About Michel de Rooij

Michel de Rooij, with over 25 years of mixed consulting and automation experience with Exchange and related technologies, is a consultant for Rapid Circle. He assists organizations in their journey to and using Microsoft 365, primarily focusing on Exchange and associated technologies and automating processes using PowerShell or Graph. Michel's authorship of several Exchange books and role in the Office 365 for IT Pros author team are a testament to his knowledge. Besides writing for Practical365.com, he maintains a blog on eightwone.com with supporting scripts on GitHub. Michel has been a Microsoft MVP since 2013.

Exchange 2010 SP3 Rollup 3

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Michel de Rooij

Today the Exchange Team released Rollup 3 for Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 3 (KB2891587). This update raises Exchange 2010 version number to 14.3.169.1.

Here’s a list of fixes contained in this Rollup:

- 2715761 “550 5.6.0” NDR when you send a yearly recurring meeting request in an Exchange Server 2010 environment
- 2839533 RPC Client Access service freezes in an Exchange Server 2010 environment
- 2840454 “The rules on this computer do not match the rules on Microsoft Exchange” error when you manage rules by using Outlook 2013 in an Exchange Server 2010 environment
- 2874070 Public folders are exposed although the user does not have rights to see the parent folders in an Exchange Server 2010 SP3 environment
- 2878175 Client Access server crashes when you use Outlook with a Riverbed WAN optimizer in an Exchange Server 2010 environment
- 2879320 Retention action setting is not updated in FAI items by running the Set-RetentionPolicyTag cmdlet in an Exchange Server 2010 environment
- 2879736 Office 365 users cannot retrieve an on-premises user’s free/busy data in an Exchange Server 2010-based hybrid deployment
- 2880153 RPC Client Access Service crashes if Outlook is in online mode in an Exchange Server 2010 environment
- 2880290 RPC Client Access service crashes when you use Outlook in ANSI online mode in an Exchange Server 2010 environment
- 2882467 RPC Client Access service stops if Outlook is in online mode in an Exchange Server 2010 environment
- 2882677 BlackBerry device is not redirected in an Exchange Server 2010 environment
- 2886469 EAS client receives status code 8 during synchronization in an on-premises Exchange Server 2010 environment
- 2886567 “Objects added to a BindingSource’s list must all be of the same type” error message when you add an additional domain name in Exchange Server 2010 SP3
- 2887574 RPC Client Access service freezes when your mailbox reaches the quota limit in an Exchange Server 2010 environment
- 2888406 Mailbox Replication service crashes when you try to move mailboxes in an Exchange Server 2010 environment
- 2888906 Events 1000, 4999, and 9775 are logged when Store.exe crashes on an Exchange Server 2010 SP3 Mailbox server
- 2888911 W3wp.exe crashes when you decline a meeting request by using Outlook Web App or an EWS application in an Exchange Server 2010 environment
- 2890650 Items in the Drafts folder are not stamped with the retention policy tag in an Exchange Server 2010 or 2013 environment
- 2891194 Exchange ActiveSync devices are marked as “Blocked” in EMS and EMC when the devices are synchronizing with the Exchange Server 2010 server
- 2892337 Outlook client freezes when you try to sort email folders by columns in an Exchange Server 2010 environment
- 2893437 Delegate can read your AD RMS protected messages by using Outlook Web App in an Exchange Server 2010 environment
- 2896304 Background image is displayed incorrectly in an email message when a disclaimer rule is enabled in an Exchange Server 2010 environment
- 2899146 You cannot drag email messages to other folders by using Outlook Web App in an Exchange Server 2010 environment

As of Service Pack 2 Rollup 4, its no longer required to disable/re-enable ForeFront Protection for Exchange using the fscutility to be able to install the Rollup properly. However, if you want to remain in control, you can disable ForeFront before installing the Rollup using fscutility /disable and re-enable it afterwards using fscutility /enable.

If you want to speed up the update process for systems without internet access, you can follow the procedure described here to disable publisher’s certificate revocation checking.

If you got a DAG and want to properly update the DAG members, check the instructions here.

As with any Hotfix, Rollup or Service Pack, I’d recommend to thoroughly test this rollup in a test and acceptance environment first, prior to implementing it in production.

You can download Exchange 2010 SP3 Rollup 3 here.

MVP Global Summit Wrap-Up

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Michel de Rooij

Today is the day I returned from my inaugural MVP Global Summit 2013, the one often being tagged the November edition as there were two summits this year. Apart from some discomforts like back issues and jetlag, the summit lived well up to my expectations of being the place to meet fellow (Exchange) MVPs, engage product groups and with regards to the contents presented or discussed (which for obvious reasons I can’t disclose as they are under NDA). Only thing I can mention on the sessions is that the last panel discussion was hilarious as the MVPs turned it into a drinking game where all MVPs took a sip of their beverages when a PG member mentioned “That is great feedback” or “Yammer”. Epic.

The summit was well organized, hotels were great and relatively close to each other and transportation frequent from the hotel to the summit locations on Microsoft campus. Evenings were filled by regional or global events for meeting people or catching up while enjoying food and drinks. The closing party was held in the Seattle Aquarium with great people, good food, music, the Bumbys, caricature drawing, seals and a ferris wheel. And for some reason, all my evenings always ended up with the Exchange and Lync MVPs at the infamous Joey’s. Good times.

Being one of The UC Architects contributors, I got to meet some of the fellows in real life, like Michael van Hoorenbeeck, Serkan Varoglu (and the missus), Pat Richard, Ståle Hansen, Tim Harrington and Tom Arbuthnot. Other people I got to meet or catch up with – I’ll probably forgot a few – were people like Jeff Guillet, Jason Sherry, Paul Robichaux, Magnus Björk, Siegfried Jagott, J. Peter Bruzzese, Justin Morris, Norbert Klenner, Johan Delimon, Didier van Hoye, Peter de Tender, Ken Lasko, Damian Scoles and Martina Miskovic; the latter two being a first time MVP as well, like myself.

Provided I get re-awarded in October and depending on when it wil take place, I am really looking forward seeing my old and new friends again at the next summit. But first things first, I hope to catch up with some of them at MEC 2014 in March/April, 2014. For now, a big thank you to the MVP Award program, the MVP Global Summit organization, my MVP lead for Benelux and Nordics, William Jansen, and last but not least the product groups for providing great content, interaction and finding time to engage with MVPs.

Note that while I was at the summit, Microsoft announced that Exchange 2013 Service Pack 1 is set for early 2014. It will be part of cross-product SP1 release, as Office 2013 SP1 was also announced for the same timeframe. Major changes to expect in Exchange 2013 SP1, besides the usual fixes and improvements, are support for Windows Server 2012 R2 and Edge server role; the latter being especially of interest to shops who want to standardize on Windows Server 2012 R2 as they will then be able to deploy all Exchange roles using the same OS.

MVP Summit November 2013

Posted on November 16, 2013 by Michel de Rooij

With receiving the MVP Award in October comes one of the benefits I’ve been looking forward to, should I ever receive it: the opportunity to attend the MVP Global Summit. My employer understands the value of these events and gave their approval, as it takes a week out of my busy schedule. So on November 17th I’ll be on my way to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport for my inaugural MVP Global Summit.

The event is held in Bellevue and at the Microsoft HQ in Redmond, Washington State, from November 18th to November 21st. The previous MVP Global Summit held in February, 2013, was attended by around 1,400 MVPs; worldwide there are around 4,000 MVPs in around 90 countries.

It will be great opportunity from a learning as well as a networking perspective, as you not only get to participate in in-depth sessions on the current and future versions of your product, but also get to meet the other “rock stars” and Microsoft employees from Product Groups as well.

Unfortunately, the event and all disclosed information or discussions are under strict NDA, so don’t expect me to post or tweet anything disclosed at the event.

For those MVP readers also attending the summit, see you there!

The UC Architects Podcast Ep30

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Michel de Rooij

We’re glad to announce the availability of episode 30 of The UC Architects podcast.

This episode is hosted by Pat Richard, who’s joined by John Cook, Dave Stork, Michael Van Horenbeeck, Justin Morris and yours truly. Editing was done by Andrew Price.

Topic of this episode are:

Microsoft narrows CEO shortlist: Mulally, Elop make the cut
Registration for Lync Conference Canada 2014 is now open
Lync Server 2013 Multi-tenant Hosting Pack Deployment Guide
Script to Backup AudioCodes Gateways
Kemp close to releasing a PowerShell module for their products
Lync 2013 Centralized Logging Tool
Madcap.ps1 (Common Area Phone GUI util)
How to Publish Lync Server 2013 Web Services with Windows Server 2012 R2 Web Application Proxy
Lync ICE Warning Flag Decoder
Lync 2013 Ignite videos on Channel 9 (plus Tom’s script to download)
November 2013 Lync client updates
Server Component States in Exchange 2013
Exchange 2013 CU3
Office 365 now collecting data to improve Outlook 2013 performance
Tool to manage Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync | EASAdmin 1.0 (Beta)
Office 365: Configuring DirSync filtering the supported way
Comparing Office 365 numbers to the total Exchange installed base
Windows Azure Active Directory Sync tool
Calculating CAL requirements for Exchange Server 2013
Test-ExchangeServerHealth v1.06
UC User Group Norway

More information on the podcast including references and a link to download the podcast here or you can subscribe to the podcasts using iTunes, Zune or use the RSS feed.

About
The UC Architects is a bi-weekly community podcast by people with a passion for Unified Communications; our main focus is on Exchange, Lync or related subjects.

Review: Microsoft Exchange 2013 Cookbook

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Michel de Rooij

The folks at PacktPub asked me to review a book written by Exchange fellow Michael van Hoorenbeeck and Peter de Tender, titled “Microsoft Exchange 2013 Cookbook”. So, here goes.

The books is well structured, starting off with planning and designing your Exchange 2013 deployment on to installing the product. It then turns to configuring the individual Client Access Server and Mailbox Server role specifics, like certificates or Database Availability Groups. Next up is configuring external access which is described vendor neutral. Special attention is then paid to individual features like High Availability, backup/recovery, compliance and security. The book ends with Van Hoorenbeeck’s favorite subject, hybrid deployments. That chapter is unfortunately a bit short, but I’m inclined to think this is intentional and may be because an Office 365 book with information on this subject may be in the works.

The 326 page book is easy to read (I read it on the flight from Amsterdam to Bangkok). What is nice is that the book prefers to describe procedures using PowerShell cmdlets (recipes) instead of showing the GUI method, which is not only good for the adoption of PowerShell but also building PowerShell skills for some admins. Well-known tools of the trade are being mentioned in the book, like the infamous Exchange 2013 Server Role Requirements Calculator or Exchange fellow Paul Cunningham’s Get-DAGHealth.ps1 script for checking and reporting DAG health status. Yours truly also gets mentioned for the Exchange 2013 Unattended Installation Script; I won’t complain about misspelling my name though.

I haven’t had the chance to check out the Exchange Inside Out bible(s) by Tony Redmond and Paul Robichaux yet, but this book could be of value for admins trying to get up to speed with Exchange 2013, building PowerShell knowledge through PowerShell-by-example by reading this book and its practical task accomplishing instructions.

You can check for the book on Amazon here.