How to update a Windows based VMWare Template

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Issue: You need to install windows updates or make other changes to a Windows based VMWare Template. Solution: The following steps will convert the template back to a VM, allow you to apply any updates or changes and then sysprep the VMWare template and finally convert it back into a template. 1) Right click template, click convert to Virtual Machine 2) Power On the Template, and logon to it (open console) 3) Apply windows updates or other changes, reboot 4) Logon to template again and run Read more [...]

Exchange 2010 Failed Content Index

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Issue: Content index errors may prevent you from performing DAG Database switchovers:  "Error: An error occured while trying to validate the specified database copy for possible activation. Error: Database copy on server has content index catalog files in the following state: 'Failed'" Resolution: The following Exchange Management Shell commands can be used to troubleshoot failed or corrupt DAG Database Content Index.  These commands will identify and re-build/re-seed any  bad content indexes Read more [...]

Exchange 2013 CU8 breaks OWA HTTP Redirect

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Issue: OWA HTTP redirection breaks after upgrading from Exchange 2013 CU7 to Exchange 2013 CU8. Solution: I reviewed all the settings in IIS related to HTTP redirection and several settings reverted to the default Exch/IIS values while many settings remained intact from when I first setup Exchange 2013 OWA HTTP Redirection. Here are the settings that I changed in order to make HTTP redirection work again, hopefully this can save you the work of re-doing all the settings: - default website Read more [...]

Manually remove an Exchange 2003 server from AD and the Exchange Organization

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Issue: There is a plethora of threads and confusing articles online about the topic of manually removing an Exchange 2003 server from your Exchange Org.  This might be required when a server fails and is not restored from backup or when your graceful uninstall efforts through add/remove programs fail in the middle.  If add/remove is simply giving you errors like mailboxes still exist or public folders still exist then I would take the time to properly decommission the server and continue with the Read more [...]

How to upgrade Exchange 2010 to SP3

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Simplified process: 1) Copy the Exchange 2010 SP3 media to the hard drive of your Exchange server(s) 2) Right click the setup.exe and click ‘run-as-administrator’ 3) Proceed through the upgrade process and reboot the server at the end Note: I recommend upgrading servers one at a time. More complex environments:  If you are upgrading an Exchange 2010 DAG to SP3 you can follow these steps for installing Exchange Service Packs and Rollups on DAG Members.  If you have servers with Read more [...]