Just can't get enough of IT

The latest downloadable build of Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 9 disclosed an information that was previously shown accidently to the public by Greg T. during his breakout session BRK3249 - Modern Authentication for Exchange Server On-Premises at Microsoft Ignite 2017.  

As part of the global harmonization of the product name space of the well established Outlook brand the next release of Exchange Server will be named Outlook Server 2019.

This name change was mentioned originally on this slide:

Give it a thought and you'll realize that this change makes absolute sense as different product names for the same software function distract customers and users. 

• Outlook
• Outlook for iOS
• Outlook for Android
• Outlook on the web
• Outlook Server

Another reason for renaming Exchange Server is a new functionality for integrating personal mailbox files (PST). It was and still is a tedious task for administrators to get hold of all those PST files in use by end users. Instead of implementing a complex and data protection safe process to import PST files to the primary users mailbox the new Outlook Server 2019 offers synchronized PST folders. A functionality we've waited for for years.

Two new functions are introduced as part the new modern Outlook Server 2019

• PST Sync
  Synchronized PST files across DAG member servers
• Linked PST Files
  New Outlook function to connect to server based PST files advertised by AutoDiscover

How does it work?

• The  $env:ExchangeInstallPath contains a new folder named PSTSync
  The new folder can be accessed by end users using https://<your OWA FQDN>/PSTSync 
• Add new subfolder for each user with PST files, assign Owner access to the subfolder and inform the users to upload their PST files using that link
• The uploaded PST files are automatically renamed andf synchronized between the DAG member servers using PSTSync
• Exisiting PST files are automatically advertised by AutoDiscover as LinkedPSTFile when queried by a modern Outlook version

The following diagram illustrates the new functionality in a simple Outlook Server 2019 setup:

The following screenshot illustrates the new PSTSync folder and some sample PST file for a user with SAMAccountName JohnDoe

It's good the see that there is a future for a email server product like Exchange Server and that after so many years of cloud only an on-premises only feature got added.

Links

• BRK3249 - Modern Authentication for Exchange Server On-Premises
• More on Exchange Server 2016 CU9
• Official Link: https://goo.gl/QiTtDo

Enjoy the day and Happy Easter!

Description

When you want to migrate your legacy public folders from Exchange 2010 to modern public folders in Exchange Online you must prepare the public folder names for migration.

Public folder names are not allowd to contain the following:

• Backslash "\"
• Forward slash "/"
• Leading or trailing spaces

The script Fix-PublicFolderNames.ps1 fixes the public folder names in preparation for migration to modern public folders.

Examples

# EXAMPLE
# Rename and trim public folders found on Server MYPFSERVER

.\Fix-PublicFolderNames -PublicFolderServer MYPFSERVER

Version History

• 1.0, Initial community release

Links

• Download and follow at Github: https://github.com/Apoc70/Fix-PublicFolderNames
• Download and like at TechNet Gallery: https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/Rename-and-Trim-Legacy-85e483b1

Follow

• Twitter @stensitzki
• LinkedIn
• Xing

Just a quick PowerShell one-liner on how to find all configured room lists in your Exchange organization:

Set-ADServerSettings -ViewEntireForest $true

Get-DistributionGroup -ResultSize Unlimited | Where {$_.RecipientTypeDetails -eq "RoomList"} | Format-Table DisplayName,Identity,PrimarySmtpAddress –AutoSize 

Enjoy Exchange.

The following PowerShell snippet helps to create room lists for the Room Finder functionality in Outlook or Outllok on the Web.

This snippet creates a new room list named All Video Conference Rooms. The display name is shown in the Room Finder combo box. The room list members are a mixture of physical rooms (where you actually go to) and virtual rooms which you just dial into.

# General Properties
$DisplayName = 'All Video Conference Rooms'
$Name = 'DEP_IT_AllVideoConfRooms'
$Alias = 'IT_AllVideoConfRooms'
$Notes = 'Room List for Outlook Roomfinder | All Video Conference Rooms'
$OU = 'MCSMLABS.de/Exchange/Groups/RoomLists'
$EmailAddress = 'ITAllVideoConfRooms@mcsmemail.de'

# Romm List Members 
$Members = @('Conference Room 1','Conference Rooms 2','Virtual Dial-In Room 4711')
 
# Create Distribution Group as Room List 
New-DistributionGroup -DisplayName $DisplayName -Name $Name -Alias $Alias -Notes $Notes -Type Distribution -OrganizationalUnit $OU -PrimarySmtpAddress $EmailAddress -Members $Members -RoomList

Use this snippet to start developing your own Exchange PowerShall code for creating and managing rooms and room lists.

If you want to create new rooms and security groups for managing full-access and send-as permissions, use my PowerShell script Create a new Room Mailbox with Security Groups.

Enjoy Exchange!

The PowerShell script to create a new room mailbox has been updated to Version 1.1.

The new release supports adding of a phone number to the room details. Issue #2 is now closed.

Creating a separate security group for calendar booking is still open as issue #1.

You can read the original and up-to-date blog post here: Create a new room mailbox with security groups

Links

• Download the script at Githuib: https://github.com/Apoc70/New-RoomMailbox
• Download and vote at TechNet: https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/Create-a-new-Room-Mailbox-99a4e477