a Single Point of Contact

Came across an interesting application by AstraSync forwarded to me by a colleague.  At $49 a year per user this seems like a great bargain if it works as advertised.  Unfortunately I don’t have a BlackBerry to try out the software.

Highlights:

• Bi-directional over the air synchronization of email, calendar and contacts
• Works with MS Exchange, Fusion, CommuniGate Pro, Zimbra, FirstClass and Kerio
• Download over the air
• Runs silently in the background on the BlackBerry Smartphone
• Users can select the data they wish to synchronize
• ActiveSync protocol licensed from Microsoft
• Synchronizes over Wi-Fi or the cellular network
• Volume pricing available
• No Blackberry Enterprise Server required
• FREE 7 day trial!!

Read about it and try it for yourself…

Share your experience if you decide to try it out.

Matt :: Jun.05.2009 :: Exchange, Microsoft, Mobile :: No Comments »

Overview

The Planning Tool for Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 is a Windows Presentation Foundation standalone client application. The Planning Tool Wizard asks interview questions about features that the system administrator is interested in enabling in the Enterprise, as well as information about the Enterprise.
The Planning Tool uses the information gathered from the administrator to dynamically draw a recommended topology for every site that the administrator identifies. Additionally, the Planning Tool calculates the types and amounts of hardware needed across the entire Enterprise, as well as for each site. The Planning Tool also provides links to documentation of the specific planning and deployment tasks that the administrator will need in order to deploy the topology.

Click here to download…

Matt :: Jun.05.2009 :: 2007R2, Microsoft, OCS :: No Comments »

This download includes the Active Directory Schema Changes Reference, which provides information about the changes that Microsoft Exchange Server makes to the Active Directory schema when it is installed. The Active Directory Schema Changes Reference includes changes made to Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2007 SP1, Exchange Server 2007, and Exchange Server 2003.

Click here to download…

Matt :: Jun.02.2009 :: 2007, 2010, AD, Exchange, Microsoft :: No Comments »

Rui Silva over at the UCspotting blog on TechNet wrote up a great post (sprinkled with bits of humor) about an issue where a simple comma can make all the difference.  I won’t spoil the story for you, but the good news is that it has a happy ending.

Click here to read his post…

Matt :: May.28.2009 :: 2007R2, Microsoft, OCS :: No Comments »

I had some free time today to catch up on some reading and was reading a post, which took me to another post (so on and so on) where I came across a posting on  by Jamie Ryan, CIO of Aspect.  He talks about some real-world benefits of deploying OCS at Aspect that is a good read.  I always enjoy hearing from executives on the benefits of deploying a Unified Communications platform. 

Click here to read Jamie’s post…

Click here to read Alex Lewis’s post about his chat with Jamie…

Matt :: May.28.2009 :: Microsoft, OCS :: No Comments »

This update will come down via Windows Update but if you want to direct download the service pack here are the links you’ll need and some you may want.

Direct download links:

• Windows Server 2008 SP 2 – Five Language Standalone for ia64-based Systems (KB948465)
• Windows Server 2008 SP 2 and Windows Vista SP 2 – Five Language Standalone (KB948465)
• Windows Server 2008 SP 2 and Windows Vista SP 2 – Five Language Standalone DVD ISO (KB948465)
• Windows Server 2008 SP 2 and Windows Vista SP 2 – Five Language Standalone for x64-based systems (KB948465)

Other links to checkout:

• Read the announcement from the Windows Vista team…
• Read the announcement from the Windows Server team…
• Notable changes in Windows Server SP2 and Windows Vista SP2…
• Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit…
• Hotfix and Security Update List…

Matt :: May.27.2009 :: 2008, Microsoft, Server, Vista, Windows :: 1 Comment »

Having trouble with Windows Update?  This tool is being offered because an inconsistency was found in the Windows servicing store which may prevent the successful installation of future updates, service packs, and software.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821

Article includes download links for 32-bit and 64-bit.

Matt :: May.27.2009 :: 2008R2, 7, Microsoft, Server, Windows :: No Comments »

To keep on top of my latest postings you can now follow me on Twitter.  Every time I post or update an article to my site, Twitter will let you know.

http://www.twitter.com/aspoc

Matt :: May.26.2009 :: News :: No Comments »

This one addresses a long outstanding issue with running Exchange 2007 SP1 on Windows Server 2008.

Click here to get more information on installing Exchange 2007 SP1 on Windows 2008…

Excerpt from the MS Exchange Team:

1. KB 969690 – We have fixed the bug introduced in Update Rollup 7 which caused the sender of the Delivery Status Notification (DSN) to be unresolved.
2. Disable kernel mode authentication in Windows Server 2008 for CAS servers – As documented here, it was required to manually take the additional step to configure the CAS servers running Windows Server 2008 to disable kernel mode authentication. Starting this rollup, the installer will configure this for you.
3. X-Header promotion to named properties- Change to the way X-headers are promoted to named properties. More on this in Jason Nelson’s blog post Named Properties, X-Headers, and You.
4. KB 961606 – We have fixed a bug where Outlook Web Access (OWA) users may find that the font size of plain text messages is extremely small on third-party Web browsers.

Click here to download the rollup…

Click here to read the MS Exchange Team’s post…

Matt :: May.20.2009 :: 2007, 2008, Exchange, Microsoft, Server :: 1 Comment »

If you are testing OCS with Exchange 2010 you’ll want to get this update.

This cumulative update fixes the following issues:

• 971078 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971078/ ) An Automatic Update download is not initiated on a computer that is running Office Communicator 2007 R2 build 3.5.6907.9
• 970057 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/970057/ ) Exchange Connection error when you use Office Communicator 2007 R2 with your mailbox in Exchange Server 2010: "Communicator could not retrieve calendar or Out of Office information from Exchange Web Services"

UPDATE: I’m not sure why, but the link to KB970057 is not working.  To get some more insight on the Exchange 2010 fix see Aaron’s post on the subject.

Click here to read the KB article (971083)…

Click here to download the rollup…

Matt :: May.19.2009 :: 2007, 2010, Exchange, Microsoft, OCS :: 1 Comment »