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Just a reminder to everyone still using Exchange 2007 in production environment. We are approaching End of Live for Exchange 2007 on April 11, 2017. Please consider upgrading to newer version very very fast. :)

You can read more at Microsoft Support web site.

Exchange 2007 End of Life Roadmap

Microsoft temporary removed MS13-061 security update for Exchange Server 2013 due to bug with content index. After installation you will notice Content Index for mailbox databases failed and service Microsoft Exchange Search Host Controller service is renamed.

For customers that already deployed updated, Microsoft provided KB article with steps to resolve issue.

Update 2874216 breaks the content index in Exchange Server 2013

After you install update 2874216, you experience the following issues in Microsoft Exchange Server 2013:

The content index (CI) for mailbox databases shows "Failed" on the affected server.
The Microsoft Exchange Search Host Controller service is missing.
You see a new service that is named "Host Controller service for Exchange."

Links:

Update 2874216 breaks the content index in Exchange Server 2013

Exchange 2013 Security Update MS13-061 Status Update

Microsoft just released a bunch of updates for Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Exchange Server 2010 and Exchange Server 2013. It’s important to deploy updates since they contain security fixes.

Update Rollup 11 for Exchange Server 2007 SP3
Update Rollup 7 for Exchange Server 2010 SP2
Update Rollup 2 for Exchange Server 2010 SP3
Exchange Server 2013 RTM CU1 MSRC Security bulletin MS13-061
Exchange Server 2013 RTM CU2 MSRC Security bulletin MS13-061

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS13-061 - Critical

Exchange 2007 Rollups

The Exchange 2007 SP3 RU11 update contains two fixes in addition to the changes for MS13-061. For more details, including a list of fixes included in this update, seeKB 2873746 and the MS13-061 security bulletin. We would like to specifically call out the following fixes which are included in this release:

• 2688667 W3wp.exe consumes excessive CPU resources on Exchange Client Access servers when users open recurring calendar items in mailboxes by using OWA or EWS
• 2852663 The last public folder database on Exchange 2007 cannot be removed after migrating to Exchange 2013

Exchange 2010 Rollups

The Exchange 2010 SP2 RU7 update contains the changes for MS13-061.  For more details, see the MS13-061 security bulletin.

The Exchange 2010 SP3 RU2 update contains fixes for a number of customer-reported and internally found issues, as well as, the changes for MS13-061. For more details, including a list of fixes included in this update, see KB 2866475 and the MS13-061 security bulletin. We would like to specifically call out the following fixes which are included in this release:

• 2861118 W3wp.exe process for the MSExchangeSyncAppPool application pool crashes in an Exchange Server 2010 SP2 or SP3 environment
• 2851419 Slow performance in some databases after Exchange Server 2010 is running continuously for at least 23 days
• 2859596 Event ID 4999 when you use a disclaimer transport rule in an environment that has Update Rollup 1 for Exchange Server 2010 SP3 installed
• 2873477 All messages are stamped by MRM if a deletion tag in a retention policy is configured in an Exchange Server 2010 environment
• 2860037 iOS devices cannot synchronize mailboxes in an Exchange Server 2010 environment
• 2854564 Messaging Records Management 2.0 policy can't be applied in an Exchange Server 2010 environment

Exchange Server 2013

MS13-061 is the first security update released for Exchange Server 2013 utilizing the new servicing model.  MS13-061 is available as a security update for:

• Security Update for Exchange Server 2013 RTM CU1
• Security Update for Exchange Server 2013 RTM CU2

Important: If you have previously deployed CU2, you must ensure you are running build 712.24 in order to apply the security update. For more information about build 712.24, please see Now Available: Updated Release of Exchange 2013 RTM CU2.

External links & downloads:

Update Rollup 11 for Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 3 (KB2873746)

Update Rollup 7 for Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 2 (KB2874216)

Update Rollup 2 For Exchange 2010 SP3 (KB2866475)

Security Update For Exchange Server 2013 CU1 (KB2874216)

Security Update For Exchange Server 2013 CU2 (KB2874216)

Released: Update Rollups for Exchange 2007 & Exchange 2010 and Security Updates for Exchange 2013

Due to issue with the loss of public folder permissions Microsoft updated Exchange Server 2013 CU2 update (build number 15.0.712.24).

If you have already deployed original CU2 (build number 15.0.712.22), you should upgrade to 15.0.712.24 (potential security updates released for CU2 will be dependent on this build).

You can upgrade to CU2 (.24) via GUI interface or execute setup.exe /m:upgrade /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms from command line.

Download: Cumulative Update 2 for Exchange Server 2013 (KB2859928) – Build Number 15.0.712.24

It’s time to start transition to Exchange Server 2013. Today Exchange Team released CU1 which we were all waiting for some time!

Released: Exchange Server 2013 RTM Cumulative Update 1

Download: Cumulative update 1 for Exchange Server 2013 (KB2816900)

You might experience some errors in Application log after Microsoft Exchange RPC Client Access service is started. I saw this issue on servers with only Mailbox Role installed. Although CAS role has also service named Microsoft Exchange RPC Client Access I did not see this issue if CAS Role is installed on server without Mailbox  Role.

All errors are from Performance counter category name MSExchange RpcClientAccess.

Event ID 106, Source MSExchange Common, Level Error:

Log Name:      Application
Source:        MSExchange Common
Date:          24.1.2011 21:25:17
Event ID:      106
Task Category: General
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      ServerName.fqdn.local
Description:
Performance counter updating error. Counter name is RPC Requests, category name is MSExchange RpcClientAccess. Optional code: 3. Exception: The exception thrown is : System.InvalidOperationException: The requested Performance Counter is not a custom counter, it has to be initialized as ReadOnly.
   at System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounter.Initialize()
   at System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounter.set_RawValue(Int64 value)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Diagnostics.ExPerformanceCounter.set_RawValue(Int64 value)
Last worker process info : System.UnauthorizedAccessException: Access to the registry key 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ExchangeServer\v14\Transport' is denied.
   at Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKey.Win32Error(Int32 errorCode, String str)
   at Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKey.CreateSubKey(String subkey, RegistryKeyPermissionCheck permissionCheck, RegistrySecurity registrySecurity)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Diagnostics.ExPerformanceCounter.GetLastWorkerProcessInfo()

There is nothing to worry about this error. Microsoft published article KB982679 - Event ID 106 is logged when you start the RPC Client Access service on Exchange Server 2010.

This problem occurs because the performance counters of the RPC Client Access service are not installed when you install only the Mailbox role on an Exchange Server 2010 server. However, this does not affect the functionality of the Exchange Server 2010 server.

It’s not so pretty to see many errors in Event Viewer after  restarting Microsoft Exchange RPC Client Access service. Let’s try to manually add RPC Client Access performance counters.

Manually add RPC Client Access performance counters

• Start Exchange Management Shell
• Add-PSSnapin Microsoft.Exchange.Management.PowerShell.Setup
• New-PerfCounters -DefinitionFileName "C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V14\Setup\Perf\RpcClientAccessPerformanceCounters.xml"
  
  
• Restart server or Microsoft Exchange RPC Client Access service.
• No errors, happy administrators…

Links:

• KB982679 - Event ID 106 is logged when you start the RPC Client Access service on Exchange Server 2010
• How to fix/repair broken Exchange 2007 counters
• How to unload/reload performance counters on Exchange 2010

Exchange Server

Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 3

Exchange Server 2010

Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 1

Source:

• Build numbers and release dates for Exchange Server
• Build numbers and release dates for Exchange Server (KB158530)
• Exchange Server and Update Rollups Builds Numbers (TechNet Wiki)

Congratulations to the Exchange team!

From InfoWorld:

 
Microsoft Exchange 2010 continues Redmond's longstanding market leadership in mail servers and related software. This release shows why the company's once-reviled product continues to be deployed widely in enterprises: it works, it scales, and it continues to gain important new features. In our tests, we saw improved management, administration, and reliability features plus an enhanced experience for users that includes automatic transcription of voicemails, delivery reports for messages, and extensive self-service options. Although light on wholesale changes and heavy on refinements, Exchange 2010 is nevertheless a major step up from Exchange 2007.

Source: Exchange 2010 is Best Mail Server - InfoWorld's 2011 Technology of The Year Award Winner

One year later all I can say is that… Exchange 2010 is without doubt superb product. Congratulations to team!

Just over a year ago, Microsoft launched Exchange 2010, with a tremendous response from the market, partners, and customers. I'm inspired by the momentum in the community of developers and IT administrators who are working with Exchange to delight customers with the best business e-mail on the planet.

We are continuously working to make Exchange even better, too. Over the last year, we released Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 1. This release had a number of features you asked for, including archiving enhancements and Outlook Web App improvements, making it even easier to deploy and manage Exchange 2010 and increase productivity.

Also, our research shows that Exchange market share continues to grow. In enterprises with over 500 PC's, Exchange is, by far, the most widely used business email. For example, in the US, UK, and Australia, well over 70% of enterprises primarily use Exchange. In each of the largest G7 countries, in every size organization from small companies with less than 25 PC's to the largest enterprises, Exchange is being used by more businesses than any other email system. And many organizations are quickly moving to Exchange 2010. In the US and Canada, over 12% of large companies have already upgraded. Plus, over 11 million users of Live@Edu are using Exchange 2010 online.

Customers like Paul Smith, a fashion design and retail company in the UK, are already taking advantage of improved capabilities for high availability in Exchange 2010.

"We've gone from a 24- to 48-hour response time down to a five-minute response time. The business was asking for a disaster recovery strategy and plan, and this is what we were able to provide." - Lee Bingham, Head of IT, Paul Smith

What's more, our extensive partner community continues to be the lifeblood of Exchange and we expect the momentum will continue to increase with the growth of the market. For example, our partner Janalent sees great interest in Exchange Server 2010 from customers.

"We are seeing huge interest In Exchange Server 2010 with the improvements in Outlook Web Access and the incredible integration with Office 2010 suite of products."  - Anne Chahal, CEO and President, Janalent

Julia White of the Exchange Product Management team also has a post today on the UC Blog. We look forward to bringing our customers and partners even more Exchange enhancements in 2011!

- Rajesh Jha

Source: The Microsoft Exchange Team Blog

Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 helps you achieve new levels of reliability and performance by delivering features that help to simplify your administration, protect your communications, and delight your customers by meeting their demands for greater business mobility.

Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 helps IT Professionals achieve new levels of reliability with greater flexibility, enhanced user experiences, and increased protection for business communications.

• Flexible and reliable - Exchange Server 2010 gives you the flexibility to tailor your deployment based on your company's unique needs and a simplified way to keep e-mail continuously available for your users.
• Anywhere access - Exchange Server 2010 helps your users get more done by giving them the freedom to securely access all their communications - e-mail, voice mail, instant messaging, and more - from virtually any platform, Web browser, or device.
• Protection and compliance - Exchange Server 2010 delivers integrated information loss prevention, and compliance tools aimed at helping you simplify the process of protecting your company's communications and meeting regulatory requirements.

This pre-release software is intended for evaluation purposes only. You must accept the license terms before you are authorized to use the software. There is no product support for this trial software. You are welcome to participate in the forums to share your trial experiences with others and to ask for advice.

Download: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 SP1 Beta