Exchange Server Dashboards with ELK (ElasticSearch, Logstash, Kibana) Part 1

Unfortunately, Exchange Server does not offer a build-in option to clearly display the status of the environment or certain performance parameters on a dashboard. Even many monitoring tools quickly reach their limits when it comes to clearly displaying the number of emails received or sent, for example. In this series of articles, I would therefore like to take a look at ELK, or the Elastic Stack ... Read more

Manage Exchange out-of-office notifications centrally

Most users manage the absence notifications themselves via Outlook. Before a planned absence, such as vacation, the user enters the desired message and, if necessary, specifies a deputy. In addition, the helpdesk or a user's line manager should usually also be able to enter an absence notification for users; this is usually useful for an unplanned absence, ... Read more

Exchange Server: New updates (February 2019)

New updates have just been released for all supported Exchange Server versions, which also fix the critical vulnerability from CVE-2018-8581. The updates should therefore be installed as soon as possible, as an exploit for this vulnerability has existed for some time. Click here to download the updates for Exchange 2010, 2013 and 2016: Cumulative Update 12 ... Read more

Exchange DAG: Change database and logfile path

It can happen that the paths or the storage location of Exchange databases and log files have to be changed, for example when changing the storage system. This article is in response to a reader's question about how to do this with as little downtime as possible. There are several options for moving the database and log file paths, ... Read more

Active Directory and Exchange Server vulnerable via EWS API

There is currently a security vulnerability in all Exchange Server versions, which makes it possible to obtain domain administrator authorizations via EWS or, for example, to redirect emails. What makes this vulnerability particularly critical is that it can be exploited remotely. The attacker only needs to have access to a mailbox on the Exchange Server. Since the EWS API and often also ... Read more

Exchange Migration: Problems with the Outlook connection

This short article is intended to list the most common causes of problems with the Outlook connection to Exchange during migration. Connection problems often occur after a mailbox has been moved to a newer Exchange version. Outlook then often displays one of the following messages: The Microsoft Exchange administrator has made a change that requires Outlook to be restarted. ... Read more

Exchange Server: New updates (October 2018)

Better late than never: CU 11 for Exchange Server 2016 was released today. Microsoft is a little late this time, as the updates were actually expected back in September. Due to the late release of CU11, there will be no CU in December. CU12 will therefore only be released in March 2019 together with CU1 for Exchange ... Read more

Exchange Server: Update KB2565063 must be installed (again)

Important information for Exchange administrators: KB2565063 must be reinstalled on all Exchange Server versions released before October 2018. This currently affects all available Exchange versions and CUs. The background is that the installation files (new installation and update installation) of Exchange have an unpatched version installed and Exchange is therefore still vulnerable to a remote code ... Read more

Exchange Server: Changeover from POP retrieval to MX record

I am still receiving mails about the changeover from POP3 retrieval to direct receipt of mails via MX record in connection with various Exchange versions. I actually thought that retrieving mails from a provider via POP3 and delivering them to local Exchange servers was a thing of the past, but this seems to be happening even more frequently. Read more

KB4457127 causes problems on DCs in connection with Exchange

The September update KB445127 for Windows Server 2016 from 20.09.2018 causes problems on domain controllers in connection with the Exchange GAL (Global Address List). After the update was installed on Windows Server 2016 Domain Controllers, Outlook clients can no longer access the Global Address List: I was also able to reproduce this problem as soon as more than 18 recipients ... Read more