Archive for November, 2008
Managing SBS 2008: Q&A
Posted by: | CommentsThank you everyone for attending and saying such nice things about our presentation. You have encouraged us and so we’re actively planning the rest of the series. Tune in here for dates and times.
In part 1 of our series on Managing SBS 2008, we covered User Management, User Roles, Adding Exchange email aliases, Adding addition email domains and creating a Transport rule. Time was then rounded out with an active Q&A session that continued beyond the end of the presentation and has given us some great ideas for future content in this series. At the end of the presentation, we expanded upon many of the answers provided via text during the presentation.
As promised the recording of the Live Meeting event is available and the Q&A content is below.
Q&A throughout the meeting was handed by Susan Bradley as they came in. A huge thank you to her, as this is not an easy job.
Question: Multiple Email Addresses ?
Answer:
http://sbs.seandaniel.com/2008/10/hosting-multiple-domains-on-sbs.html
Follow that blog post for info on multiple email addresses in a SBS
2008 domain
Question: I get the following message from some clients. “Critical Event Notification” “Title: Percent Free Disk Space, Source:
Performance Threshold, Description: The free disk space on this computer has dropped below its notification for low disk space threshold.” I can I switch this off for certain clients or drives?
Answer: I hope this in a test setting as this is telling you your drive space is very low. In the notification window, in the event alerts, untick the drive notification box
Question: When you remove the email quota on the user template does it take effect immediately or do you need to stop/start the IS service for it to take effect?
Answer: You stumped me. I will have to check with Eriq and have him blog the answer as a follow up. I don’t think IIS needs to be restarted but I’m not sure.
Question: There seems to be 3 ways to assign permissions. User Roles, Security Groups and OUs. what are the advantages disadvantages of using each?
Answer: User Roles are in the SBS console, Security Groups and OUs are more native. in SBS will want to focus on the User Role, as it uses Security Groups to control a lot of stuff. OUs are good for customizing Group Policy which is beyond the scope of the user role.
Question: When you remove the email quota on the user template does it take effect immediately or do you need to stop/start the IS service for it to take effect?
Answer: Answer back: I was reminded by Eriq that we’ve nuked ourselves during the beta without doing a iisreset and quotas were changed
Question: Can you export & import custom user roles?
Answer: Great question. Don’t know but we’ll follow up and get an answer on the Thirdtier.net blog.
Question: Were are public folders shown? Is it straighforward to mail enable them?
Answer: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa997560.aspx
http://exchangepedia.com/blog/2007/06/how-to-add-email-addresses-to-public.html there are several pages/blogs to assist in the process of mail enabling public folders.
Question: In example for sales address does it let you reply as sales?
Answer: You will still need to look for a third party tool in Outlook to reply as different email senders
Question: What’s the difference between Accepted domain and a Remote domain?
Answer:
http://blogs.technet.com/sbs/archive/2008/09/25/how-to-configure-non-authoritative-accepted-domains-in-sbs-2008-exchange-2007.aspx there is a good overview of it here. Accepted domains are your approved domains for relay. Non authoritative domains are ones that you need to add to allow relay
Question: Is send as sales@distru,com done the same way as 2003 ??
Answer: I need a follow up question, do you mean to a distribution list or so that a specific person can respond? You can set up a mail enabled distribution list inside the Group console.
Question: Is that user role resetting a bug RWW computer blank, seems pointless if you have lots over users you would need to review each one and reconfigure it ?
Answer: The user role wizard resetting is/was the intent of the developers. They don’t consider it a bug
Question: Are user driving mapping still done using bat files when they login.
Answer: No. I (Susan) recommend using Group policy preference now and not bat/script drive mappings.
Question: This is a question I keep asking without getting a response even from Microsoft. Here it is; When will the french version of SBS
2008 be available since my client base is mosty french here in Quebec, Canada?
Answer: The French version has been released and is on TechNet.
Eriq/Amy have connections with folks in Canada and will follow up on the blog to see if it’s out in the distribution channel.
Question: Recommended tool to handle the sales email question.
Answer: I think it’s one of the mapilab products, we’ll blog it
Question: In Exchange 2007 what is the recommend MAX mailbox Size.
Default is 2gb but what is the best MAX size before curruption ?
Answer: IMHO it’s less of an Exchange issue and more of what Outlook
2007 can handle. Exchange can handle terrabytes. IMHO it’s Outlook that drives the size of the mailbox.
Question: Is there a default logon script for SBS users in 2008?
Answer: No. Logon scripts are honestly not the way to do drive mapping anymore
Question: How about 13gb !
Answer: Outlook 2007 will probably choke
Question: Mailbox size is not a corruption issue, it is a performance issue. Outlook will slow down if you go above 2GB, especially above 4GB.
Answer: Exactly.
Question: Exchange 2007 work with GFI MailArchiver?
Answer: http://kbase.gfi.com/showarticle.asp?id=KBID003086 yup
Question: One last one, when is the next SP sechedule for ?
Question: I’ve just read this comment from another tech: 1. Server 08 Has a Vista backbone, and all of the quirks and nusances that go along with being beta tested on as a customer. (shame on you MS) 2. Vista is an IT Professionals nightmare. With 7 different flavors of the same OS, all but three are essentially “home versions” that have various functionality hollowed out of them. This was done in an effort to gouge you into buying Ultimate, Business, or Enterprise additions which are the equivalent of XP Pro, respectively. Unless you have one of these 3, you can give up the hopes of remote desktop sessions, or having the ability to join a domain. 3. Vista and XP do not play nice together. Simply put….Not compatible in a networked enviroment. 4.
Unless your client has A shiny New 08 server, with all workstations being Vista Business, and some pretty deep pockets to pay you for reaserch and Admin time…. Do the smart thing and walk away. What are your comments on 2008?
Answer: That’s a lot to comment on. I won’t put old os on new hardware. Win2k8 is compatible in a network environment as is Vista.
I’m running it here. That’s a blog post to follow up on if you don’t mind
Question: Is SBS 2008 Unleashed available on electronic media as a PDF?
Answer: Eriq is answering
Question: do you recommend using Outlook 2007 in cached mode on the local network? are there disadvantages to using it?
Answer: I recommend it. Local junk mail filter works and if on the off chance the server is having issue you have access to your mailbox.
it’s always on in my networks
Question: first SBS2003 I spent hours on basic bugs,, problemley wont migrate untill first maint released.
>Answer: SBS 2008 is going to a rollup patch method so that updates will come out similar to how Exchange rollup updates come out now
Question: If a mailbox is over 4-GB to increase performance do you recommended killing off the OST?
Answer: No I recommend archiving emails
Question: Is there anyway to bypass the 4gb Ram requirment, none of our test boxes can support it..
Answer: Min it can go is 3.6 gig. Buy from Frys or Ebay.
Question: how do I get on your mailing list? Steven Brown (VA)
Answer: www.thirdtier.net register there
Question: Your hardware recommendations for sbs – 50 users
Answer: how much email… use the exchange server size to drive the size of the server. def greater than 12gig of ram
Question: Is sue part of third tier
Answer: Amy, Eriq and Dave are the technical ones
Question: Which email client should MAC users run?
Answer: Eriq — Entourage 2008
Question: Is there a Transitions pack to get out of SBS/EBS?
Answer: There will be whitepapers on migration, it’s not needed to do a software ‘unlock’ anymore
Question: Microsoft employees had a podcast for sbs2003, do you know if they will do that this time too?
Answer: Great question. I will personally ask myself as I loved those.
Managing SBS 2008: Q&A
Posted by: | CommentsThank you everyone for attending and saying such nice things about our presentation. You have encouraged us and so we’re actively planning the rest of the series. Tune in here for dates and times.
In part 1 of our series on Managing SBS 2008, we covered User Management, User Roles, Adding Exchange email aliases, Adding addition email domains and creating a Transport rule. Time was then rounded out with an active Q&A session that continued beyond the end of the presentation and has given us some great ideas for future content in this series. At the end of the presentation, we expanded upon many of the answers provided via text during the presentation.
As promised the recording of the Live Meeting event is available and the Q&A content is below.
Q&A throughout the meeting was handed by Susan Bradley as they came in. A huge thank you to her, as this is not an easy job.
Question: Multiple Email Addresses ?
Answer:
http://sbs.seandaniel.com/2008/10/hosting-multiple-domains-on-sbs.html
Follow that blog post for info on multiple email addresses in a SBS
2008 domain
Question: I get the following message from some clients. “Critical Event Notification” “Title: Percent Free Disk Space, Source:
Performance Threshold, Description: The free disk space on this computer has dropped below its notification for low disk space threshold.” I can I switch this off for certain clients or drives?
Answer: I hope this in a test setting as this is telling you your drive space is very low. In the notification window, in the event alerts, untick the drive notification box
Question: When you remove the email quota on the user template does it take effect immediately or do you need to stop/start the IS service for it to take effect?
Answer: You stumped me. I will have to check with Eriq and have him blog the answer as a follow up. I don’t think IIS needs to be restarted but I’m not sure.
Question: There seems to be 3 ways to assign permissions. User Roles, Security Groups and OUs. what are the advantages disadvantages of using each?
Answer: User Roles are in the SBS console, Security Groups and OUs are more native. in SBS will want to focus on the User Role, as it uses Security Groups to control a lot of stuff. OUs are good for customizing Group Policy which is beyond the scope of the user role.
Question: When you remove the email quota on the user template does it take effect immediately or do you need to stop/start the IS service for it to take effect?
Answer: Answer back: I was reminded by Eriq that we’ve nuked ourselves during the beta without doing a iisreset and quotas were changed
Question: Can you export & import custom user roles?
Answer: Great question. Don’t know but we’ll follow up and get an answer on the Thirdtier.net blog.
Question: Were are public folders shown? Is it straighforward to mail enable them?
Answer: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa997560.aspx
http://exchangepedia.com/blog/2007/06/how-to-add-email-addresses-to-public.html there are several pages/blogs to assist in the process of mail enabling public folders.
Question: In example for sales address does it let you reply as sales?
Answer: You will still need to look for a third party tool in Outlook to reply as different email senders
Question: What’s the difference between Accepted domain and a Remote domain?
Answer:
http://blogs.technet.com/sbs/archive/2008/09/25/how-to-configure-non-authoritative-accepted-domains-in-sbs-2008-exchange-2007.aspx there is a good overview of it here. Accepted domains are your approved domains for relay. Non authoritative domains are ones that you need to add to allow relay
Question: Is send as sales@distru,com done the same way as 2003 ??
Answer: I need a follow up question, do you mean to a distribution list or so that a specific person can respond? You can set up a mail enabled distribution list inside the Group console.
Question: Is that user role resetting a bug RWW computer blank, seems pointless if you have lots over users you would need to review each one and reconfigure it ?
Answer: The user role wizard resetting is/was the intent of the developers. They don’t consider it a bug
Question: Are user driving mapping still done using bat files when they login.
Answer: No. I (Susan) recommend using Group policy preference now and not bat/script drive mappings.
Question: This is a question I keep asking without getting a response even from Microsoft. Here it is; When will the french version of SBS
2008 be available since my client base is mosty french here in Quebec, Canada?
Answer: The French version has been released and is on TechNet.
Eriq/Amy have connections with folks in Canada and will follow up on the blog to see if it’s out in the distribution channel.
Question: Recommended tool to handle the sales email question.
Answer: I think it’s one of the mapilab products, we’ll blog it
Question: In Exchange 2007 what is the recommend MAX mailbox Size.
Default is 2gb but what is the best MAX size before curruption ?
Answer: IMHO it’s less of an Exchange issue and more of what Outlook
2007 can handle. Exchange can handle terrabytes. IMHO it’s Outlook that drives the size of the mailbox.
Question: Is there a default logon script for SBS users in 2008?
Answer: No. Logon scripts are honestly not the way to do drive mapping anymore
Question: How about 13gb !
Answer: Outlook 2007 will probably choke
Question: Mailbox size is not a corruption issue, it is a performance issue. Outlook will slow down if you go above 2GB, especially above 4GB.
Answer: Exactly.
Question: Exchange 2007 work with GFI MailArchiver?
Answer: http://kbase.gfi.com/showarticle.asp?id=KBID003086 yup
Question: One last one, when is the next SP sechedule for ?
Question: I’ve just read this comment from another tech: 1. Server 08 Has a Vista backbone, and all of the quirks and nusances that go along with being beta tested on as a customer. (shame on you MS) 2. Vista is an IT Professionals nightmare. With 7 different flavors of the same OS, all but three are essentially “home versions” that have various functionality hollowed out of them. This was done in an effort to gouge you into buying Ultimate, Business, or Enterprise additions which are the equivalent of XP Pro, respectively. Unless you have one of these 3, you can give up the hopes of remote desktop sessions, or having the ability to join a domain. 3. Vista and XP do not play nice together. Simply put….Not compatible in a networked enviroment. 4.
Unless your client has A shiny New 08 server, with all workstations being Vista Business, and some pretty deep pockets to pay you for reaserch and Admin time…. Do the smart thing and walk away. What are your comments on 2008?
Answer: That’s a lot to comment on. I won’t put old os on new hardware. Win2k8 is compatible in a network environment as is Vista.
I’m running it here. That’s a blog post to follow up on if you don’t mind
Question: Is SBS 2008 Unleashed available on electronic media as a PDF?
Answer: Eriq is answering
Question: do you recommend using Outlook 2007 in cached mode on the local network? are there disadvantages to using it?
Answer: I recommend it. Local junk mail filter works and if on the off chance the server is having issue you have access to your mailbox.
it’s always on in my networks
Question: first SBS2003 I spent hours on basic bugs,, problemley wont migrate untill first maint released.
>Answer: SBS 2008 is going to a rollup patch method so that updates will come out similar to how Exchange rollup updates come out nowQuestion: If a mailbox is over 4-GB to increase performance do you recommended killing off the OST?
Answer: No I recommend archiving emails
Question: Is there anyway to bypass the 4gb Ram requirment, none of our test boxes can support it..
Answer: Min it can go is 3.6 gig. Buy from Frys or Ebay.
Question: how do I get on your mailing list? Steven Brown (VA)
Answer: www.thirdtier.net register there
Question: Your hardware recommendations for sbs – 50 users
Answer: how much email… use the exchange server size to drive the size of the server. def greater than 12gig of ram
Question: Is sue part of third tier
Answer: Amy, Eriq and Dave are the technical ones
Question: Which email client should MAC users run?
Answer: Eriq — Entourage 2008
Question: Is there a Transitions pack to get out of SBS/EBS?
Answer: There will be whitepapers on migration, it’s not needed to do a software ‘unlock’ anymore
Question: Microsoft employees had a podcast for sbs2003, do you know if they will do that this time too?
Answer: Great question. I will personally ask myself as I loved those.
November 25 Webcast Recording Now Available
Posted by: | CommentsThanks to everyone who was able to join Amy and Eriq for the SBS 2008 Tips and Tricks Part 1 webinar on November 25. The recording of the webinar is now available for offline viewing. Download the ZIP file (32MB), extract it to your computer, and open the ReplayMeeting.htm file to view the recording. The recording plays best in Internet Explorer 6 or 7. A transcript of the Q&A from the session will be available in a later post.
Look for our next webinar in December 2008!
—
So who wrote this blog and what do they do for a living anyway?
We’re Third Tier. We provide advanced Third Tier support for IT Professionals.
Get Support
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Enabling SMTP Logging in SBS 2008
Posted by: | CommentsI’m a huge proponent of enabling SMTP logging on servers for diagnostic and troubleshooting purposes. Every SBS 2003 server I’ve touched over the last few years I’ve enabled SMTP logging just so that when the inevitable question “why didn’t so-and-so get this e-mail” comes, I’ve got a starting point to go look through.
As with many aspects of SBS 2008, SMTP logging is handled differently in the new SBS solution. There are several places you have to go to enable logging, but fortunately, they’re all in the Exchange Management Console.
Because Exchange 2007 handles SMTP though multiple connectors, you have to enable logging in each of the connectors. In addition to having separate send and receive connectors, there are also multiple receive connectors. Also, SMTP logging is a binary option. You either have full SMTP logging on a connector, or you have none. The following steps walk you through the process of enabling SMTP logging on the Internet Send and Internet Receive connectors in SBS 2008.
- Open the Exchange Management Console from the Start menu.
- Expand the Organization Configuration and select the Hub Transport.
- Click on the Send Connectors tab.
- Right-click on the Windows SBS Internet Send servername item and select Properties.
- From the Protocol Logging Level drop-down menu, select Verbose.
- Click Apply, then click OK.
- Expand Server Configuration and select Hub Transport.
- Click on the Receive Connectors tab.
- Right-click on the Windows SBS Internet Receive servername item and select Properties.
- From the Protocol Logging Level drop-down menu, select Verbose.
- Click Apply, then click OK.
- Repeat the process for the Default servername item and the Windows SBS Fax Sharepoint Receive servername item if desired.
- Close the Exchange Management Console.
By default, the SMTP logs are stored in C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\TransportRoles\Logs\ProtocolLog\. This folder path is specified in the Exchange Management Console under Server Configuration, servername Properties, Log Settings. A separate folder exists under the ProtocolLog folder for SmtpSend and SmptReceive. You can, if you choose, move each of the log folder locations individually to alternate locations on the server.
SMBNation: SBS 2008 Training Fest Nov 25th
Posted by: | CommentsHarry Brelsford of SMBNation fame and Phil Elder of MPECS, Inc will be doing a live demonstration of setting up a client for SBS 2008 at 8:00am pacific time.
https://www119.livemeeting.com/lrs/8000064431/Registration.aspx?pageName=5zxxxpp3jcg3q529
It will take place immediately prior to our Managing SBS 2008 Tips & Tricks, Part 1 which is happening at 10:00am pacific time. Where we will discuss managing users, Exchange and backup.
https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/mvp/join?id=QCNJ43&role=attend&pw=B5%5B-.kN%5Ep
Add to my Outlook Calendar:
https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/mvp/meetingICS?id=QCNJ43&role=attend&pw=B5%5B-.kN%5Ep&i=i.ics
Call to Action: Get signed up for both and jump start your SBS 2008 training!
—
So who wrote this blog and what do they do for a living anyway?
We’re Third Tier. We provide advanced Third Tier support for IT Professionals.
Get Support
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIN
Welcome David Shackelford – Exchange MVP
Posted by: | CommentsWe are pleased to announce that David Shackelford, Exchange MVP, is providing remote support services with Third Tier. Dave will be staffing the Exchange service queue. Dave is also an expert in Active Directory and has taught Cisco router courses at his local University.
Exchange is a critical application for many businesses. When the flow of email stops so does business. As every IT Professional knows, Exchange is a complex application that can be difficult to diagnose and repair. David brings depth of knowledge to IT Professionals supporting Exchange.
David has been providing remote support services to his customers world-wide from his home in the State of Washington. He is a speaker, author and well known participant in the Exchange and Small Business communities. You can read David’s full biography here.
Welcome to Third Tier, David!
Managing SBS 2008 Webinar November 25
Posted by: | CommentsThirdTier founders Amy Babinchak and Eriq Neale will be hosting a webinar on Tuesday, November 25, 2008, at 1pm EST entitled Managing SBS 2008 – Tips and Tricks Part 1. The one-hour webinar will be available through LiveMeeting, and a recording of the webinar will be available following the session. Topics on the agenda include managing user objects including User Roles, working with SBS Backup, and common user-focused Exchange 2007 tasks. No signup is necessary to attend the webinar.
When: Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008 1:00 PM (EST)
Scheduled to Occur: Once
Duration: 2:00
Amy Babinchak and Eriq Neale have invited you to attend an online meeting using Microsoft Office Live Meeting.
https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/mvp/join?id=QCNJ43&role=attend&pw=B5%5B-.kN%5Ep
Meeting time: Nov 25, 2008 1:00 PM (EST)
Add to my Outlook Calendar:
https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/mvp/meetingICS?id=QCNJ43&role=attend&pw=B5%5B-.kN%5Ep&i=i.ics
—
So who wrote this blog and what do they do for a living anyway?
We’re Third Tier. We provide advanced Third Tier support for IT Professionals.
Get Support
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIN
Guest Blog at Network World
Posted by: | CommentsEriq Neale will be hosting a blog at Network World through the month of November, 2008, talking about the SBS 2008 product. You can see the blog at http://www.networkworld.com/community/neale.
—
So who wrote this blog and what do they do for a living anyway?
We’re Third Tier. We provide advanced Third Tier support for IT Professionals.
Get Support
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIN

