Monday, November 26, 2012

Exchange Administration Center ( EAC )

EAC is web-based management console in Exchange 2013 which is replaced EMC in Exchange 2010.  The MMC base console used to be slow when it loads and new business logic in Exchange 2013 forced to have new EAC in my opinion. Most of us,  most often appreciate new futures and try to adapt them as quick as possible. When certain things are done in certain way over years and people get used to it, it could be bit disappointment to some of you out there to see brad new management interface.

So my recommendation is, forget about GUI if you are going to stay in Exchange Server business (-: , learn and use PowerShell and who knows next version we might not even get EAC (-: , pure PS to manage next generation of Exchange Server.

To get to EAC this is what you have to insert into your browser ( from your CAS Server or replace the local host with CAS Server FQDN or IP Address)

https://localhost/ecp

Now this will give you EAC

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If you are in Co-existence with Exchange 2010 , same URL wont work for you , so need to use this one

ECP= Exchange 2013

https://localhost/ecp/?ExchClientVer=15

ECP= Exchange 2010

https://localhost/ecp/?ExchClientVer=14

Now if you miss old console and keep cursing things as you get used to EMC here is a nice trick might be able to lessen your pain (-: , yehh I hear you….

Create custom MMC , see the video , I have also added ADUC and ADSIEDIT into my console. I wish at the least MMC console was bit more flexible to do more with it.

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http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj150562.aspx

Respectfully,
Oz Casey, Dedeal ( MVP north America)
MCITP (EMA), MCITP (SA)
MCSE 2003, M+, S+, MCDST
Security+, Project +, Server +
http://smtp25.blogspot.com/ (Blog)
http://telnet25.wordpress.com/ (Blog)

Monday, November 19, 2012

Exchange 2013 Surviving Server Roles and Business Logic

In exchange 2010 we do have 5 Server roles and the business logic build in middle tier, which means MAPI request goes to HLB ( if exists ), from there is goes to CAS Servers in Exchange 2010 Architecture, then the Exchange 2010 CAS start talking to Exchange 2010 MBX Server. The process in Exchange 2013 has changed, the business logic got moved into MBX Server role, while Exchange 2013 supports RPC/HTTP only dropping support for RPC/TCP. This means MAPI client will use RPC packets wrapped inside the HTTP to talk to their respected MBX Server.

Some of the compelling futures build into Exchange 2013……

  • Exchange 2013 is much simpler to deploy , less servers roles, simple name space and better site resilience support.
  • Exchange 2013 introduces huge cost saving by offering faster, and smarter messaging application.
  • Exchange 2013 does have built in "application awareness" , new Exchange 2013 Application can detect and fix most of the problems automatically while the service continuity is not interrupted, ( much better seamless end user experience)

 

IOPS Reduction !!!!

This translate better performance obviously and cost saving, Faster the application is, better disk utilization and usage will be, allowing low end disk to be used and utilized by Exchange 2013.

Comparing exchange 2013 IOPS with some of the previous versions of Exchange Server

Exchange 2003---------------------------->95.5% IOPS reduction ( compare to Exchange 2013 )

Exchange 2010----------------------------->50-70% reduction in IOPS ( compare to Exchange 2013 )

 

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CAS Client Access  ( Available Role in Exchange 2013 )
HTS Hub Transport ( Combined into CAS Role )
MBX Mailbox    ( Available Role in Exchange 2013 )
UM Unified messaging ( Combined into CAS & MBX Roles)
EDGE Edge Transport Server ( depreciated !!!! )

 

In Exchange 2013 the Server Roles do have major reduction

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CAS Client Access Server  Role
MBX Mailbox Server Role

 

CAS Server Role

Domain joined Server ( not placed in DMZ ) existed within the ADDS name space. Provides Layer4  (transport) Load balancing

  • Session affinity functionality got moved into CAS Server role.
  • CAS Server Light weight protocol proxy Server
  • Exchange Aware proxy Server, supports proxy and redirection

 

image

 

Here where you can find more information in regards to exchange 2013…

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/fp179701.aspx

Respectfully,
Oz Casey, Dedeal ( MVP north America)
MCITP (EMA), MCITP (SA)
MCSE 2003, M+, S+, MCDST
Security+, Project +, Server +
http://smtp25.blogspot.com/ (Blog)
http://telnet25.wordpress.com/ (Blog)