I have to admit I didn’t think I’d see this day. But MEC, the Microsoft Exchange Conference, is returning after a 10 year absence, according to Microsoft’s Michael Atalla, Director, Exchange Product Management.

If you’ve heard of the mysterious MEC, the rumors are true. A dedicated conference centered around Microsoft’s flagship messaging product. In depth technical sessions from Microsoft product group members giving you the very best bang for your conference buck. And a great chance for some social interaction with other messaging professionals.

I firmly believe that MEC is by far the best conference for a messaging professional using Microsoft products.

For more details, see the product group’s blog post at http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2012/03/06/mec-is-back.aspx. And, see the website www.MECisback.com.

I’ll see you there!

News

Premier

OpsVault – Operate and Optimize IT http://www.opsvault.com/

Microsoft Premier Support UK – Site Home – TechNet Blogs http://blogs.technet.com/b/mspremuk/

Antigen & Forefront

http://blogs.technet.com/forefront

http://blogs.technet.com/fssnerds

Exchange

http://msexchangeteam.com/

http://blogs.technet.com/msukucc

http://blogs.technet.com/b/msonline/

http://blogs.technet.com/b/msonline/

Hosted Messaging Collaboration

None

Lync, Office Communication Server & LiveMeeting

NextHop – Site Home – TechNet Blogs http://blogs.technet.com/b/nexthop/

http://communicatorteam.com

Outlook

http://blogs.msdn.com/outlook/

Other

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/office/ocs/ee465814.aspx

http://blogs.technet.com/themasterblog

Documents

Antigen & Forefront

None

Exchange

1. Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Install Guide Templates You can use these templates as a starting point for formally documenting your organization’s server build procedures for servers that will have Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 server roles installed on them. http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=17206
2. Migrating Exchange from HMC 4.5 to Exchange Server 2010 SP2 This file contains a white paper and PowerShell scripts to provide the recommended and supported migration path from HMC 4.5 to Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 SP2. The steps in this guide may also be helpful when migrating from non-HMC environments that have configured some form of multi-tenancy. http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=28714

Hosted Messaging Collaboration

None

Lync, Office Communication Server & LiveMeeting

1. Microsoft Office 365 Service Descriptions and Service Level Agreements for Dedicated Subscription Plans Microsoft Office 365 for enterprises provides powerful cloud-based solutions for e-mail, collaboration, instant messaging and web conferencing. The Office 365 dedicated plans deliver these services from a highly reliable network of Microsoft data centers on servers systems dedicated to individual customer-enabling customers to use the latest productivity applications while reducing IT overhead. http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=18128
2. Unified Communications Phones and Peripherals Datasheets These datasheets list the phones and peripheral devices that are qualified to display the “Optimized for Microsoft Lync” logo. http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=16857
3. Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack for Partner Hosting Deployment Guide Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack for Partner Hosting Deployment Guide. The Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack for Partner Hosting is an extension of Microsoft Lync Server 2010 software that is designed to allow service providers and system integrators to customize a Lync Server 2010 deployment and offer it as a service to their customers. This guide describes how to deploy and configure a basic architecture. http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=28587
4. Live Meeting-To-Lync Transition Resources Resources included in this download package are designed to support your organization’s Live Meeting Service to Lync (Server or Online) transition planning. This download will be updated with additional resources as available. http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=26494

Outlook

1. Microsoft Office for Mac 2011: Training Tutorials and Videos The Office for Mac 2011 training downloads include Portable Document Format (.pdf) and PowerPoint (.pptx) versions of all Office 2011 tutorials and videos. To access the same training online, visit www.microsoft.com/mac/how-to. http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=19790
2. Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft Outlook Standards Documentation The Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft Outlook standards documentation describes how Exchange and Outlook support industry messaging standards and Requests for Comments (RFCs) documents about iCalendar, Internet Message Access Protocol – Version 4 (IMAP4), and Post Office Protocol – Version 3 (POP3). http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=13800

Other

None

Downloads

Antigen & Forefront

None

Exchange

1. Update Rollup 6 for Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 3 (KB2608656) http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=28751
2. Microsoft Online Services Migration Tools (64 bit) Use this tool to support migration of Microsoft Exchange to Microsoft Online Services. http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=7013
3. Microsoft Online Services Migration Tools (32 bit) Use this tool to support migration of Microsoft Exchange to Microsoft Online Services. http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=5015
4. Microsoft Exchange PST Capture Microsoft Exchange PST Capture is used to discover and import .pst files into Exchange Server or Exchange Online http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=28767

Hosted Messaging Collaboration

None

Lync, Office Communication Server & LiveMeeting

1. Lync 2010 Hotfix KB 2670498 (64 bit) http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=14490
2. Lync 2010 Hotfix KB 2670498 (32 bit) http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=25055
3. VHD Test Drive – Lync Server 2010 VHD (Dev) This download comes as a pre-configured set of VHD’s. This download enables you to fully evaluate the Microsoft Lync 2010 and Microsoft Exchange 2010 developer platform including the Microsoft Lync 2010 SDK, the Exchange Web Services Managed API 1.1 as well as the Microsoft Lync Server 2010 SDK and the Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 3.0. http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=28350
4. Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Hotfix KB 968802 http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=19178
5. Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Group Chat Hotfix KB 2647090 http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=12180
6. Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2 Hotfix KB 2647093 http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=21547

Outlook

1. Microsoft Outlook Social Connector Provider for Facebook Connect your Facebook account to the Outlook Social Connector and stay up to the minute with the people in your network by accessing everything from e-mail threads to status updates in one single, centralized view. http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=5039
2. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 for Microsoft Office Outlook (Outlook Client) Install Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook, also known as the CRM 2011 Outlook client. Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook enables access to your Microsoft Dynamics CRM data through Outlook. http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=27821
3. Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter (KB2597098) This update provides the Junk E-mail Filter in Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 with a more current definition of which e-mail messages should be considered junk e-mail. http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=28602

Other

Events/Webcasts

1. Exchange 2010 Microsoft Certified Masters (MCM) Training & Certification Overview 15 February 2012 09:00 Time zone: (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) Communication drives business. Whether onsite or in the cloud, Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 is a critical infrastructure to ensure availability and security of an organization’s email, calendar, and contacts. Microsoft Certified Masters (MCMs) who are certified on Exchange Server 2010 are specialists in the design, migration, implementation, and optimization of the mail experience across multiple devices-which in turn helps lower messaging costs and helps ensure availability and security. All Microsoft Certified Masters on Exchange Server 2010 become an immediate part of an exclusive community of experts that includes fellow graduates and members of the Exchange Server product group as well as valuable resources to which they can contribute and from which they can draw the collective knowledge of that community at any time. At this event, MCM Program Management will provide a detailed overview for potential candidates and their sponsors. https://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032504857&culture=en-GB

New KBs

Antigen & Forefront

None

Microsoft Forefront Online Protection for Exchange

1. How to troubleshoot Higher Risk Delivery Pool email delivery issues in Forefront Online Protection for Exchange http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2655834

Exchange

Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise Edition

1. Event 1005 or 1013 is logged when you try to start an HTTP resource in an Exchange Server 2003 cluster http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2667815

Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2

1. The Information Store service does not start as expected in Exchange Server 2003 SP2 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2667794

Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition

1. How to troubleshoot public folder replication problems in Exchange 2000 Server and in Exchange Server 2003 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/842273
2. Stop error code 0x000000D1 when Windows Server 2003 is under a heavy network load http://support.microsoft.com/kb/842840

Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Enterprise Edition

1. A SCOM 2007 SP1 server does not send out alerts when certain issues occur in an Exchange Server 2007 organization http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2633801
2. A meeting reminder is set unexpectedly when you send an email message to an Exchange Server user http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945854

Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 3

1. The week numbers displayed in OWA do not match the week numbers displayed in Outlook for English users and French users in an Exchange Server 2007 environment http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2289607
2. “0x80041606” error message when you perform a prefix search by using Outlook in online mode in an Exchange Server 2007 environment http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2498852
3. An arrow icon does not appear after you change the email message subject by using OWA in an Exchange Server 2007 SP3 environment http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2499841
4. A “System.ArgumentOutOfRangeException” exception occurs when you click the “Scheduling Assistant” tab in Exchange Server 2007 OWA http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2523695
5. Users in a source forest cannot view the free/busy information of mailboxes in a target forest when the cross-forest Availability service is configured between two Exchange Server 2007 forests http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2545080
6. Applications or services that depend on the Remote Registry service may stop working in an Exchange Server 2007 environment http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2571391
7. The Microsoft Exchange Information Store service may crash after you run the Test-ExchangeSearch cmdlet in an Exchange Server 2007 environment http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2572010
8. A journaling report remains in the submission queue when an email message is delivered successfully in an Exchange Server 2007 environment http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2591655
9. The PidLidClipEnd property of a recurring meeting request has an incorrect value in an Exchange Server 2007 environment http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2598980
10. An Outlook Anywhere client loses connection when a GC server restarts in an Exchange Server 2007 environment http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2616427
11. Journal reports are expired or lost when the Microsoft Exchange Transport service is restarted in an Exchange Server 2007 environment http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2617784
12. Certain changes to address lists may not be updated in an Exchange Server 2007 environment http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2626217
13. The Exchange IMAP4 service may stop responding on an Exchange Server 2007 Client Access server when users access mailboxes that are hosted on Exchange Server 2003 servers http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2629790
14. The update tracking information option does not work in an Exchange Server 2007 environment http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2641312
15. The reseed process is unsuccessful on the SCR passive node when the circular logging feature is enabled in an Exchange Server 2007 environment http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2653334
16. An Exchange Server 2007 Client Access server responds slowly or stops responding when users try to synchronize Exchange ActiveSync devices with their mailboxes http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2656040
17. The “PidLidClipEnd” property of a no ending recurring meeting request is set to an incorrect value in an Exchange Server 2007 environment http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2658613
18. The Microsoft Exchange Information Store service may stop responding on an Exchange Server 2007 server http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914533
19. The scroll bar does not work in OWA when there are more than 22 all-day event calendar items in an Exchange Server 2007 user’s calendar http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976977

Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Coexistence

1. How to extend the Active Directory schema for the Hierarchical Address Book (HAB) on an Exchange Server 2010 server http://support.microsoft.com/kb/973788

Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Enterprise

1. The Seniority Index feature in the Hierarchical Address Book does not work as expected in Exchange Server 2010 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2448288

Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Standard

1. Exchange Server 2010 databases grow very large when the Calendar Snapshot feature is enabled http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2661071
2. Error message when you try to install Exchange Server 2010 SP2: “AuthorizationManager check failed” http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2668686

Lync, Office Communication Server & LiveMeeting

Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Group Chat client

1. Description of the update for the Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Group Chat client: January, 2012 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2647089
2. The “Send an Instant Message” menu does not start Office Communicator on a terminal server in an Office Communications Server 2007 R2, Group Chat client http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2653953

Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Group Chat server

1. Description of the cumulative update for Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Group Chat server: January, 2012 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2647090
2. The Channel service stops when a user signs in to a Group Chat client in Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Group Chat http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2647095

Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Standard Edition

1. Description of the cumulative update for Office Communications Server 2007 R2, Unified Communications Managed API 2.0 Core Redist 64-bit: January, 2012 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2647091

Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2

1. Description of the cumulative update package for Communicator 2007 R2: January 2012 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2647093
2. The file name and icon do not display when you send files in Office Communicator 2007 R2 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2653950

Outlook

Microsoft Office Outlook 2003

1. Description of the Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter update: January 10, 2012 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2597098
2. Search Folders created in Outlook do not appear in Outlook Web Access http://support.microsoft.com/kb/831400

Microsoft Outlook 2010

1. Outlook 2010: How to troubleshoot crashes in Outlook http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2632425
2. An email message is stuck in the Microsoft Outlook 2010 Outbox. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2663435
3. “Unsupported folder class” error when Outlook starts http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2668932

Microsoft Lync 2010 Attendant Training

Lync Attendant is an intuitive call management application that helps you manage large numbers of simultaneous calls. This training course covers the following Microsoft Lync 2010 Attendant features:

• Using the Contacts List
• Understanding Call Controls
• Making and Receiving Calls
• Managing Multiple Conversations
• Setting up Team-Call Groups
• How to Park and Retrieve Calls

Lync Attendant is an intuitive call management application that helps you manage large numbers of simultaneous calls. Lync 2010 Attendant runs in a full screen window to provide a streamlined desktop experience.

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=11472

Microsoft Lync 2010 Delegate Training

This course covers features of Microsoft Lync 2010 that enable you to schedule meetings on behalf of other people. This training course covers the following Microsoft Lync 2010 Delegate features:

• Delegate Access using Outlook
• Delegate Access in Lync
• Schedule an Online Meeting on Behalf of Your Manager
• Initiate a Meet Now on Behalf of Your Manager
• Start a Conference Call on Behalf of Your Manager

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=1755

Microsoft Lync 2010 Conferencing and Collaboration Training

Learn how to schedule, join, and manage online meetings with Microsoft Lync 2010. This training course covers the following Microsoft Lync 2010 Conferencing  and Collaboration features:

• Get Set up for Online Meetings
• Schedule an Online Meeting
• Deliver a Professional Presentation
• Work with Anyone Anywhere
• Use Microsoft Lync Attendee

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=7606

Microsoft Lync 2010 IM and Presence Training

Learn how to optimize your IM and Presence experience with Microsoft Lync 2010. This training course covers the following Microsoft Lync 2010 features:

• Find the right person
• Connect with people you care about
• Let people know where you are and what you are doing
• Stay on top of your daily communication

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=12715

Microsoft Lync 2010 Web App Training

Learn how to use the Microsoft Lync 2010 Web App to join meetings. This training course covers the following Microsoft Lync 2010 features:

• Lync Web App Overview
• Join Online Meeting Experience
• Invite Additional Participants
• Start Application Sharing
• Obtain Client Side Logs

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=1480

Microsoft Lync 2010 RGS Training

Learn how to use Microsoft Lync 2010 RGS features and functionality. This training course covers the following Microsoft Lync 2010 RGS
features:

• Understanding Response Groups
• Getting to Know Types of Agent Groups
• Using the Anonymization Feature
• Signing in and Accepting a Call
• Navigating the Conversation Window During a Call
• Learn how Lync 2010 Users interact with Response Groups

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=19770

Microsoft Lync 2010 Voice and Video Training

Learn about voice and video with Microsoft Lync 2010. This training course covers the following Microsoft Lync 2010 features:

• Make and Answer a Call
• Manage and Forward Calls
• Follow up on Missed Calls and Voice Mail
• Join a Conference Call
• Join or Accept a Video Call

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=3006

Posters

Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Protocol Workloads Poster

This poster shows each workload in Microsoft Lync Server 2010 communications software, describing relationships, dependencies, flow of information, and certificate requirements.

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=204599

Visio templates

Lync Server 2010

This stencil provides over 125 shapes to help you create a visual presentation of your Lync Server architecture.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=65b5a396-2c87-445d-be23-d324727d19cb

Office Communications Server 2007 and 2007 R2

The Office Communications Server 2007 and 2007 R2 Visio stencils contain icons for Office Communications Server 2007 and 2007 R2 server roles and components.

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=9194

Cheat Sheets

Lync Server 2010 PowerShell Cheat Sheet

A quick reference card for PowerShell use with Lync Server 2010.

http://www.powergui.org/entry.jspa?externalID=3091

Microsoft Lync 2010 Quick Reference Cards

This zipped file contains the quick reference cards for Microsoft Lync 2010. They are all in Microsoft Word, and can be edited as needed. The download contains the following Quick Reference Cards, which are also available separately:

• Microsoft Lync 2010 Attendant Quick Reference Card
• Microsoft Lync 2010 Attendee Quick Reference Card
• Microsoft Lync 2010 Instant Messaging and Presence Quick Reference Card
• Microsoft Lync 2010 Conferencing Quick Reference Card
• Microsoft Lync 2010 Sharing and Collaboration Quick Reference Card
• Microsoft Lync 2010 Voice and Video Quick Reference Card

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=2324