232. Out of Band RS 232 signaling is also known as Simplified Message Desk Interface (SMDI).
Exchange Unified Messaging uses VOIP Gateway to transfer analog circuit switching protocols to packet switching protocols. VOIP gateway interprets and translates the call diversion information from the PBX specific protocol to Unified Messaging supported SIP protocol.

Digital PBX systems

Digital PBX system uses the following protocols

Set Emulation: it is used when the signaling protocol is proprietary to the PBX vendor. In this case VOIP gateway must be able to interpret the protocol and translate to Unified Messaging understandable protocol.

QSIG: it is a signaling protocol that is based on ISDN Q.931 standard. QSIG is used between corporate PBX systems and it allows multiple PBX systems to operate together in feature transparent way. Therefore large and distributed Organizations can appear to have a single phone system, though they may have multiple PBX system. QSIG can also be used as Circuit Switch and signaling protocol translated by VOIP gateway.

Channel Associated Signaling (CAS): It is a signaling protocol associated with each channel of voice in a T1 environment. Within the channel, bits are robbed and replaced with basic call signaling information. However, basic CAS does not include the signaling requirements for voice mail. These are provided through In-Band DTMF or RS232 signaling.

Voice over IP (VOIP): It is a technology where voice data is sent in packets by using IP instead of traditional circuit transmission or circuit switched telephone lines of PSTN.

VOIP protocols used by Unified Messaging

SIP: It is a text based application layer signaling and a call control protocol. It is used for initiating, modifying and ending an interactive user session, which involves multimedia elements such as voice, video, instant messaging, online games and virtual reality. It supports both unicast and multicast communication. SIP is used only for setting up and tearing down voice or video calls. SIP uses RTP for transferring digitized audio data between parties participating in a call. Each RTP packet contains one or more media pay loads and other relevant information, such as time stamp and sequence numbers.

Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP): It is standard packet format for delivering audio and video over a given network. RTP uses dynamic ports that are negotiated between sender and receiver.

T.38: It is a protocol that allows you to send FAX messages over an IP based network. Then the IP based network uses SMTP and MIME to send the message to the recipient’s mailbox.

Call Diversion Information

While using Unified Messaging systems you need called party and call diversion information so that the system is aware of the recipients. When an outside caller dials a number of someone inside the business, the call is routed to the Central Office and then to the appropriate customer site’s PBX system. The PBX routes the call to the appropriate desk phone. If the recipient of the call is not at the desk, the call is directed to Ring No Answer. Then, the PBX uses it’s call coverage information to check where the unanswered call should be routed.

Please let me know if the above article was able to provide you with the information you needed.

Exchange 2007 Unified Messaging Clients Overview

Exchange 2007 Unified Messaging Clients Overview

Overview

Exchange 2007 Clients such as Outlok 2007, Outlook Web Access, Outlook Voice Access and Mobile ActiveSync provides access to emails, voice messages and Fax from the user’s mailbox.

With Outlook 2007 users can access their emails and Fax messages, edit calendar information and listen to theit Voice Messages either through embedded Windows media player in Outlook or through Play on Phone functionality. With Outlook Voice Access (OVA) users can access their mailbox either through Telephone User Interface (TUI) or through Voice User Interface (VUI) and perform the same functionality as available with Outlook 2007. Please be noted that the Outlook feature for Exchange UM are installed on per computer basis instead of per user basis. Below are the feature provided by Outlook 207 to the UM enabled users.

• Distinguish voice and fax messages from emails by using icons.
• View all voice mails in one location.
• Play voice messages using Outlook integrated Windows Media Player.
• Play voice messages on phone.
• Configure individual voice message settings.
• Reply voice messages through emails.
• Configure voice message greetings that can heard by the callers.
• Add received phone numbers to contacts using keyboard shortcuts.

Voice Message configurable options in Outlook 2007

• Telephone Access Number: It is used to specify the number that the user can dial to access their messages, calendars and contacts by using OVA. This number is referred to as Subscriber access Number or Pilot number. These numbers are applied to all the users of a Unified Messaging Dial Plan.
• Reset PIN: This helps the users to reset their Voice Message PIN without the intervention of the Administrator.
• Play on Phone: This is the number that Exchange Unified Messaging Server will dial for the users to listen to their emails.by default it is the extension number of the user, but can be changed by the user.
• Voice Messaging Greetings: It is used to configure Voice Message greeting that the caller should hear in case if the user is no in position to pick the call.

Some of the functionalities that can be used by the below shortcut keys

• ALT + S: To disable or enable missed call notification.
• ALT + R: To reset Voice Message PIN
• ALT + F: To select the email folder to read emails.
• ALT + P: To enter Play on phone number
• ALT + V: To choose Voice Message greeting.
• ALT + O: To select Out of Office greeting.

Administering Unified Messaging Clients

To provide users with Unified Messaging features, you must deploy Outlook 2007 on all the clients and Exchange 2007 Server with atleast below roles.

• Exchange HUB Server: This is required for the usual mailflow
• Exchange CAS Server: This role is required for OWA, OVA and play on phone feature to work properly.
• Exchange Mailbox Server: This role is required for the Mailbox functionality to the users.
• Exchange Unified Messaging Server: This role is required to provide Unified Messaging functionality to all the Unified Messaging enabled users.

Enabling user for Unified Messaging

When a user is enabled for Unified Messaging, you configure SIP or E.164 address to the user. Once enabled, these settings can only be changed by using EUM address menu on the email address tab in the User Mailbox properties. Users can be enabled for Unified Messaging by using Exchange management console or through Exchange management shell.

Please let me know if the above information was helpful.

Configuring Exchange Unified Messaging Policy

Configuring UM Environment

UM requires several Active Directory directory Service objects to be created and configured for Unified Messaging to function properly. The steps for doing this are as follows:
1. Create a Dial Plan Active Directory object.
2. Create a Unified Messaging IP Gateway Active Directory object and associate with Dial Plan Active Directory object.
3. Create a Hunt Group Active Directory object and associate it with the Unified Messaging IP Gateway.
4. Associate Unified Messaging Server object with the Dial Plan.
5. Enable Unified Messaging role on the Exchange Server. At this point Unified Messaging server discovers all VOIP / IP Gateway associated with the Dial Plan. A default Unified Messaging Mailbox policy is created each time you create a Unified Messaging Dial Plan.
6. Enable users and associate them with the Mailbox Policy


What is Dial Plan?

Dial plan is an Active Directory object that logically represents group of PBX or IP/PBX systems that share common user extension numbers. Dial Plans are used to establish common set of policies for a set of users. Users who belong to the same Dial Plan have:
1. An extension number that uniquely identifies the user mailbox in Dial Plan.
2. The ability to call or send Voice messages to other members in Dial Plan by the extension numbers.
Users can be member of one Dial Plan. Each time a Dial Plan is created Unified Messaging policy by the name of Default Policy gets created. Dial Plan can be configured with the Following topologies:
· Single Dial Plan using one PBX
· Single Dial Plan with multiple PBXs
· Multiple Dial Plan with one PBX
· Multiple Dial Plan with Multiple PBXs


Role of IP Gateway

IP Gateway is the container that logically represents a physical IP gateway that can be used to process Unified Messaging calls. The combination of IP Gateway and Unified Messaging Hunt Group establishes a logical link between an IP / VOIP Gateway device and Unified Messaging Dial Plan. For IP / VOIP Gateway to process calls it must be associated with atleast one Dial Plan, while that Dial Plan must be associated with one Unified Messaging Server. So if IP / VOIP Gateway is deleted Unified Messaging Server associated with it will no longer be able to process call request from Unified Messaging IP Gateway.

Unified Messaging IP Gateway Active Directory object consists of Unified Messaging Hunt Groups and IP Gateway configuration settings. When a call comes to the IP Gateway it forwards the call to the associated Unified Messaging Server. The Unified Messaging server then matches
the extension number within the scope of associated Dial Plan


Role of Unified Messaging Hunt Group

Unified Messaging Hunt Group is a group of extension numbers that are grouped in a single logical unit. Each Hunt group that is created on PBX or IP/PBX uses Pilot number to locate the Hunt Group and extension numbers on which the incoming call was received with. Without a defined Pilot number PBX or IP/PBX cannot locate the device to terminate the call. When an incoming call is answered, the call is redirected to the Hunt Group and then to the Unified Messaging Gateway and finally to the Exchange Unified Messaging Server. Unified Messaging Hunt Groups are used to locate the PBX or IP/PBX hunt Group from which the incoming call was received.

A Pilot number that is defined for a Hunt Group in the PBX or IP/PBX must also be defined within the Unified Messaging Hunt Group whenever a single gateway is connected to multiple PBXs and, therefore multiple Dial Plans. The Pilot number is used to match the information presented for incoming calls through the SIP signaling information on the message. The Pilot number allows the Unified Messaging Server to interpret the call and the correct Dial Plan. So the call can be located correctly. It is very important to configure the Unified Messaging Hunt Groups correctly because incoming calls that do not correctly match the Pilot number defined on the Unified Messaging Hunt Groups are not answered.


Role of Exchange Unified Messaging Server

The Exchange Unified Messaging Server Active Directory object is the logical representation of the physical server on which Unified Messaging role is installed. The Unified Messaging Server processes and routes incoming calls correctly to the Unified Messaging enabled users only if it is associated with atleast on Unified Messaging Dial Plan and the Unified Messaging Dial Plan is associated with atleast with one Unified Messaging IP Gateway.


Role of Exchange Unified Messaging Mailbox Policy

Unified Messaging Mailbox policy are used for applying and standardizing Unified Messaging configuration setting such as PIN policies, Dial restriction and other general Unified Messaging Mailbox policy property for Unified Messaging enabled users. When a user is enabled for Unified Messaging, you set the Unified Messaging property on the user’s mailbox object such as Associated Dial Plan, Associated Mailbox Policy and extension number.

Please let me know if the above information was helpful.

Exchange Unified Messaging Overview

Unified Messaging Functionality

Unified Messaging provides Voice Mail, Email and FAX into one Inbox, which can be accessed either from any Telephony System or from Internet Connected PC. To provide Unified Messaging functionality Exchange Server with Unified Messaging role can be integrated directly with IP PBX or with Legacy PBX using Media Gateway. Unified Messaging provides the following functionality.
· Accepts incoming SIP or RTP Signal.
· Call Answering to the incoming voice messages and Fax messages.
· Accessibility to the mailbox from any Telephony device using Outlook Voice Access (OVA).
· Receives Faxes and delivers to the intended user’s Mailbox.
· Voice or Touch tone enabled Auto Attendant.
· Record and play back of voice messages from the Mailbox.

Unified Messaging role can be installed on any AD member server that may or may not have another role configured.

Unified Messaging Voice and Fax Calls

Unified Messaging provides receiving of incoming voice messages and fax from the internal as well as external users. It then delivers voice message and fax to the intended user’s mailbox as an attachment. It also provides Call Answering functionality to Unified Messaging enabled users so that the callers can leave voice message in case if the user is not in position to answer the call. The users can then access the information from anywhere using any telephony device or internet connected PC.

PBX uses call convergence information to direct the call to the Pilot number of Exchange Unified Messaging Server. For Exchange Unified Messaging Server the Pilot number is the same as the Pilot number of the Media Gateway. Media Gateway converts the Circuit-Switched Call (CSC) to the VOIP Protocols such as Session initiation Protocol (SIP) or Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) for voice messages and T.38 protocol for Fax messages. When a Unified Messaging enabled user calls to the Subscriber Access Number using OVA, the call is transferred by PBX to the Exchange Unified Messaging Server. Exchange Unified Messaging Server then communicates with the Exchange Mailbox Server for retrieving mailbox information. If the user delivers mail using OVA, then Mailbox Server communicates with the Exchange HUB Server for further delivering internally or externally as usual.

Unified Messaging Auto Attendant
Unified Messaging Auto Attendant is the collection f voice prompts that a caller hear instead of Human Operator. To interact with Auto Attendant, callers can use voice input if Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) or Dual Tone Multi Frequency (DTMF ) also known as Touch Tome inputs is enabled. Auto Attendant gives ability to
· Create customized Menu for external Callers
· Define Information greeting, Business hours greeting and non business hour greeting.
· Define how to search Organization’s directory, so that callers can call a specific user.
· Describe how to connect to user’s extension, so external callers can call a user by specifying the extension.

Please let me know if the above information was helpful.

Performance counter for Exchange 2007 Database

To find the information related to Exchange 2007 database performance you will need to

1. Click on Start ->; Run
2. Type perfmon and hit enter.
3. On the Performance Window Click on System Monitor.
4. Press Ctrl + I to add the counters as per you requirement

I have provided few screenshots below as an example

Select the below setting to get the I/O information on Log writes/sec

Select the below setting to get Log files generated

Select the below information to get Messages sent and received per second.
Please note that these settings can be selected per Mailbox Store or Storage Group

Please let me know if the above information was helpful.

Update Rollup 9 for Exchange 2007 SP1

Issues that the Exchange 2007 SP1 update rollup 9 fixes

Update Rollup 9 for Exchange Server 2007 SP1 fixes the issues that are described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:

1. 
   943073 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943073/ ) An image attachment appears as a red "X" when you send an RTF e-mail message from an Exchange Server 2007 organization to an external recipient
2. 945877 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945877/ ) The "eseutil /k" command takes a long time to verify the checksum of transaction logs in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
3. 947662 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947662/ ) The transport rule "when the Subject field or the body of the message contains text patterns" does not work accurately on an Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1-based computer
4. 954739 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/954739/ ) The Exchange Impersonation feature does not work if a cross-forest topology has only a one-way trust relationship between forests in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
5. 957137 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957137/ ) The reseed process is unsuccessful on the CCR passive node after you restore one full backup and two or more differential backups to the CCR active node in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
6. 957374 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957374/ ) The Microsoft Exchange Replication service on a Standby Continuous Replication (SCR) target server continually crashes when you enable SCR for a storage group on an Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1-based computer
7. 959559 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/959559/ ) Transaction log files grow unexpectedly in an Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 mailbox server on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008
8. 961124 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/961124/ ) Some messages are stuck in the Outbox folder or the Drafts folder on a computer that is running Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
9. 961544 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/961544/ ) Mobile users whose location is set to New Zealand cannot synchronize an exceptional occurrence after the daylight saving time (DST) update that is described in KB 951072 is installed on an Exchange 2007 Service Pack 1 Client Access server (CAS)
10. 961551 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/961551/ ) An error message is returned when you run the Get-Recipient command in the Exchange Management Shell that uses a Windows 7 domain controller
11. 963679 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/963679/ ) The Update-Recipient command does not update specified domain controller parameters when you use Identity Lifecycle Manager (ILM) 2007 to migrate mail users to mailbox users in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
12. 967479 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967479/ ) Entourage clients cannot synchronize with mailboxes that are located on a computer that is running Exchange 2007 Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008
13. 967525 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967525/ ) Error 4 is returned when you synchronize a supported list of contact properties by using Exchange ActiveSync in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
14. 967605 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967605/ ) A non-delivery report (NDR) is returned when a user sends an e-mail message to an X.400 address that includes the slash field separator in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
    967676 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967676/ ) E-mail address properties of contacts changed through Exchange Web Services (EWS) are not updated in Outlook or Outlook Web Access (OWA) in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
15. 967739 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967739/ ) If a sender requests a delivery receipt in an e-mail message, a delivery status notification (DSN) message is returned that has a blank subject in the body even though the original message contains a subject in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
16. 968081 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968081/ ) Monthly recurring meetings are declined if the "Schedule only during working hours" option is enabled in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
17. 968106 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968106/ ) Outlook clients are directed to global catalogs from the wrong domain if you are using a split session configuration to enable Outlook clients to access their mailboxes through an RPC/HTTP proxy server in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
18. 968111 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968111/ ) Event ID 4999 is logged when an administrator deletes a mailbox store on an Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1-based server
19. 968205 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968205/ ) The Microsoft Exchange Information Store service crashes every time that a specific database is mounted on a computer that is running Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
20. 968224 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968224/ ) You still receive unexpected error messages when you run the Test-OwaConnectivity command or the Test-ActiveSyncConnectivity command after you apply hotfix KB954213 on an Exchange 2007 Service Pack 1-based server
21. 968322 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968322/ ) An HTTP 500 error message is returned when you send a message that has a large attachment by using Outlook Web Access (OWA) with S/MIME installed in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
22. 968350 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968350/ ) When you change the location field of a recurring calendar item to empty in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1, the location field is set to the default value of the recurring series if this recurring item is synchronized on a Windows Mobile device
23. 968621 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968621/ ) The Microsoft Exchange Information Store service crashes when you use a Data Protection Manager (DPM) 2007 server to perform a snapshot backup for an Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 server
24. 968626 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968626/ ) Event ID 1009 is logged when you use an application to access a shared mailbox by using the POP3 protocol in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
25. 968651 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968651/ ) Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 servers continue to contact a domain controller even after you exclude it by using the Set-ExchangeServer command
26. 968715 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968715/ ) Both public logons and private logons that connect to a Client Access server (CAS) proxy are processed as private logons on an Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1-based server
27. 969054 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969054/ ) Error message after an Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 user replies to a message that has more than 300 recipients in Outlook Web Access (OWA): "Microsoft Exchange issued an unexpected response (500)"
28. 969089 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969089/ ) Some databases are not mounted on the target server after you use the Move-ClusteredMailboxServer command to transfer a clustered mailbox server (CMS) to an available passive cluster node in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
29. 969129 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969129/ ) HTML e-mail messages that have a charset META tag that differs from the MIME charset tag are garbled when they are processed through disclaimer rules in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
30. 969324 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969324/ ) Outlook crashes when you try to use Outlook to view e-mail messages that are arranged by subject in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
31. 969436 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969436/ ) You cannot log on to a hidden mailbox by using Base64 authentication for IMAP4 or for POP3 in an Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 environment
32. 969838 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969838/ ) An error message is returned when a user tries to change a recurring appointment in Office Outlook Web Access that was created in Outlook 2007 in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
33. 969911 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969911/ ) Mailboxes do not follow E-mail Lifecycle (ELC) configuration or storage limitation policies in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
34. 969943 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969943/ ) Memory leaks occur in the Powershell.exe process when you run the Get-MailboxStatistics command and the Get-PublicFolderStatistics command in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
35. 969969 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969969/ ) Error message when an Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 user tries to delete a calendar item in OWA: "Outlook Web Access has encountered a Web browsing error"
36. 970028 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/970028/ ) The Store.exe process crashes when you use a WebDAV application to connect to Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
37. 970086 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/970086/ ) Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 crashes when the Extensible Storage Engine (ESE) version store is out of memory on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008
38. 970277 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/970277/ ) The System Attendant (SA) resource is not brought online or offline during a failover in an Exchange 2007 Service Pack 1 cluster environment
39. 970444 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/970444/ ) A move operation between an Exchange Server 2003-based server and an Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1-based server fails if the SimpleDisplayName attribute of a mailbox in the Exchange Server 2003-based server contains a single quotation mark
40. 970515 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/970515/ ) You receive an error message when you try to use the "New-Mailbox" command to create more than 1000 users who have the same “mailNickname” attribute (alias) in Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1
41. 970526 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/970526/ ) The EdgeTransport.exe process on a computer that is running Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 crashes when a MIME message that contains iCAL items for a recurring meeting has more than 999 occurrences
42. 970725 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/970725/ ) Public folder replication messages stay in the local delivery queue and cause an Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 database to grow quickly
43. 970993 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/970993/ ) Error message when a user tries to perform an address book search by using Outlook Web Access in an Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 environment: “The item that you attempted to access appears to be corrupted and cannot be accessed.”

Please let me know if the above information was helpful.

Exporting Exchange 2007 Mailbox Data into PST

Exporting Exchange 2007 Mailbox Data into PST

Exchange 2007 SP1 introduces the following functionality for exporting mailbox data:

· You can export mailbox data from a mailbox to a .pst file. To export to a .pst file, you must use the PSTFolderPath parameter to specify the path to the .pst file to which data will be exported.
You can use the Export-Mailbox cmdlet to export data to either a folder or a .pst file. The source and target mailboxes must exist on a server that is running one of the following versions of Microsoft Exchange:

· Exchange Server 2007

· Exchange Server 2003 SP2 or a later version

· Exchange 2000 Server SP3 or a later version

You cannot export data to a .pst file from a mailbox that is in a recovery storage group (RSG).

Before you perform this procedure, be aware of the following:

• To grant full access to a mailbox, use the Add-MailboxPermission cmdlet and specify FullAccess for the AccessRights parameter.

For example, if Admin01 needs to export data from John's mailbox, you must first run the following command:

Add-MailboxPermission -Identity john -User Admin01 -AccessRights FullAccess

• To export data to a .pst file called john.pst located at C:\PSTFiles, run the following command:

Export-Mailbox -Identity john@contoso.com -PSTFolderPath C:\PSTFiles\john.pst

• To export data from a group of mailboxes, such as all mailboxes for which the user title begins with "VP," run the following command:

Get-User where { $_.Title -ilike "VP*" } Export-Mailbox -TargetFolder VPData -TargetMailbox ExportMailbox

• To export data from all the mailboxes of users in the Marketing organizational unit, run the following command:

Get-Mailbox -OrganizationalUnit Marketing Export-Mailbox -PSTFolderPath C:\PSTFiles

This example exports the data from each mailbox to a separate .pst file located at C:\PSTFiles. The name of each .pst file will be <alias>.pst.

Please let me know if this post was helpful.

Email Encryption

1. Email Encryption

By default all data transported in an Exchange 2007 organization is secured. Client access including (OWA) and outlook anywhere is secured by SSL certificate, traffic between Exchange servers are encrypted using mutual Transport Layer Security (TLS). Also outlook 2007 client traffic is secured through Remote procedure call (RPC) encryption and encrypted MAPI submission.

Outlook 2003 can also use this encryption but it is not set by default. It is specific to each account and subsequently is configured from within Tools! Account Settings. In the account settings window select the option view or change existing email accounts. Then select change! More settings, under the encryption area in the security tab, check the box by the option encrypt data between Microsoft office outlook and Microsoft exchange

!	Important Note : These emails encryption is applicable only during the message transit between the clients to server and server to server. Once the message reached the client the encryption will be removed and the data can be viewed.

1.1. Scenario:

Server to Server	Authentication	Encryption	Remarks
Mailbox to Hub	NTLM /Kerberos	RPC Encryption Algorithm	Emails are encrypted during the Transit
HUB to HUB	Kerberos	TLS	Emails are encrypted during the Transit
Hub to AD	Kerberos	Kerberos	Emails are encrypted during the Transit

Client to Server	authentication	Encryption	Remarks
Outlook 2003	Kerberos / NTLM	Default is disabled need to enable it	Emails are encrypted during the Transit
Outlook 2007	Kerberos / NTLM	yes using RPC encryption algorithm	Emails are encrypted during the Transit
OWA	Form based	SSL	Emails are encrypted using SSL
Outlook Anywhere	NTLM	SSL
Client to External	SMTP configuration settings	TLS	Provided the receiving SMTP is enabled with TLS encryption else the email will travel in encrypted format with in the org and will perform an ESMTP hand shake with the recipient SMTP using TLS if this fails then it will connect to the recipient SMTP and the email will travel in plain text format.

2. Digital Certificates

Digital certificates are used both as a means of encrypting and decrypting information as well as signing messages digitally for sender validation. The majority of the certificates fall under the X.509 standard certificate format. X.509 certificates are made up of the following fields

1. Version number

2. Serial number

3. Signature algorithm ID

4. Issuer name

5. Validity period (standard date and end date)

6. Subject Name

7. Subject Public key information

8. Issuer unique identifier

9. Subject unique identifier

10. Extensions

11. Signature hash

Exchange uses X.509 certificates to secure communication between servers and between clients and the Exchange server. When Exchange 2007 is installed, it generates self signed certificate to secure point to point communication path. When client connect to CAS server, they use the self signed certificates or another SSL certificate can be used in its place. An alternate certificate would have to come either from a third party authority to trust the public Authority certificates. Since self signed certificates typically used in the local environment this is being produced by the local certificate authority. These are not trusted by a public authority and therefore, are not good replacements for securing communication and authentication over networks

2.1. Third party trusted certificates:

Many companies offer TLS / SSL certificate services which work well for Exchange server. Microsoft maintains the following trusted public Certificate authority named VeriSign, Entrust and Godaddy.

Please let me know if this post was helpful.

Technical Overview of Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 SP1

Technical Overview of System Center Data Protection Manager

DPM has some cool features especially for MOSS, Exchange, SQL and File Server Data Protection at Primary, Secondary (Local Site) as well as Tertiary level (remote Site). It can also provide solution for DR which is termed as DPM2DPM4DR, i.e. DPM to DPM for DR whereby the backups are taken from the primary endpoints to the secondary and Tertiary level backups on DPM Server. The data can be backed up or restored directory from Secondary (local Site) or tertiary level DPM Servers (remote site) over WAN.

System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) 2007

Data Protection Manager 2007 is a member of the Microsoft System Center family of management products, which are designed to help IT Professionals manage their Windows Server infrastructure. DPM 2007 sets a new standard for Windows backup and recovery—delivering continuous data protection for Microsoft application and file servers to a seamlessly integrated secondary disk and tape solution on the DPM server. DPM enables rapid and reliable recovery through advanced technology for enterprises of all sizes.

Protection and Recovery for Microsoft Applications

DPM 2007 continuously protects the core Microsoft server workloads to a DPM server or appliance, which then provides disk-based recovery and tape-based, long-term archival storage for a complete data protection and recovery solution.

Setting a New Standard for Data Protection in Windows Environments

· Continuous Data Protection for Windows Application and File Servers DPM protects core Windows Server workloads by continuously capturing data changes with application-aware byte-level agents, providing an easy-to-manage and robust disk/tape back-end platform, and one-click lossless application recovery.

· Rapid and Reliable Recovery DPM enables IT administrators and end-users to easily recover data in minutes from easily accessible disk instead of locating and restoring from less-reliable tapes.

· Advanced Technology for Enterprises of All Sizes DPM brings together the best aspects of CDP real-time protection with traditional tape backup/restore to provide a comprehensive disk-to-disk-to-tape data recovery solution. Combined with Microsoft Windows Server technology, DPM 2007 provides a technically advanced and comprehensive data protection solution for the most demanding Windows environments—from the SMB to the Enterprise.

Maximizing Protection of Microsoft Workloads with Microsoft Backup and Recovery

DPM 2007 is designed for the application stakeholder, a SQL or Exchange Administrator, or an IT generalist, and uses wizards and workflows to help ensure that you can protect your data—without requiring an advanced degree, training, or certification in storage and backup technologies.

DPM 2007 presents the data to be protected in the same context as users access it. This empowers SQL Server administrators to select databases or Exchange managers to choose Storage Groups. SharePoint farms, Virtual Server guest machines, and Windows Server file shares are all selectable—with DPM then determining the files and components to protect.

Meeting Microsoft Customer Needs

Common customer questions about their existing backup:

“Who can help me restore?”
During a crisis, as part of the data recovery, many customers are frustrated when bringing in multiple support organizations to help restore their data. The third-party backup vendor may say that the data restored successfully. But Microsoft Product Support Services may say that the data appears un-mountable. And the systems integrator, the database administrator, or the lone IT professional can be stuck in the middle. Having a Microsoft backup product protecting a Microsoft SQL Server, Exchange Server, or SharePoint platform means that customers don’t have to worry about misunderstandings between vendors when restoring their data.

“My backup product does some things well, but protecting my advanced Exchange configuration isn’t one of them.”
Because third-party backup products try to back up a wide variety of applications, it is very difficult to protect every application well, particularly with flexible applications like mirrored SQL Server 2005 databases or a CCR/LCR cluster under Exchange Server 2007. Microsoft is dedicated to making sure that our backup solution is one of the very best for protecting our application workloads. Microsoft protects our own Enterprise SQL and Exchange servers with DPM, beginning early in the beta process. This helps ensure that no DPM build will go to a customer that Microsoft IT hasn’t signed off as tested in our own demanding production environment.

Take a look at how DPM 2007 can protect your Windows Server infrastructure

Microsoft is committed to listening to our customers and partners—to help shape the products and services that we offer. While most customers currently have some form of tape backup technology, there are many who are discontent with the current offerings, either looking for better support of key business applications like Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 or SQL Server 2008, or looking for better than nightly protection to a medium other than tape. Microsoft Data Protection Manager 2007 addresses those needs.

If you depend on Microsoft server-based platforms, including SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange, or SharePoint Services to manage and deliver information within your company, take a look at how DPM 2007 can help you protect your business-critical data.

Please let me know if this post was helpful.

Windows 7 Shortcut Keys

Ney shortcut keys with Windows 7 Shortcut Description Win + UP Arrow Maximize the current window Win + Down Arrow Restore down or minimize current windows Win + Left Arrow Dock the current window to the left half of the screen Win + Right Arrrow Dock the current window to the right half of the screen Win + [number] Activate and run the program pinned on Windows 7 Taskbar, running program won’t be affected Win + Home Minimize all but the current window Win + Space Makes all windows transparent so you can see through to the desktop Win + Pause/Break Open System Properties Win + Tab Flip Aero 3D [press Tab to cycle between Windows] Win + B Move focus to notification tray (the right-most portion of the taskbar) Win + D Show/Hide desktop Win + E Windows Explorer is launched Win + F Search Win + G Bring all gadgets on top and foreground Win + L Lock Computer Win + M Minimize all windows Win + P Open the projection menu (generally used for laptops connected to projectors) Win + R Run Command is launched. Win + S OneNote Screen Clipping Tool Win + T Show preview thumbnail of running applications in Windows Taskbar one by one without mouse over Win + X Mobility Center Win + # Quicklaunch Win + = Magnifier Win + [+/-] Enables the magnifier and zooms in/out Win + Shift + Up Arrow Maximize vertical size Win + Shift + Down Arrow Restore vertical size Win + Shift + Left Arrow Jump to left monitor Win + Shift + Right Arrow Jump to right monitor Win + Shift + M Undo all window minimization Win + Shift + T Cycles backwards Win + Ctrl + F Opens the Active Directory Find Computers dialog Ctrl + Right Arrow Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word Ctrl + Left Arrow Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word Ctrl + Up Arrow Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph Ctrl + Down Arrow Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph Ctrl + Click A pinned taskbar icon to cycle through the program’s open windows (e.g. IE) Ctrl + Win + Tab Persistent flip 3D Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key Select a block of text Ctrl with any arrow key + Spacebar Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager directly Ctrl + Shift + N Create new folder

Please let me know if this post was helpful.