PowerShell 5.0 May 2014 Preview – Gotcha

I case you haven’t heard, the Windows Management Framework 5.0 Preview May 2014 got released at TechEd 2014 this week.

Link: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/powershell/archive/2014/05/14/windows-management-framework-5-0-preview-may-2014-is-now-available.aspx

Windows Management Framework 5.0 Preview May 2014

Once installed, you should be seeing version 5 in the PowerShell console.

PowerShell 5.0 Preview May 2014

There’s some awesome stuff in PowerShell 5.0 preview (like PowerShellGet). Jeffrey Snover and Don Jones had two *awesome* PowerShell presentations at TechEd North America 2014 this week, shown below:

DCIM-B318
Windows PowerShell Unplugged with Jeffrey Snover
Speakers: Don Jones, Jeffrey Snover
http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/TechEd/NorthAmerica/2014/DCIM-B318

Windows PowerShell Unplugged with Jeffrey Snover

DCIM-B418
Windows PowerShell Best Practices and Patterns: Time to Get Serious
Speaker: Don Jones
http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/TechEd/NorthAmerica/2014/DCIM-B418 

Windows PowerShell Best Practices and Patterns: Time to Get Serious

PowerShell 5.0 Preview GOTCHA

Per the best bitcoin casino release document, do NOT install Windows Management Framework 5.0 Preview May 2014 on Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard. It’s not supported yet.

Don't install WMF 5.0 Preview on SBS 2011

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Top Support Solutions for SBS 2011 Standard

Microsoft recently (18 Feb 2014) posted a very detailed list of top Microsoft Support solutions to the most common issues experienced using Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard (updated quarterly).

Note: Some content that applies to earlier versions of Windows Server is listed, because it can be helpful with SBS 2011 Standard issues also.

The blog post contains solutions related to:

  • Active Directory and Directory Services
  • Client Computers issues
  • Internet Information Services (IIS)
  • Licensing
  • Mail flow issues
  • Network and Web Connectivity
  • Reliability and Performance
  • Small Business Server (SBS) Components
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Installation and Migration

Link:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/sbs/archive/2014/02/18/top-support-solutions-for-windows-small-business-server-2011-standard.aspx 

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Farewell SBS 2011

SBS Tombstone

Effective today (Monday July 1, 2013) Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard has reached ‘End of Sale’ status for the retail version.

SBS 2011 purchase date information

Source: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?Linkid=257790

You have until Tuesday December 31, 2013 to purchase SBS 2011 Standard OEM version.

Update 7/1/2013: Handy Andy says that you cannot purchase SA for SBS 2011 anymore.

Tip: If you’re buying the OEM version remember that you have a 90-day window after purchase where you can add Software Assurance to the OEM version. If you don’t add SA, the OEM version is legally locked to that hardware forever.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mssmallbiz/archive/2006/05/22/604221.aspx

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Update Rollup 3 for Small Business Server 2011

Title: Update Rollup 3 for Windows Small Business Server 2011
Replaces: SBS 2011 UR1 (KB2555251) and SBS 2011 UR2 (KB2668019).
Last Modified: 9/25/2012 
Size: 1.2 MB
URL: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2729100 

Behavior
Restart behavior: Can request restart
May request user input: No
Must be installed exclusively: No
Requires network connectivity: No
Uninstall Notes: This software update can be removed via Programs and Features in Control Panel. Additional steps are required for a complete removal, please refer to KB2729100 for more details.
Uninstall Steps: n/a

Description
In a nutshell, it’s mostly Windows 8 client support and .NET issues. It makes some changes to the BPA and WSUS too.

Download
In addition to WU / MU downloads, you can get Update Rollup 3 for SBS from the Microsoft Update Catalog website link here.

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SMBMVP Tour Comes to Louisville Thu Jan 19, 2012

The international SMB MVP Tour / Roadshow / Geekfest comes to Louisville, Kentucky next week. There’s even a video about it!

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

SMB MVP Tour stop in Louisville, KY on Thu Jan 19, 2012

Date: Thursday January 19, 2012, 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM Eastern
Free lunch is provided by Penn Station.

THERE ARE STILL SEATS AVAILABLE!

Louisville registration URL for this FREE event:
http://mvptour2011.sbsmigration.com/event_selector.php?event_id=205

The presenters for Louisville are:

  • Kevin Royalty [SBS-MVP]
  • Tim Barrett [SBS-MVP]

The Tour will also be in Ohio a few days earlier…

COLUMBUS, OHIO

SMB MVP Tour stop in Columbus, OH on Mon Jan 16, 2012

Date: Monday January 16, 2012, 9AM – 1PM Eastern

Columbus registration URL:
http://mvptour2011.sbsmigration.com/event_selector.php?event_id=208

See you there!

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SMB MVP Community Roadshow in Louisville 1/19

Registration is OPEN, and you are cordially invited!

SMB MVP Community Roadshow logoEvent: SMB MVP Community Roadshow
Sponsored by: HP, Microsoft & SBSMigration.com
Local Host: Kentucky Small Business Server User Group
(KYSBSUG)
Date: Thursday January 19, 2012
Doors open: 12:00 noon Eastern
Start time: 12:30 PM Eastern
End time: 4:30 PM Eastern

Venue: Republic Bank & Trust building
Location: Across from The Summit shopping center
Address: 9600 Brownsboro Rd, Louisville, KY 40241
Room: Large conference room, lower level

Lunch: FREE
Parking: FREE
Registration: FREE
Registration URL:
http://mvptour2011.sbsmigration.com/event_selector.php?event_id=205

Map (click for directions):
Map of SMB MVP Community Show in Louisville

Street View:
Republic Bank Building - Street View

Event Description:
The SMB MVPs are delighted to bring their International SMB MVP Community Roadshow to Louisville on Thursday January 19, 2012.
This is a chance to hear first-hand from your peers in the field how they are implementing the New SMB Stack from Microsoft and see it actually demo’d on current shipping HP hardware. This is not a canned sales pitch, this is a live demo by some of the SMB MVP’s on real world scenarios they are deploying today.

Each stop on the tour will be a little different as the presenters change as the tour progresses and they also have the flexibility to shape the discussion to fit the local audience.

This is a free event, but seating is limited so you must register to attend.
REGISTER TODAY! Smile

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Show Exchange Message Size Limits in SBS 2008/2011

Full mailboxIt seems like every month I get a call about someone not being able to send or receive an email due to size limits. If you know where all the limits are in the Exchange Management Console (and if you’re aware of the 30% bloating that happens with email attachments) you can usually resolve that issue pretty quickly. If you’re new to Exchange, or a bit rusty, it might take longer.

Here’s a way to see all of your Exchange attachment limits in one screen.

Simple PowerShell Script to Show Exchange Message Size Limits

1. Copy and paste the following commands into Notepad.exe:

get-transportconfig | ft maxsendsize, maxreceivesize
get-receiveconnector | ft name, maxmessagesize
get-sendconnector | ft name, maxmessagesize
get-mailbox |ft Name, Maxsendsize, maxreceivesize

2. Save that text document with a .PS1 file extension, and you now have your PowerShell file. I named my file “email_limits.ps1”.

Example contents of file email_limits.ps1:Contents of file email_limits.ps1

Note: You can reuse this .PS1 file on any SBS 2008 (Exchange 2007) or SBS 2011 (Exchange 2010) servers.

3. Copy that file to your SBS server in a folder on the C: or D: drive.
I use a folder called “Scripts” on the D: drive.

4. Right-click the Exchange Management Shell and Run as Administrator.
Open Exchange Management Shell using Run as administrator
(Say Yes to any User Account Control prompt, if needed.)

5. In the Powershell window type the name of your .PS1 file (including the full path) and hit Enter.
Example: D:\scripts\email_limits.ps1

RESULTS

Example 1
SBS 2008 / Exchange 2007 (showing increased limits for a true 20 MB)*
Output of email_limits.ps1 on SBS 2008 / Exchange 2007

Example 2
SBS 2011 / Exchange 2010 (w/ factory defaults)
Output of email_limits.ps1 on SBS 2011 / Exchange 2010

*As you can see from Example 1, the Fax connector is still set at 10 MB, but the other limits have been changed to 29257 KB to allow for true 20MB attachments with the attachment bloating.
Formula for calculating overhead: (x MB * 1024) /.70 = limit in KB
Example: (20 MB x 1024) /.70 = 29257KB

Of course, you can also use PowerShell to change the limits, but I don’t have a script saved for that because the Set-ReceiveConnector, Set-SendConnector, etc.  commands require that the server name be included in the script.
Example: Set-ReceiveConnector “Windows SBS Internet Receive Servername” –MaxMessageSize 29MB

If I need to change the limits, I still just go old school and use the GUI in the Exchange Management Console.

Remember – there are four common places in Exchange where the email attachment size could be limited:

  1. Transport limit
  2. Receive limit
  3. Send limit
  4. Mailbox limit

We’ll show you where each one of those is located.

Exchange 2007 / 2010 Management Console Size Limit Locations

  • 1. Transport Limit

    Exchange Management Console | Organization Configuration | Hub Transport | Global Settings | Transport Settings | Properties | General | Transport Limits

    Attachment limit for Exchange Transport settings

    Note: a blank transport limit box means ‘unlimited’.

  • 2. Receive Limits
    (In SBS 2008 or 2011 there are typically 3 Receive Connectors)

    Location of Exchange 2010 Receive Connectors

    Exchange Management Console | Server Configuration | Hub Transport | Receive Connectors | right-click the receive connector | Properties | General | Maximum Message Size (KB)

    Attachment limit for Exchange Receive settings

    Note: The “Default {servername}” is your internal / .local connector.
    The “Windows SBS Internet Receive {servername}” is your external / .com connector. You’ll notice the difference in the Properties window on the FQDN line – one is .local and the other is .com/.org/etc.

    Also, regarding the internal connector, you may sometimes need to increase your “Default {servername}”(.local) connector to accommodate on-site scanners / multi-function copiers that scan to PDF and email internal employees. If so, this is where you do it. Just make sure the employees can receive attachments that large.

  • 3. Send Limit

    Exchange Management Console | Organization Configuration | Hub Transport | Send Connectors | Windows SBS Internet Send {servername} | Properties | General | Maximum Message Size (KB)

    Attachment limit for Exchange Send connector

  • 4. Mailbox Limits

    Exchange Management Console | Recipient Configuration | Mailbox | {username} | Properties | Mail Flow Settings | Message Size Restrictions | Properties | Maximum Message size (in KB)

    image

    Message size limits per for an individual user

    Note: a blank message size limit box means ‘unlimited’, but the user will still be restricted by the other the limits (shown in 1-3 above).

Bottom line: Use the sample .PS1 script to quickly make sure that all limits are set properly. Life is too short to dig through the GUI and check 4 or 5 locations manually if you don’t have to.

If you have any feedback or helpful PowerShell scripts that relate to email limits in Exchange 2007 or 2010, please feel free to post them in the comments.

More details: Official SBS Blog

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Recent SBS and WHS KB Articles – August 2011

More info and updates for your network admin pleasure.

SBS 2003

SBS 2008

SBS 2011 Standard / Essentials

WHS 2011 / Windows Storage Server Essentials 2008 R2

  • KB #2554637 – SBS 2011 Essentials, WHS 2011, WSSE 2008 R2 –

    The client-side package of Update Rollup 1 for Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials, for Windows Home Server 2011, and for Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials is available
    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2554637/

  • KB #2554634 – WHS 2011 – Update Rollup 1 for Windows Home Server 2011 is available
    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2554634/

Other

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Tip – Showing Thumbnails in SBS 2008 / SBS 2011

Each month when we do test restores of client servers, we pick a few files to demonstrate and verify that the files are valid. And typically the files we choose are JPGs because you can ‘see’ that there is content in them, not just some hollow Word or Excel doc that ‘looks’ OK.

Using JPGs works great for SBS 2003. However, Server 2008 doesn’t show thumbnails by default, even if you select the Icon view, like this…

The Large Icons view shows icons, not thumbnails

…you don’t get thumbnails. You get little pointless icons.

But it’s easy to turn those icons into real thumbnails:

In Windows Explorer click Tools | Folder Options | View | uncheck the box that says Always show icons, never thumbnails | click OK.

In Folder Options, uncheck Always show icons, never thumbnails

Now you see thumbnails, even though the menu says ‘Icons’:

Look ma, thumbnails!

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