Best Practice Ezine #101 – Exchange OWA TipsReaders RecommendationsThis week we have another rich selection of handy utilities, in this issue I feature Sean’s recommendations for Exchange in general and OWA (Outlook Web Access) in particular. I cannot help noticing this paradox, the older the version of OWA that you have, then the more useful these programs will be for your users. One hidden benefit of the boom in reader’s recommendations, is that it has overcome my paranoia about giving links to other sites. I now realise that there are times when I have to let some of you go to other pages, but I hope it will be au revoir – see you next week and not adieu – gone for ever. Sean’s Recommendations for OWAhttp://www.envador.com/OWANotify/ OWA Notify resides in the Notification (System Tray). You get an Outlook mail icon for Outlook Web Access users, which checks their Exchange account for new mail using WebDAV protocol. At the moment OWANotify V1 is freeware, V2 may cost around $10. Sean says, ‘OWANotify gives that whole full outlook kinda feeling if your only choice is OWA’. Sig Weber developed a Java Script modification for OWA that allows you to view the complete message source. This ACTUALLY gives you access to the SMTP raw message. You modify the util_view.js file in the most current Controls directory (exchxrvr/exchweb/somenumber/controls). With Exclaimer you can add disclaimers and signatures, brand your email with your corporate identity, stop unwanted or spam email, set up auto-replies and out-of-office responses, block email between selected groups of users and monitor and archive email. All of this is done by the server so there is nothing to configure on your client machines. Here is an Add-on product that is essentially a GUI for SMTP Event sink creation. Really spectacular setup with integrated logging an performance information. It does come at a slight performance hit (but all event sinks do). Messageware have something for every OWA (Outlook Web Access) user. Their stable of programs include : The PlusPack product is simply a must have for OWA users. This provides Outlook Style email addressing for OWA users, as well as customizable dictionaries. A must for hosted OWA. Active Send: Integrates OWA with the computer desktop so users can conveniently send documents at any time while working within any application and use email hyperlinks in documents, websites, and email.  Guy Recommends: The SolarWinds Exchange Monitor
Here is a free tool to monitor your Exchange Server. Download and install the utility, then inspect your mail queues, monitor the Exchange server’s memory, confirm there is enough disk space and check the CPU utilization. This is the real deal – there is no catch. SolarWinds provides this fully-functioning freebie, as part of their commitment to supporting the network management community. Free Download of SolarWinds Exchange Monitor Before I describe Sean’s last two utilities, a reminder of my friend ‘Barking’ Eddie’s first question about any tool: ‘Where does it come from? Microsoft CD, resource kit third party?’ The answer in these two cases is: Microsoft’s site. Exchange Quota management services
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=EB52F6AB-E07A-476C-B32B-145AF6EA970C&displaylang=en An Add-on from Microsoft, which allows you to create message templates for customizing the default quota limit/violation messages of exchange. This tool enables quotas limits to be set without modifying DLLs, or without using an event sink. Exchange Auto Accept Agent
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=3D0884E6-C603-491D-BF57-ACF03E046BFE&displaylang=en The Exchange Auto Accept Agent has been around for a quite a while but is a very nice tool to have in order to create resource accounts such as Conference room, or Projector so that users can see what resources are available for scheduling. A store event sink that automatically processes meeting requests for resource mailboxes. The Exchange Server Auto Accept Agent checks the availability of the resource mailbox based on the resource’s schedule (not free/busy), and accepts or declines new or updated meeting requests. Chris Lehr chips in:
Speaking of auto accept agent – check out http://www.swinc.com/products/ERM/
It has a GUI for managing "resource" mailboxes – a lot smarter! Guy Recommends: Tools4ever’s UMRA Tired of writing scripts? The User Management Resource Administrator solution by Tools4ever offers an alternative to time-consuming manual processes. It features 100% auto provisioning, Helpdesk Delegation, Connectors to more than 130 systems/applications, Workflow Management, Self Service and many other benefits. Click on the link for more information onUMRA. I was musing with ‘Barking’ Eddie about the lack of response to last week’s RSI article, when Eddie said, ‘Guy what do you expect, those who suffer finger and wrist injuries are so crocked they cannot reply, whilst those who don’t suffer don’t care about RSI’. Will and Guy HumourThis week we have a visual theme, pictures showing thepower and awe of lightning.
Windows 8 Features:• Windows 8 New Features • Windows 8 Metro UI • Windows 8 Tips • Windows 8 FAQ • Ezines •Free Netflow Traffic Analyzer • Windows 8 Home • E 179 Hide Accounts • E 187 Easy Transfer • E 186 Deprecated • E 184 Windows Phone • E 180 Godmode • Orion IP SLA Manager Download | 
