Windows Server 8 introduced a new feathers for File Shares.

The first screenshot provide an overview on some of the new feathers:

The second screenshot cover a new feather -  “Share Profiles”. By using Share Profiles”,

automatic settings would deployed to the new file share/s.

To use the new File Share feathers, please use the following steps while creating a new File Share:

1. Open “Server Manager” console.

2.Press on “File and Storage Services” button.

3. In the right side of the screen, press on “Tasks” button.

4. Press on “New Share” button.

5. Choose the share profile and press on “Next” button.

6. Choose the volume  that you plan to host the new share and press on “Next” button.

7. Add a name to the new share and set the required path that would use to hosting the share.

Then press on “Next” button.

8. Enable advanced feathers, if there a need for them and then press on “Next” button

9. Set the required share and NTFS permission. Then, press on “Next” button.

10. Press on “Create” button.

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Microsoft released a new edition of the book “Moving Applications to the Cloud on Microsoft Windows Azure™”. The book can be downloaded for free from the following link.

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Volume Activation Services role is the next generation of Key Management Service (KMS). By using “Volume Activation Services” role, offline and automatic activation of Windows 8 clients & servers etc. can be used in your domain/forest.

Note: The installation Volume Activation Services role required the following privileges:

a. Membership of “Enterprise Administrators” Group.

b. Local Administrator privileges to the server that will host the Volume Activation Services role.

Note: In case that the server that you plan to use for hosting the Volume Activation Services” role is domain controller, a membership of “Domain Admins” group may required.

To install the “Volume Activation Services” role, please use the following steps:

1. Navigate to “Server Manager” –> “Manage” –> "Add" Roles and Feathers"

2. Press on “Next” button.

2. Choose the server that you plan to add to it the “Volume Activation Services” role and press on “Next” button.

3. Mark the checkbox under “Volume Activation Services” role.

4. Press on “Add Feathers” button and then press on “Next” button.

5. Press on “Next” button.

6. Press on “Next” button.

5. Press on “Next” button.

5. Press on “Close” button.

To configure the “Volume Activation Services” role, please use the following steps:

1. Navigate to “Server Manager” –> “Tool” –> "Manage Volume Activation".

2. Review the introduction guide and Press on “Next” button.

3. Choose the relevant technology that would be used by the "Volume Activation Services” role and press on “Next” button.

Note: Active Directory Based Activation is the default technology and it using the current Active Directory/LDAP infrastructure. Due this, no special TCP/IP port/s would be need to be opened in the firewall.

4. Enter the “Customer Specific Volume License Key (CSVLK)” and press on “Next” button.

5. Choose the required Activation mode for the “Customer Specific Volume License Key (CSVLK)” and press on “Commit” button.

6. Approve the new Active Directory object creation and close the wizard after if finish the required configurations.

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“Microsoft has released Update Rollup 7. This is a tested, cumulative set of updates for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011. It includes performance enhancements that are packaged together for easy deployment.” The update can be downloaded from the following link.

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The following command set the default NDR language (for internal and external NDR messages) to “English”:

1. Run the following Exchange 2010 PowerShell command:

“get-transportconfig | set-transportconfig -ExternalDsnLanguageDetectionEnabled $false -ExternalDsnDefaultLanguage en-us -InternalDsnLanguageDetectionEnabled $false -InternalDsnDefaultLanguage en-us”

2. Restart the “Exchange Transport Service”.

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The following error may appear during logon to user mailbox in Exchange 2010:

“Exception
Exception type: Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Storage.StorageTransientException
Exception message: Cannot open mailbox /o=Shadowall/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=yuval.

Call stack
Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Storage.MailboxSession.ForceOpen(MapiStore linkedStore)
Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Storage.MailboxSession.Initialize(MapiStore linkedStore, LogonType logonType, ExchangePrincipal owner, DelegateLogonUser delegateUser, Object identity, OpenMailboxSessionFlags flags)
Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Storage.MailboxSession.<>c__DisplayClass12.b__10(MailboxSession mailboxSession)
Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Storage.MailboxSession.InternalCreateMailboxSession(LogonType logonType, ExchangePrincipal owner, CultureInfo cultureInfo, String clientInfoString, Action`1 initializeMailboxSession, InitializeMailboxSessionFailure initializeMailboxSessionFailure)
Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Storage.MailboxSession.CreateMailboxSession(LogonType logonType, ExchangePrincipal owner, DelegateLogonUser delegateUser, Object identity, OpenMailboxSessionFlags flags, CultureInfo cultureInfo, String clientInfoString, PropertyDefinition[] mailboxProperties, IList`1 foldersToInit)
Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Storage.MailboxSession.ConfigurableOpen(ExchangePrincipal mailbox, MailboxAccessInfo accessInfo, CultureInfo cultureInfo, String clientInfoString, LogonType logonType, PropertyDefinition[] mailboxProperties, InitializationFlags initFlags, IList`1 foldersToInit)
Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Storage.MailboxSession.Open(ExchangePrincipal mailboxOwner, WindowsPrincipal authenticatedUser, CultureInfo cultureInfo, String clientInfoString, Boolean wantCachedConnection)
Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Storage.MailboxSession.Open(ExchangePrincipal mailboxOwner, WindowsPrincipal authenticatedUser, CultureInfo cultureInfo, String clientInfoString)
Microsoft.Exchange.Clients.Owa.Core.OwaWindowsIdentity.CreateMailboxSession(ExchangePrincipal exchangePrincipal, CultureInfo cultureInfo, HttpRequest clientRequest)
Microsoft.Exchange.Clients.Owa.Core.UserContext.CreateMailboxSession(OwaContext owaContext)
Microsoft.Exchange.Clients.Owa.Core.UserContext.Load(OwaContext owaContext)
Microsoft.Exchange.Clients.Owa.Core.RequestDispatcher.CreateUserContext(OwaContext owaContext, UserContextKey userContextKey, UserContext& userContext)
Microsoft.Exchange.Clients.Owa.Core.RequestDispatcher.PrepareRequestWithoutSession(OwaContext owaContext, UserContextCookie userContextCookie)
Microsoft.Exchange.Clients.Owa.Core.RequestDispatcher.InternalDispatchRequest(OwaContext owaContext)
Microsoft.Exchange.Clients.Owa.Core.RequestDispatcher.DispatchRequest(OwaContext owaContext)
Microsoft.Exchange.Clients.Owa.Core.OwaModule.OnPostAuthorizeRequest(Object sender, EventArgs e)
System.Web.HttpApplication.SyncEventExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute()
System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously)

Inner Exception
Exception type: Microsoft.Mapi.MapiExceptionMailboxQuarantined
Exception message: MapiExceptionMailboxQuarantined: Unable to open message store. (hr=0x80004005, ec=2611) Diagnostic context: Lid: 18969 EcDoRpcExt2 called [length=663] Lid: 27161 EcDoRpcExt2 returned [ec=0xA33][length=150][latency=0] Lid: 32881 StoreEc: 0xA33 Lid: 50035 Lid: 64625 StoreEc: 0xA33 Lid: 1494 ---- Remote Context Beg ---- Lid: 26426 ROP: ropLogon [254] Lid: 3225 StoreEc: 0x8004010F Lid: 61867 Lid: 37291 StoreEc: 0xA33 Lid: 53675 Lid: 12716 StoreEc: 0xA33 Lid: 20794 Lid: 28474 StoreEc: 0xA33 Lid: 22330 dwParam: 0x0 Msg: 14.00.0710.000:Shadowall-ServerName Lid: 1750 ---- Remote Context End ---- Lid: 23354 StoreEc: 0xA33 Lid: 25913 Lid: 21817 ROP Failure: 0xA33 Lid: 26297 Lid: 16585 StoreEc: 0xA33 Lid: 32441 Lid: 1706 StoreEc: 0xA33 Lid: 24761 Lid: 20665 StoreEc: 0xA33 Lid: 25785 Lid: 29881 StoreEc: 0xA33

Call stack
Microsoft.Mapi.MapiExceptionHelper.ThrowIfError(String message, Int32 hresult, Int32 ec, DiagnosticContext diagCtx)
Microsoft.Mapi.ExRpcConnection.OpenMsgStore(OpenStoreFlag storeFlags, String mailboxDn, Guid mailboxGuid, Guid mdbGuid, MapiStore msgStorePrivate, String& correctServerDn, ClientIdentityInfo clientIdentityAs, String userDnAs, String applicationId, CultureInfo cultureInfo)
Microsoft.Mapi.MapiStore.OpenMapiStore(String serverDn, String userDn, String mailboxDn, Guid guidMailbox, Guid guidMdb, String userName, String domainName, String password, String httpProxyServerName, ConnectFlag connectFlags, OpenStoreFlag storeFlags, CultureInfo cultureInfo, Boolean wantRedirect, String& correctServerDN, ClientIdentityInfo clientIdentity, String applicationId)
Microsoft.Mapi.MapiStore.OpenMailbox(String serverDn, String userDn, String mailboxDn, String userName, String domainName, String password, ConnectFlag connectFlags, OpenStoreFlag storeFlags, CultureInfo cultureInfo, WindowsIdentity windowsIdentity, String applicationId)
Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Storage.MailboxSession.ForceOpen(MapiStore linkedStore)”

Note: As I know, the following issues can lead to the error message:

a. The Exchange server was crashed (e.g. Power off, BSOD etc.).

b. Backup issue.

c. Connection to the Active Directory was lost during transition/s.

d. Locking to the Exchange Database/Log files.

e. Third Party software tried to “poison” the Exchange server (e.g. Mobile phone etc.).

To resolve this issue, please use the following steps:

1. By using the command “Get-MailboxStatistics -Identity AliasName |fl” obtain the following mailbox settings:

a. Database

b. MailboxGuid

c. ServerName

2. By using the command “Get-MailboxDatabase -Identity "DataBaseName" |fl” obtain the following database settings:

a. Guid

3. Launch the Registry editing tool (“Regedit”) in the Exchange 2010 server that hosting the user mailbox and navigate to:

“HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\MSExchangeIS\%ServerName%”

4. Under the registry key (that was opened in step “3”), find the database GUID (that was obtained in step “2”, e.g. Private-dad6b75a-f6df-42c6-b1c4-8c63c5ef123f”, when the database GUID represent in the suffix behind the “Private-“.

5. Navigate to “QuarantinedMailboxes” registry key:

6. Find the relevant MailboxGuid (that was obtained in step “1”) and delete it.

7. On the Exchange server, restart the service "Microsoft Exchange Information Store".

For further information, please review:

Understanding the Exchange 2010 Store

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Microsoft released a new updated version of the Log Parser Studio. Log Parser Studio allow you to review and query logs files (e.g. Exchange, IIS, SQL etc.). The tool can be downloaded from the following link.

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A common issue for Exchange 2010 Administrators (even with Exchange 2010 SP2 RU1) is to get some mysteries error messages during initialization of Exchange 2010 Management Tools.

Microsoft released a few troubleshooting guides that cover the common solutions for this issue:

Troubleshooting the Exchange Management Shell

Troubleshooting Exchange 2010 Management Tools startup issues

Even More Exchange 2010 Management Tools Fun

However, one of the undocumented solutions is to reboot all the domain controllers and then reboot the Exchange server. Specially this solution may help you to resolve Kerberos error messages that may appear during initialization of Exchange 2010 Management Tools.

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One of the newest Exchange 2010 feather is the “Online Defrag” mechanism. However, the “Online Defrag” mechanism doesn’t reduce the overall Exchange 2010 database size (its just markup the free space with “0”). To find out if offline defrag may be needed, you can use the following PowerShell command:

“Get-MailboxDatabase -Status | ft name,databasesize,availablenewmailboxspace –auto”

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“The Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Feature Pack is a collection of stand-alone packages which provide additional value for Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012.” Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Feature Pack can be downloaded from the following link.

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“Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Express is a powerful and reliable free data management system that delivers a rich and reliable data store for lightweight Web Sites and desktop applications.” The Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Express can be downloaded from the following link.

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Windows 8 introduce a new feather that allow you to configure a network teaming, without a need for third party utility.

The default settings for a new network teaming is Active/Active mode, but more advanced feathers can be configured (e.g. Standby adapter etc.).

Also, the network teaming can be connected to unique VLAN by using a VLAN tagging mechanism. For general knowledgebase, the network teaming  is implemented by “Microsoft Network Adapter Multiplexer Protocol “.

To setup a new network teaming you can use “Server Manager” and choose “Network Adapter Teaming”.

Then, in the left left side choose “Task”  -> “New Team”.

Provide a name for the new network teaming (e.g. Team1) and add to the new network teaming the required network adapters (minimum of two).

Press on “Ok” button and review the new network teaming that has been created.

Now you can configure a static IP for the new network teaming that appear as additional network adapter.

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The following error message may appear while using search option in the Exchange Management Console (EMC):

“A parameter cannot be found that matches parameter name 'IgnoreDefaultScope' “

Exchange 2010 introduce Role Based Access Control (RBAC) technology. However, using custom “Mail Recipients” role may loss the Get-Recipient role entry. This issue may lead to the error message that was introduces before.

To resolve this issue:

1.  Add custom role with Parent of “Mailbox Search” role (Which involve the Get-Recipient role entry):
 
“New-ManagementRole -Name "USA-Mailbox-Search-ManagementRole" -Parent "Mailbox Search"”
 
2. Remove all role entries from “MyCustom-Mailbox-Search” excepts “Get-Recipient”:
 
“Get-ManagementRoleEntry "USA-Mailbox-Search-ManagementRole\*" | Where { $_.Name –Notlike “Get-Recipient” } | Remove-ManagementRoleEntry”
 
3. Apply the New-ManagementRoleAssignment with the required scope/s:

“New-ManagementRoleAssignment -Name "USA-Mailbox-Search-ManagementRoleAssignment" -SecurityGroup "USA-Site-Managers-Group" -Role "USA-Mailbox-Search-ManagementRole" -CustomConfigWriteScope "USA-Databases-Scope" -RecipientOrganizationalUnitScope "mydomainname.local/USA"”

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During migrating from Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2010, the mail flow may not function as it should. Also, public folder replication between the Exchange 2003 & Exchange may not function. To resolve this issue, please use the following steps:

1. Remove exits Routing Group Connector:

“Get-RoutingGroupConnector | Remove-RoutingGroupConnector”.

Note: If the Exchange system is using multiple Routing Group/s Connectors, please delete only the corrupt Routing Group Connector.

2. Create a new RoutingGroupConnector:

“New-RoutingGroupConnector -Name “Exchange2003 - Exchange2010 RoutingGroupConnector" -SourceTransportServers “myexchange2010.domainname.local” -TargetTransportServers “myexchange2003.domainname.local” -Cost 1 -Bidirectional $true”

3. Restart "Microsoft Exchange Transport" service:

“net stop && net start "Microsoft Exchange Transport"”

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"Exciting news! Microsoft announced today that SQL Server 2012 has released to manufacturing. Customers and partners can download an evaluation of the product today and can expect general availability to begin on April 1. Microsoft also announced today an additional preview of an Apache Hadoop-based service on Windows Azure that will be available in the first half of 2012 to connect SQL Server and integrated business intelligence tools with unstructured data. For more information about today’s news, check out Microsoft corporate vice president Ted Kummert’s post on the Official Microsoft Blog, and for even more information, check out the STB News Bytes Blog.

Tomorrow, don’t forget to attend the SQL Server 2012 Virtual Launch Event, featuring keynotes by Ted Kummert and Quentin Clark and a number of video presentations about SQL Server 2012 by other SQL Server experts.”

Source: SQL Server 2012 Released to Manufacturing

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