Exchange Messaging Outlook Volume 15, Number 2

Creating a Safe or Blocked List using GPO

A reader asked if they could use the administrative templates and a GPO to add a domain to the safe senders list.

Yes, you can add addresses and domains to the safe and blocked lists using the ADM templates. You'll need to use this format for the domains: @microsoft.com. Don't use a wildcard.

If you are using Exchange 2007/2010, you can block addresses and domains at the server. For this, you'll use the Set-SenderFilterConfig cmdlet:
Set-SenderFilterConfig -BlockedDomains microsoft.com

If you want to block a specific address, the command would be in this format:
Set-SenderFilterConfig -BlockedSenders bill@microsoft.com

For more information on using Set-SenderFilterConfig, see
How to Add Blocked Senders and Domains to Sender Filter for
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb123706.aspx

2007 Office system (SP2) Administrative Template files (ADM, ADMX, ADML) and Office Customization Tool
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=73d955c0-da87-4bc2-bbf6-260e700519a8&displaylang=en 

Office 2010 Technology Guarantee

Anyone who is debating whether to purchase Office 2007 now or waiting for Office 2010's release can get Office 2007 now and Office 2010 when it comes out, for free (download) or for a small shipping and handling fee.

Three things to keep in mind:
If you do purchase Office 2007 and plan to take advantage of the offer, make sure you order your copy of Office 2010 by Oct 31 2010. I heard from a few people a couple of years after the Office 2007's release, asking how to get the free upgrade. They apparently thought it meant they could upgrade to Office 2007 free at any time.

If you choose the free download version, download it now and burn it to a DVD. Install it from the DVD to verify it works then put the DVD in a safe place. If the downloaded copy is bad or your hard drive dies in three or four years, you may not be able to download it again.

Put the installation key in a safe place, or two. Print it out, put it in an Outlook note, and put it in a text file you store with the downloaded file. This insures you have a copy of the key should you need to reinstall it later.

Based on the upgrade paths, the "best value" would be Office Small Business 2007, with a free upgrade to Office Professional 2010:
Ultimate 2007 > Professional 2010
Professional 2007 > Professional 2010
Small Business 2007 > Professional 2010
Standard 2007 > Home and Business 2010 (adds OneNote to the standard package)
Home and Student 2007 > Home and Student 2010

Binding a Static IP to the Default Website Breaks EMC?

"We're using Exchange 2010 and have a problem. Binding the default website to a single IP breaks EMC. Setting it back to "All Unassigned" fixes it and OWA, ECP etc all work as expected. But without being bound to a single IP, Autodiscover doesn't work right. What can I do? "

If you want to assign an IP, you need autodiscover on its own web site in IIS and two public IP addresses. Since you don't say what is wrong with autodiscover or if its on its own web site and I don't have a crystal ball, its hard to say what you need to do. I would double (or triple) check that Autodiscover is configured correctly. I would also publish an SRV record for the autodiscover service.

Configure Exchange Services for the Autodiscover Service
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb201695.aspx 

A new feature is available that enables Outlook 2007 to use DNS Service Location (SRV) records to locate the Exchange Autodiscover service
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940881