ALL EXCHANGE SERVER _QUESTION _A_
BASIC
01 What is Exchange 2003 Forestprep?
Exchange
2003 Forestprep extends the AD schema to include Exchange specific
information.
02
What
is Exchange 2003 Domainprep?
Exchange
2003 Domainprep creates the groups and permissions necessary for
Exchange servers to read and modify user attributes.
03
What
is a DC?
A
DC is a Windows 2000 or 2003 Domain Controller that holds active
directory partitions for a domain (used for things like user
authentication).
04
What
is a GC?
A
GC is a Global Catalog Server. A GC holds a full set of attributes
for the domain in which it resides and a subset of attributes for all
objects in the Active Directory Forest.
05
What
is DDNS and why do I need it?
Dynamic
DNS (described in RFC 2136) allows servers to dynamically update and
create records in DNS. Dynamic DNS is used by the Exchange server to
create server records and other entries used by the Exchange Servers
for things like message routing. In a simple Exchange organization,
DDNS is not strictly necessary, but makes administration much easier.
06
What
is a border server?
A
border server is an Exchange server that communicates with external
servers. In a single server organization, your server is by default a
border server. In a multi-server configuration, you may have one or
more dedicated servers that communicate directly or indirectly with
foreign servers and then pass the mail to other internal Exchange
servers.
07
What
is a mixed mode Exchange environment?
An
Exchange environment which contains Exchange 2003 or Exchange 2000
and Exchange 5.5 servers.
08
How
does an Exchange 5.5 site compare to an Exchange 2003 Routing Group
or Administrative Group?
In
a mixed mode Exchange environment the Exchange 2003 Administrative
Group and Routing Group correspond to the Exchange 5.5 site. In a
native Exchange 2000 environment, the Administrative Group is a group
of Exchange objects sharing a common set of permissions and routing
groups define how those servers communicate with one another. A
single Administrative Group can contain several Routing Groups.
Example: Your North American Exchange servers might be grouped in a
single Administrative Group, but subdivided into several Routing
Groups to optimize interserver communication. An Administrative Group
contains zero or more Routing Groups.
09
Where's
the Instant Messaging Server?
The
Exchange Instant Messaging Service is being replaced by the Microsoft
Office Real–Time Communications (RTC) server. It is no longer a
component of the Exchange Server. For more information, see
http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/rtcserver/.
10
What
is OMA?
Outlook
Mobile Access and Exchange Server ActiveSync features, formerly found
in Microsoft Mobile Information Server 2002, are now built-in with
all Exchange Server 2003 Standard installations.
Complementing
the Outlook 2003 and Outlook Web Access mobile improvements, Outlook
Mobile Access and Exchange Server ActiveSync help enable secure
corporate e-mail on a range of mobile devices including browser-based
mobile phones, Microsoft Windows Powered Pocket PC, and Microsoft
Windows Powered Smartphone devices.
Adding this functionality to the core Exchange Server 2003 product
reduces the need to deploy additional mobile server products in the
corporate environment, thus lowering the total cost of ownership.
11
Why
should I go to Exchange 2003 now?
There
are several reasons. A few are:
Opportunity
for Server Consolidation From Exchange 5.5 and Exchange 2000 because
you can get more mailboxes on an Exchange 2003 Server.
Better
security features. The server is secure by default and has added
things like automatic logoff for an inactive OWA session, Connection
filtering, and has more junk mail features like real-time
blacklists.
Availability
enhancements such as End-to-End Outlook Monitoring, Improvements in
ESM, Mailbox Recovery Center, and a Recovery Storage Group.
Increase
in Mobile device support for Pocket PC’s, Pocket PC Phones and
Microsoft Windows®–powered Smartphones.
12
What
are the differences between Exchange 2000 and Exchange 2003?
Some
features that are new in Exchange 2003 are:
Volume
Shadow Copy Service for Database Backups/Recovery
Mailbox
Recovery Center
Recovery
Storage Group
Front-end
and back-end Kerberos authentication
Distribution
lists are restricted to authenticated users
Real-time
Safe and Block lists
Inbound
recipient filtering
Attachment
blocking in Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access
HTTP
access from Outlook 2003
cHTML
browser support (i-Mode phones)
xHTML
(Wireless Application Protocol [WAP] 2.0) browser support
Queues
are centralized on a per-server basis
Move
log files and queue data using Exchange System Manager
Multiple
Mailbox Move tool
Dynamic
distribution lists
1,700
Exchange-specific events using Microsoft Operations Manager
(requires Microsoft Operations Manager)
Deployment
and migration tools
13
What
is the difference between Exchange 2003 Standard and Exchange 2003
Enterprise editions?
Standard
Edition
Enterprise
Edition
Both
Editions support features such as:
14
What’s
the difference between Exchange 2003 and Windows 2003?
Windows
Server 2003 provides significant enhanced functionality that Exchange
2003 takes advantage of:
Outlook
HTTP access
IIS
6.0 and Windows RPC Proxy service in Windows Server 2003 enable
communication between Outlook 2003 and Exchange Server 2003 by means
of HTTP. Outlook 2003 users can synchronize directly with the server
running Exchange Server 2003 over a HTTP or HTTPS connection.
Internet
protocol support
IIS
6.0 provides Exchange with its support for many common Internet
access protocols that increase the flexibility of the operating
system, such as HTTP, Post Office Protocol version 3 (POP3), Internet
Message Access Protocol version 4 (IMAP4), and Simple Mail Transfer
Protocol (SMTP).
Active
Directory
Windows
provides Active Directory, upon which Exchange depends for user
information, mail routing information, user authentication, and LDAP
read and write functions.
Support
for clustering
Exchange
Server 2003 provides better support for clustering, which enables
high availability of a company’s infrastructure. Customers can
choose to run up to 8-node clusters, with at least one passive node,
when running Exchange 2003 on Windows Server 2003, Enterprise
Edition. (In Windows 2000 Advanced Server, clustering was limited to
two nodes, one active and one passive; if a company chose to run
Windows 2000 Datacenter Server, clustering was limited to four
nodes.)
Volume
Shadow Copy service
This
and Virtual Disk Service are part of a storage framework that
provides heterogeneous interoperation of storage hardware, storage
software, and applications. Exchange 2003 writes to the Volume Shadow
Copy service on Windows Server 2003, reducing dramatically the backup
and restore times for Exchange messaging environments. This enables
IT departments to support greater numbers of users per server and
reduces the total number of servers running Exchange in their
environment.
SETUP/UPGRADE
01
How
can I merge multiple directories to create a unified Exchange
organization?
02
Can
I upgrade from the evaluation edition of Exchange 2003 Enterprise
Server to the RTM standard version of Exchange 2003 Server?
No
this is technically a downgrade from enterprise to standard. You can
only upgrade the evaluation version of Exchange 2003 Enterprise to
Exchange 2003 Enterprise RTM.
03
How
can you tell how many days remain until the evaluation copy of
Exchange 2000 Server expires?
The
Exchange Server Setup Progress Log includes the date on which the
Exchange server was installed. Take the difference between that date
and today's date and subtract it from 120 to determine how many days
remain in your evaluation.
04
My
evaluation version has expired! Are my databases toast?
No.
Install a full version of Exchange 2000 Enterprise and you can
continue to use your existing databases.
05
I
plan to run Exchange in a hosted environment, where can I find
information on how to configure my Exchange server to host multiple
companies
06
What
happened to the M: drive?
The
EXIFS (M: drive) feature has been disabled by default. If the feature
is still needed, it can be assigned to an available drive letter with
a registry setting.
07
Can
Exchange 5.5 or Exchange 2000 run on Windows 2003?
NO.
Windows 2003 uses IIS 6.0, which has been re-engineered to keep up
with best practices and industry standards. Windows 2003 has an IIS
5.0 compatibility mode, however, it is not compatible with Exchange
5.5 or Exchange 2000. Therefore, neither Exchange Systems are
compatible with Windows 2003.
08
Can
I run Exchange 2000 with an AD infrastructure with Windows 2003 DC's?
YES,
all exchange versions will run in an AD 2003 environment. Exchange
2000 will benefit from some of the new features in AD 2003 and
Exchange 5.5 has an ADC specifically for an Exchange 5.5/ AD 2003
environment. If AD 2000 is upgraded to AD 2003, the ADC will need to
be upgraded also.*
09
Can
I upgrade Exchange 2003 Beta 2 to RTM?
NO.
Microsoft will not support any deployment of Beta 2 into a production
environment. Their official position is, “Exchange 2003 Beta 2
should not be deployed in a production environment. You can deploy
Exchange 2003 Beta 2 in a test environment only.
10
Can
I upgrade Exchange 5.5 in place to Exchange 2003?
NO.
In place upgrades to Exchange 2003 must already be Exchange 2000 SP3
and Windows 2000 SP3 or later. The only upgrade paths from 5.5 to
2003 are; an in place upgrade to Exchange 2000 then an in place
upgrade to Exchange 2003 or the leap frog migration which requires
another server.
11
How
should I upgrade from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2003?
Since
Exchange 5.5 can not be upgraded in place, The Active Directory
should be upgraded to AD 2003, setup the new ADC and then install a
new Exchange 2003 server. Then move users from 5.5 to 2003.
12
Where's
the Instant Messaging Server?
The
Exchange Instant Messaging Service is being replaced by the Microsoft
Office Real–Time Communications (RTC) server. It is no longer a
component of the Exchange Server.
13
What
are the Supported FE/BE scenarios? (i.e. E2003 FE with E2k BE etc.)
It
is not sufficient to simply upgrade front-end servers to Exchange
2003 for users to get the new interface.
You
must upgrade back-end servers to Exchange 2003 as well
Interface
matrix
Ex2000
FE + Ex2000 BE = Ex2000 OWA
Ex2003 FE + Ex2000 BE = Ex2000 OWA
Ex2000 FE + Ex2003 BE = Not supported (AG protected)
Ex2003
FE + Ex2003 BE = Ex2003 OWA
Ability
to Reply and Forward to Messages and Posts in Public Folders is only
enabled when the client is using a front-end server. Forms-based
authentication (FBA) is functional for deployments where the FE is
Exchange 2003, but the mailbox is still on Exchange 2000. However,
session timeouts are handled much better if the BE are also Exchange
2003
14
What
do I need to get RPC over HTTP working?
Client
Server-side
Exchange
2003 on Windows 2003 for FE (if FE is deployed)
Exchange
2003 on Windows 2003 for BE
Exchange
2003 on Windows 2003 for Public Folders
Exchange
2003 on Windows 2003 for System Folders
Windows
2003 for Global Catalog server
When
used with the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 RPC Proxy Service and
Exchange 2003, Outlook 2003 clients can connect simply using HTTP or
HTTPS, thereby reducing the need for virtual private networks (VPNs)
or dial-up remote access. If remote users only need to gain access to
corporate messaging information, your IT department may not need to
deploy VPN infrastructure. VPN-less access reduces costs and provides
for increased security by ensuring that remote Outlook users don’t
need access to the entire network.
15
What
do I need in order to install Exchange 2003?
A
partial list includes:
DNS
(preferably DDNS)
Active
Directory 2000 or 2003
Permissions
to update the Schema
Hardware
sufficient to run Exchange 2003
Windows
2000 SP3 applied to all DCs, GC, and all (future) E2K2 servers, or
Windows 2003.
16
I'm
running Exchange 5.5 and would like to upgrade to Exchange 2003. Can
I upgrade directly?
No.
The only supported upgrade in place is from Exchange 2000 SP3 or
later. You would need to first upgrade your Exchange 5.5 server to at
least Exchange 2000 SP3 and then upgrade in place to Exchange 2003.
Another option is to exmerge out your current users and exmerge them
into an Exchange 2003 server. And the only other option is called the
leap frog migration. You configure the Active Directory Connector
(ADC) for Exchange 2003 between the Active Directory and Exchange 5.5
Directory Service. Install a new Exchange 2003 server into the
enterprise and move the Exchange 5.5 users to Exchange 2003.
17
Can
I install Exchange 2003 on Windows 2000 server?
Yes,
but Windows 2000 must have SP3 loaded first.
18
Can
I rename or move the default groups created by Exchange during
domainprep and forestprep?
Only
if you want to horribly break your Exchange installation.
19
What
are the minimum hardware requirements for Exchange 2003?
The
minimum practical hardware requirements in our experience are 1.25
times the disk space one would allocate under Exchange 2000, 1GB RAM
(4GB minimum if the Exchange server also serves any other function)
and the fastest processor(s) you can afford.
20
Am
I better off with one really fast processor or two somewhat slower
processors?
You're
better off with two really fast processors. But, with all other
things being equal, two processors are better than one with Exchange
2003. In most instances, a 2-processor machine would be preferable.
21
Can
I have multiple Exchange 2003 organizations in a single forest?
No.
Only a single E2K3 organization can exist within a single forest.
Delegation of administration within the organization can be
accomplished using OUs in AD and Administrative/ Routing Groups in
the Exchange system manager.
22
Can
an Exchange 2003 organization span multiple forests?
No.
All domains in a forest share a common schema and the Exchange
organization exists within this configuration naming context. The GC,
which provides the Global Address List is populated only with items
within the forest
23
What
ports does Exchange use?
A
partial list of the ports your Exchange server might use is included
below
25
SMTP
53
DNS
80
HTTP
88
Kerberos
102
X.400
110
POP3
119
NNTP
135
RPC
137
- NetBIOS Session Service
139
- NetBIOS Name Service
143
IMAP4
379
LDAP (SRS)
389
LDAP
443
HTTP (SSL)
445
- NetBIOS over TCP
465
SMTP (SSL)
563
NNTP (SSL)
636
LDAP (SSL)
691
LSA
993
IMAP4 (SSL)
994
IRC (SSL)
995
POP3 (SSL)
1503
T.120
1720
H.323
1731
Audio conferencing
1863
- MSN IM
3268
GC
3269
GC (SSL)
6001
Rpc/HTTP Exchange Store
6002
HTTP Exchange Directory Referral service
6004
Rpc/HTTP NSPI Exchange Directory Proxy service/Global Catalog
6667
IRC/IRCX
6891
- 6900 - MSN IM File transfer
6901
- MSN IM Voice
7801
- 7825 - MSN IM Voice
24
Exchange
Group Policy Notes, what should I do?
A:
Do Not
delete the Default Domain Policy or Default Domain Controller Policy
in your Active Directory.
The
Exchange domain prep operation targets a policy with GUID
6AC1786C-016F-11D2-945F-00C04fB984F9 for its operations. If it
doesn't find it, domain prep will fail.
ADMINISTRATION
01
What
happened to the M: drive?
The
EXIFS (M: drive) feature has been disabled by default. If the feature
is still needed, it can be assigned to an available drive letter with
a registry setting.
02
Do
I need Windows XP to use Outlook RPC over HTTP?
Yes.
Windows XP with Service Pack 1 + KB331320
03
When
will Exchange 2003 SP1 be available?
When
it is ready
04
How
do I configure the Recovery Storage Group?
In
Exchange 2003, there is a new feature called the "Recovery
Storage Group" (RSG). This is a special instance of ESE (a 5th
instance) which can be spun up to provide:
a. Item/Folder/Mailbox
level restore without the need for a spare server
b. "Dial
tone" (blank mailbox) support if you lose a database and need to
get the users quickly up and running for send/receive
To
create the RSG, go into Exchange 2003 ESM, right-click on your server
object and choose to create a new Recovery Storage Group.
Once the
RSG exists, you can add a database to it (any MDB from any Storage
Group from any server inside the same Admin Group). Then, use
NTBackup or similar to restore a backup into the RSG. Now, you can
use ExMerge to extract the data from the RSG and merge it into the
production database (for scenario a.), or you can swap the
RSG-restored database for the temporary production database (for
scenario b).
One of the goals for the Recovery Storage Group
05
Under
Exchange 5.5 I couldn't restore a single mailbox without 3rd party
products. With Exchange 2003, is it any easier to restore a single
mailbox or back up a single mailbox?
Yes
and no. Under Exchange 2003, a mailbox is not deleted immediately
when a Windows account is deleted. Although restores have been
greatly improved with the new Recovery Storage Group (RSG) and the
Volume Shadow Copy Service, there is no built in mechanism for
backing up a single Exchange mailbox. This would still require a 3rd
party brick level backup utility.
06
Can
I back up the EXIFS drive using NT Backup or another backup
application?
You
can, but you will be sad. Do NOT back up the EXIFS drive of an
Exchange 2003 server. It can result in messages and attachments being
inaccessible via the Outlook client.
07
How
can I prevent a user from sending and receiving Internet mail?
Follow
the steps outlined below:
Create
a group called InternalOnly.
Create
a recipient policy that gives them a fake SMTP address. i.e.
@fake.domain. Leave the X400 address alone so they can receive
internal mail.
Drill
down through Routing Groups > Group Name > Connectors >
SMTP internet connector(s), choose its properties. Choose the
Delivery Restrictions tab, and under "reject", add this
group. Do this for each connector.
Follow
the steps in KB277872,
regarding Connector Restrictions.
[Now they can't use the SMTP
connector(s) to send external mail]
08
What
tools are used to administer Exchange 2003?
Active
Directory Users & Computers
- Used to create users, distribution groups and contacts.
Exchange System Manager - Used to manage the Exchange Server,
create address lists, recipient policies, and now does some user
level actions...
09
Can
I use Exchange 2000 tools to manage Exchange 2003 Servers?
No,
the property sheets of the 2003 servers will appear as read-only. You
should avoid using Exchange 2000 ESM in environments where Exchange
2003 is installed. Not only will you not be able to access new
Exchange 2003 features, but there is also the risk of damage to new
objects that Exchange 2000 does not understand. If you must continue
to use Exchange 2000 ESM, apply the latest Exchange 2000 SP3 roll-up
to your Admin workstation(s) -
http://microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=E247C80E-8AFA-4C2A-96B3-F46D1808C790&displaylang=en
The
roll-up includes support for the msExchMinAdminVersion attribute
(also known as ESM versioning). Essentially, each Exchange object in
the AD is stamped with a minimum admin version. If ESM detects that
the data value is greater than the version of ESM running, it will
not allow edits to that object.
10
Can
I use Exchange 2003 tools to manage Exchange 5.5 and Exchange 2000
Servers?
Yes,
with the exception of the following Exchange 2000 components; Key
Management Server, Exchange Instant Messaging, Chat, MS-Mail /
Schedule+ / DirSync / cc:Mail Connectors
11
I
created a user in AD Users and Computers, but in the Exchange system
manager it doesn't appear under Mailbox Store Mailboxes. What did I
do wrong?
Probably
nothing. A mailbox will not appear under Mailbox Store Mailboxes
until either someone has logged into the mailbox or the mailbox has
received a mail message. Some administrators send a welcome message
to a mailbox shortly after it has been created, which would cause it
to appear.
12
I
created a secondary Public Folder Hierarchy, but only the original
public folder hierarchy appears in Outlook.
Current
versions of Outlook only support a single public folder hierarchy.
Secondary Public Folder hierarchies can be accessed with the web.
13
In
Exchange 5.5, I could have multiple mailboxes associated with a
single user account. How do I do that in Exchange 2003?
Exchange
2003 requires a user object for each mailbox. You can create a
disabled user object, associate a mailbox with it, and then grant
another user object 'receive as' and 'send as' permissions to that
mailbox.
14
What
is the difference between 'receive as' and 'send as'?
'Receive
as' allows a user object to open a mailbox. 'Send as' allows a user
to send out a mail message as the mailbox that has been opened.
15
How
do I restrict a user or domain from sending mail to my users?
First,
add the address or domain you wish to filter to the Filtering Tab of
the Message Delivery Global Settings. Next, you need to apply the
filter to the SMTP virtual server you wish to filter. (Administrative
Group Server Protocols SMTP <SMTP Virtual Server>
Properties Advanced <select the IP address for which you wish
to enable filtering> Edit Apply Filter). Normally, you would
only want to apply message filtering to the border SMTP servers
(servers that communicate directly with External servers).
16
I've
created more than one address list. Which list will users see for
their GAL?
The
following criteria are used when determining what a client will see
for the Global Address List.
If
your mailbox appears as an object in more than one address list:
17
What
do the event IDs mean in the message tracking log?
They
are listed in Appendix
A
18
Is
Single Instance Storage maintained when moving users between servers
storage groups databases?
Yes...
19
In
my native E2K3 organization is there any requirement for RPC
connectivity between servers?
In
order to move users between servers, RPC connectivity is required.
20
How
can I archive messages sent or received by my users?
Messages
can be archived on a per store basis by enabling the option on the
general properties tab of the Mailbox Store in the Exchange System
Manager.
Use
an event sink (either write your own or use the simple one provided
by Microsoft and described in “Archive Sink Readme.txt”
Use
a 3rd party message archival tool.
21
Why
when I try to add an additional mailbox store do I receive the
following error? This storage group already contains the maximum
number of stores allowed. ID no: c1034a7a
You
are running the standard version of Exchange 2003 which is limited to
a single 16GB private information store.
22
How
do I get the Exchange Advanced Tab in Active Directory Users and
Computers?
Open
Active Directory Users and Computers. Click on the View menu item at
the top of the application. Select “Advanced Features” on
the menu list. When you open a property page for an Active Directory
object that has a mailbox associated with it, you will now see the
“Exchange Advanced” tab at the top.
23
How
do I control the format of the addresses before the @ sign in a
recipient policy?
You
can use the following variables: %g Given Name, %s Surname, %i
initials in the recipient policy.
Examples:
User:
Tommy Lee Jones
Domain: company.com
%g.%s@company.com
= Tommy.Jones@company.com
%1g%s@company.com =
TJones@company.com
%g%2s@comapny.com = TommyJo@company.com
Less commonly used variables include, %m (alias) and %d (display
name).
24
How
do I make Exchange automatically send a welcome message to all newly
created users?
There
is nothing in the product that will do this. You can create a
WELCOME.MSG that you deploy with Outlook, but that only applies the
first time Outlook is opened after creating a new profile. Otherwise,
you could script mailbox creation and send a message at the end of
the script.
25
Is
there any way to append a text message to all out bound email for
Exchange 2003?
On
a single Exchange server deployment, there is no 100% reliable way to
accomplish this with an SMTP Transport Event Sink; even though
KB273233
suggests that creating a second SMTP Virtual Server works. However,
at startup the Exchange Information Store binds to the SMTP Virtual
Server that starts first and you can not rely on the routing of the
mail from SMTP VS 1 to SMTP VS 2 as the KB273233
proposes. Also note that under special circumstances the database can
become corrupted if you use an SMTP Transport Event Sink to
manipulate outgoing (MAPI) message contents. This is currently under
investigation by Microsoft and a QFE to prevent the store corruption
is under development. ****
There
are 3rd party products that will do this too.
26
How
do I add a disclaimer to outgoing SMTP messages in Visual
Basic/Visual Basic Script?
You
can do it, however, see there are limitations. It reliably works only
on a border server, which can be either a Windows 2000 or 2003 SMTP
Server with or without Exchange 2000/2003 installed. For more
information, see KB317327
and KB317680
27
How
can you tell the exact version of Exchange you are running?
Here
is a list of build numbers for Exchange 2000/2003:
Exchange
2000
4417.5
= Exchange 2000 RTM
4712.7
= Exchange 2000 SP1
5762.4
= Exchange 2000 SP2
6249.4
= Exchange 2000 SP3
6396.1
= Exchange 2000 Post-SP3 Super Roll-up
63xx/64xx
= Exchange 2000 Post-SP3 Hotfixes
Exchange
2003
6728.12
= Exchange 2003 Beta 1
6803.8
= Exchange 2003 Beta 2
6851.10
= Exchange 2003 Release Candidate 0
6895.5
= Exchange 2003 Release Candidate 1 (Candidate)
28
How
do I add a disclaimer to outgoing SMTP messages in Visual Basic?
How
To: Add a Disclaimer to Outgoing SMTP Messages in Visual Basic –
KB317327
29
Resource
/ Conference room scheduling
Outlook
2003 offers basic resource booking functionality through Direct
Booking. For more information refer to “Direct
Booking of Resource Without a Delegate Account”
There
are 3rd party products such as Exchange
Resource Manager and AutoAccept
Sink for Exchange that will
automatically accept/decline meeting requests for conference rooms
and other resources.
31
How
do I find an SMTP mail address in Active Directory if Active
Directory Users and Computers tells me it is in use when I try to
create a new user?
Either
open Outlook to create a new message with that SMTP address and hit
“CTRL+K” to resolve it, or use a Windows Scripting Host
script to find it. For the latter, see
http://www.cdolive.net/download/adusermanagement.zip
(look for FindUserWithADSI.wsf and FindUserWithCDO.wsf)
32
How
do I Enable the Security Tab for the Organization Object?
This
tab is not enabled by default. For instructions on how to enable it
see KB264733
33
How
do I restrict users from Creating Top-Level Folders?
For
Exchange 2000 public folders, you can follow the instructions in this
article KB256131.
But with Exchange 2000, however, any time a new server is added to
the organization, these permissions will be reset.
In
Exchange 2003 these permission are restricted by default so to
install Exchange 2003, you will automatically restrict them.
“Allow create top-level public folder access control entry for
everyone” permissions and “allow anonymous logon from the
organization container” permissions are removed during the
installation of Exchange 2003.*****
34
Why
do the storage quota settings not take effect immediately?
This
problem has been fixed in AN Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server
Post-Service Pack 3 MDB patch. For more information see KB327378
35
How
do I limit which Outlook client versions can access my server?
You
need to create the Disable MAPI Clients registry value to disable
MAPI client access. For more information, see KB288894
37
How
do I disable the "Automatically update e-mail addresses based on
recipient policy" on all users or contacts?
'
Default setting for "msExchPoliciesExcluded" is empty
'
Once disabling the automatic e-mail address update it is:
'
"{26491CFC-9E50-4857-861B-0CB8DF22B5D7}"
'
Default setting for "msExchPoliciesIncluded" is:
'
"{26491CFC-9E50-4857-861B-0CB8DF22B5D7}" plus a unique GUID
for each applied Recipient Policy separated by a comma
' And after
turning off the automatic update "msExchPoliciesIncluded"
is only:
' "{26491CFC-9E50-4857-861B-0CB8DF22B5D7}"
Migration
01
Can
I use Exchange 2003's OWA to access a mailbox on an Exchange 5.5 or
Exchange 2000 server?
Yes
and No. Exchange 2003 can access a 2000 back-end server however, it
will remain the same as Exchange 2000 OWA. As for Exchange 5.5, the
enhanced OWA is built directly into the store technology and only a
mailbox residing on an Exchange 2003 server can be accessed using the
enhanced OWA interface. Nice try, though.
02
Can
I use Exchange 5.5's OWA to access a mailbox on an Exchange 2003
server?
Yes.
But you will not get the look and feel or the added features from the
2003 servers.
03
How
do I remove the ADC after moving all of my users to an Exchange 2003
server?
First,
you need to use the Exchange 5.5 Admin program to delete the
directory replication connectors (Org Site Configuration
Connections). Once you have deleted the connections, you need to be
logged on with an account with Schema Admin privileges to delete the
ADC connector.
04
How
many Global Catalog servers should I deploy?
There
is no hard and fast rule in this regard. Some potential guidelines
include:
At
least 1 per routing group
One
for every 4 Exchange servers in a routing group
One
(or more) for each physical location
Transport
01
What
additional queues have been exposed?
All
the system queues like the failed message retry queue, DNS messages
pending submission, and messages queued for deferred delivery are now
exposed to enhance trouble shooting.
02
Is
there any way to append a text message to all out bound email for
Exchange 2003?
On
a single Exchange server deployment, there is no 100% reliable way to
accomplish this with an SMTP Transport Event Sink; even though
KB273233
suggests that creating a second SMTP Virtual Server works. However,
at startup the Exchange Information Store binds to the SMTP Virtual
Server that starts first and you can not rely on the routing of the
mail from SMTP VS 1 to SMTP VS 2 as the KB273233
proposes. Also note that under special circumstances the database can
become corrupted if you use an SMTP Transport Event Sink to
manipulate outgoing (MAPI) message contents. This is currently under
investigation by Microsoft and a QFE to prevent the store corruption
is under development. ****
There are 3rd party products that will do this too.
03
How
do I add a disclaimer to outgoing SMTP messages in Visual
Basic/Visual Basic Script?
You
can do it, however, see there are limitations. It reliably works only
on a border server, which can be either a Windows 2000 or 2003 SMTP
Server with or without Exchange 2000/2003 installed. For more
information, see KB317327
and KB317680
04
Can
I view the queues on a per server basis?
Yes,
in the new Queue Viewer in the Exchange 2003 System Manager.
05
How
do I move SMTP queues and badmail directories?
Exchange
2003 allows you to change the location of queue directories for SMTP
virtual servers and X.400.
The
Directions are in the document entitled “Exchange
Titanium Getting Started Guide”
06
What
do the various queue names mean?
DNS
messages pending submission - Contains delivery status notifications
(DSN), also known as non-delivery reports that are ready to be
delivered by Exchange. The Delete All Messages (no NDR) and Delete
All Messages (NDR) functions are unavailable for this queue.
Messages
queued for deferred delivery – Contains the messages marked by
the client for deferred delivery or messages simply awaiting delivery
at a different time.
Failed message retry - Contains messages that have been marked as
retry due to a delivery failure. This queue also does not have the
NDR functions mention in the DNS messages pending submission queue.
07
How
do I activate the real time safe block list?
Enabling
connection filter involves two steps:
Create
the recipient filter using the Connection Filtering tab on the
Message Delivery Properties under Global Settings.
Apply
the filter at the SMTP virtual server level.
08
How
do I filter incoming mail by subject or attachment?
Exchange
2003 does not have any built-in function to accomplish that. Either
look for a third party tool or develop your own Windows SMTP
Transport Event Sink.
09
How
do I limit the maximum amount of messages the SMTP queue can hold?
You
have to use the MaxMessageObjects registry key.
10
How
do I strip the attachment from an NDR?
You
can do this through a registry entry. But there are two drawbacks.
Once this is done, the details that are necessary to display the
notification in the preview pane are stripped, and the originator of
the message cannot use the Send Again option.
11
How
do you restrict Distribution Lists?
Submissions
can be restricted to a limited number of security principles though
the standard Windows Discretionary Access Control List (DACL). This
feature prevents non-trusted senders, such as unauthorized Internet
users, from sending mail to an internal only distribution list. An
example of this would be an “All Employees” distribution
list which should not be available to anyone outside the company (by
spoofing or otherwise). Note Restricted distribution lists will only
work on the bridgehead servers or SMTP gateway servers running
Exchange 2003.
To
set restrictions on a distribution list
Click
Start,
point to All
Programs,
point to Microsoft
Exchange,
and then click Active
Directory Users and Computers.
Expand
your organizational unit container, and double-click Users.
Right-click
the distribution list for which you want to restrict submissions,
and then click Properties.
Click
the Exchange
General
tab.
Under
Message
Restrictions,
under Accept
messages,
select one of the following options:
Click
From
everyone
to allow anyone to send to this distribution list. This includes
anonymous users from the Internet.
Click
From
authenticated users
only to allow only authenticated users to send mail to this
distribution list.
Click
Only
from
to specify a select set of users or groups that can send to this
group and then click Add
to specify the users or groups that you want to permit to send mail
to this distribution list.
Click
From
everyone except
to allow everyone but a select set of users or groups to send to
this distribution group and then click Add
to specify the list of users or groups that you want to restrict
from sending to this distribution list.
STORE
What
happened to the M: drive?
The
EXIFS (M: drive) feature has been disabled by default. If the feature
is still needed, it can be assigned to an available drive letter with
a registry setting.
02
What
is the STM file?
the
.stm file is part of the information store database that contains the
native internet formatted items. It is used to improve the
performance of the database.
03
Why
does the size of the EDB file not change when I move users out of
that store?
The
.edb file will only decrease in size once a database defrag is
performed.
04
How
do I move the log files?
The
new ESM allows the administrator to move the log files through the
GUI.
05
Is
there an easier way to move mailboxes grouped by mailbox.store?
Yes,
you can now move mailboxes through ESM grouped by mailbox store.
06
Will
an in place upgrade from Exchange 2000 remove the M: drive?
Yes,
In both the clean install and upgrade from Exchange 2000 scenarios,
Exchange 2003 does not present EXIFS as drive letter M:
07
If
there is still an M: drive mapped, why does the free space number
look funny?
The
free space number shown on the M: drive is based on the main install
drive for Exchange. It is not related to the drive space on the
drives where the stores actually exist.
CLUSTERING
01
Which
cluster configuration is preferred?
Microsoft
recommends Active/Passive clustering because it:
Scales
better
sizes
the same way as a stand alone Exchange server
can
have up to 8 nodes in the cluster
always
fails over to a fresh node
02
What
happened to Active/Active Clustering?
Active/Active
clustering is only supported with a 2-node cluster limited to 1900
concurrent connections.
03
Do
I still have to cycle the services on fail back like in 2000
Active/Passive mode?
The
Exchange services are automatically shutdown on failover so when fail
back happens the services are automatically brought back online for a
clean address space.
04
How
many cluster nodes are supported by each version of Exchange?
Exchange
2003 and Windows 2003, Standard Edition will run up to a 4-node
cluster. Exchange 2003 and Windows 2003 Enterprise will run an 8-node
cluster with at least one passive node.
05
Are
there any other differences between Win2k and Win2k3 clustering?
Win2k3
Enterprise and Datacenter both support 8-node clusters. MSCS
(Microsoft Clustering Services) is now available for high
availability. NLB Manager allows the administrator to configure the
NLB service in a central location thus avoiding mistakes from
repetitive actions. For more information see the “Technical
Overview of Clustering in Windows Server 2003”
and “Windows
Server 2003 Server Cluster Architecture”
documents.
06
Why
am I getting the 9582’s and what is VM Fragmentation?
VM
fragmentation is when the virtual memory becomes fragmented and can
prevent stores form mounting. The 9582 event is the event that warns
about this condition. For more information refer to “The
Extensible Storage Engine Database Engine Contributes to Virtual
Memory Fragmentation (324118)”
ADC
01
What
are the new ADC Tools?
The
Active Directory Connector management console now contains an ADC
Tools option. ADC Tools is a collection of wizards and tools that
help you set up connection agreements by scanning your current Active
Directory and Exchange 5.5 Directory and organization, and
automatically creating the recommended connection agreements. The
following wizards are included in the ADC Tools:
Resource
Mailbox Wizard
This wizard identifies Active Directory accounts that match more than
one Exchange 5.5 mailbox. Using this wizard, you can match the
appropriate primary mailbox to the Active Directory account and stamp
other mailboxes with the NTDSNoMatch attribute, which designates the
mailboxes as resource mailboxes. You can either make these changes
online or export a commaseparated value (.csv) file that you can
update and import into the Exchange 5.5 directory.
Connection
Agreement Wizard
This wizard recommends connection agreements based on your Exchange
5.5 directory and Active Directory configuration. You can review the
list of recommended connection agreements and select those you want
the wizard to create.
The Exchange Server Deployment Tools lead you through the process of
installing Active Directory Connector and running ADC Tools.
02
Can
I use the Windows 2003 Active Directory connector with Exchange 2003?
No,
you need to install the Exchange 2003 ADC.
03
How
can I get a list of connection agreements in Exchange 2003 ADC?
Run
the ExchDump utility with the /CA switch.
OWA
How
do I disable OWA for a single user in Exchange 2000/2003?
In
Active Directory Users and Computers (Advanced Features view) open
the properties for the user object and choose Exchange Advanced
Protocol Settings HTTP Settings and uncheck the 'Enable for
mailbox' check box.
03
How
do I make OWA work properly with Extended Characters?
Beginning
in Exchange 2000, messages with extended characters are encoded with
UTF-8, by default. For more information see KB273615
and KB281745
04
How
do I stop users from going to a bookmarked /LOGON.ASP page after
conversion to 2003 OWA?
After
converting from Exchange 5.5 OWA to 2000 OWA, all the users had book
marked the URL of mail.company.com/exchange/logon.asp, since in 5.5
OWA it automatically would pull the user from the root URL into a
logon page (since it used ASP) but now the user only sees the same
base URL of mail.company.com/exchange. So once the users used the
book mark or in some cases the "autocomplete" feature in IE
they would be pulled to a dead address.
Go
into the front-end server that is hosting your OWA.
Start
up IIS admin and locate the /Exchange virtual directory
Right
click on the /Exchange directory and using the "wizard"
create a new virtual directory called logon.asp. When it prompts
where the content is located just put something like
c:\inetpub\wwwroot
Once
the virtual root has been created, right click it, select properties
then select the tab labeled "Virtual Directory"
Select
the "A redirection to a URL" and then in the "Redirect
to" URL enter /exchange/
What happens is when the user hits the virtual root of
/exchange/logon.asp it pulls the user back to only /exchange*
05
How
do I activate session timeouts for OWA users?
Outlook
Web Access user credentials are now stored in a cookie. When the user
logs out of Outlook Web Access, the cookie is cleared and is no
longer valid for authentication. Additionally, by default the cookie
is set to expire automatically after 20 minutes of user inactivity.
See Logon
Modifications for OWA Users
for the instructions.
06
How
do I disable potions of the OWA interface?
Exchange
2000 SP2 introduced the concept of OWA segmentation. This is where
you can selectively enable/disable certain features in the web
client. Exchange 2003 extends the segmentation options found in
Exchange 2000. You can either set global (per server) segmentation
via a registry parameter, or set the msExchMailboxFolderSet attribute
on user objects. A bit mask determines the functionality available to
the user.
07
What
are the new OWA Hot Keys?
Ctrl+N:
New Mail (or Post, if in public folders)
Ctrl+R:
Reply to currently selected mail in view
Ctrl+Shift+R:
Reply all to currently selected mail in view
Ctrl+Shift+F:
Forward currently selected mail
Ctrl+U:
Mark currently selected message(s) as unread
Ctrl+Q:
Mark currently selected message(s) as read .
OMA
01
Can
I deploy OMA in a mixed environment?
In
a mixed Exchange environment, you must use Exchange 2003 for both the
front-end and back-end servers to gain access to mailboxes through
Outlook Mobile Access (OMA) and Exchange ActiveSync. For mailboxes on
Exchange 5.5 and 2000, you need to deploy Microsoft Mobile
Information Server.
02
What
is OMA?
Outlook
Mobile Access and Exchange Server ActiveSync features, formerly found
in Microsoft Mobile Information Server 2002, are now built-in with
all Exchange Server 2003 Standard installations.
Complementing
the Outlook 2003 and Outlook Web Access mobile improvements, Outlook
Mobile Access and Exchange Server ActiveSync help enable secure
corporate e-mail on a range of mobile devices including browser-based
mobile phones, Microsoft Windows Powered Pocket PC, and Microsoft
Windows Powered Smartphone devices.
Adding this functionality to the core Exchange Server 2003 product
reduces the need to deploy additional mobile server products in the
corporate environment, thus lowering the total cost of ownership.
03
Which
devices are supported by Microsoft to be used with OMA?
Device
support for Outlook Mobile Access (OMA) Browse is dictated by the
Device Update package installed on the Exchange 2003 server. When you
run Exchange 2003 Setup today, the DU2 package is silently installed
as part of the installation.
Approximately,
every 6 months, new Device Update packages are released. This will
add support for more devices to your Exchange server.
The current Device Update package is DU4.
The full list of devices and which DU package they are included in is
available here.
04
I
have just upgraded and I can’t use OMA, why?
The
setting to enable/disable OMA Browse is actually set during
ForestPrep. Exchange 2003 ForestPrep will no longer enable OMA Browse
by default. Exchange 2003 ForestPrep/Reinstall will keep it enabled
if it was already enabled. This means that OMA Browse WON’T be
enabled when running ForestPrep to upgrade from Exchange 2000. You
can find OMA Browse settings in ESM, under Global Settings ->
Mobile Services -> Properties
Note: ActiveSync and AUTD remain unchanged.
05
I
have an Exchange 2003 server on a member server that I promoted to a
DC, what happened to my OMA, it no longer works?
Amongst
other problems, the ASP.NET account changes which causes OMA to cease
functioning.
06
How
do I verify OMA is functioning?
You
can verify Outlook Mobile Access (OMA) is functioning from a desktop
machine running IE 6.0 Assuming that SERVER1 is running Exchange
2003:
From
a desktop PC running IE6.0, navigate to http://server1/oma
Enter
the logon credentials for an existing mailbox which resides on
server1
Click
the OK hyperlink when you receive the warning about your device
being unsupported
Welcome
to OMA!
OUTLOOK 2003
01
What
do I need to get RPC over HTTP working?
Client
Server-side
Exchange
2003 on Windows 2003 for FE (if FE is deployed)
Exchange
2003 on Windows 2003 for BE
Exchange
2003 on Windows 2003 for Public Folders
Exchange
2003 on Windows 2003 for System Folders
Windows
2003 for Global Catalog server
When
used with the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 RPC Proxy Service and
Exchange 2003, Outlook 2003 clients can connect simply using HTTP or
HTTPS, thereby reducing the need for virtual private networks (VPNs)
or dial-up remote access. If remote users only need to gain access to
corporate messaging information, your IT department may not need to
deploy VPN infrastructure. VPN-less access reduces costs and provides
for increased security by ensuring that remote Outlook users don’t
need access to the entire network.
02
Do
I need Windows XP to use Outlook RPC over HTTP?
Yes.
Windows XP with Service Pack 1 + Q331320
03
How
can I enable/disable an attribute used by the Outlook client for
ambiguous name resolution
04
What
are the differences in compression between Outlook 2002/2003 and
Exchange 2002/2003?
The
following tables illustrate how RPC compression and buffer packing
works on the wire between the Outlook client and Exchange Server.
Outlook
2002 against Exchange 2000 / 2003
Mode
|
Data
Flow
|
Network
Client
|
Buffer
Size
|
Data
Buffer Size
|
Size
on Wire
|
Compressed
|
Online
|
Download/Upload
|
LAN
|
32Kb
|
32Kb
|
32Kb
|
No
|
Online
|
Download/Upload
|
WAN
|
4Kb/8Kb
|
4Kb/8Kb
|
4Kb/8Kb
|
No
|
Offline
|
Download/Upload
|
All
|
32Kb
|
32Kb
|
32Kb
|
No
|
Outlook
2003 against Exchange 2003
Mode
|
Data
Flow
|
Network
Client
|
Buffer
Size
|
Data
Buffer Size
|
Size
on Wire
|
Compressed
|
Online
|
Download
|
All
|
32Kb
|
32Kb
|
<32Kb
|
Yes
|
Online
|
Upload
|
All
|
32Kb
|
32Kb
|
<32Kb
|
Yes
|
Cached
|
Download
|
All
|
96Kb
|
>96Kb
|
96Kb
|
Yes
|
Cached
|
Upload
|
All
|
32Kb
|
32Kb
|
<32Kb
|
Yes
|
Offline
|
Download
|
All
|
32Kb
|
>32Kb
|
32Kb
|
Yes
|
Offline
|
Upload
|
All
|
32Kb
|
32Kb
|
<32Kb
|
Yes
|
The
compression technology used between Outlook 2003 and Exchange 2003 is
called XPRESS(tm) and is based on the Lempel-Ziv (LZ-77) algorithm.
This is the same technology that Active Directory uses to perform
compression of its’ RPC data when replicating between servers.
All data over the size of 1 KB is compressed, and the technology is
built into both client and server; therefore the compression is full
duplex.
The
compression gain is dictated by the message format and attachment(s)
type. Because the compression is performed at the RPC level, all
message data is compressed.
Plain
text and HTML messages usually compress between 60% and 80% (on the
wire saving)
Rich-text
(RTF) messages usually compress up to 20% (on the wire saving)
Word
documents compress down better than PowerPoint files
Logon
Modifications for OWA Users
You
can enable a new logon page for Outlook Web Access that will store
the user's user name and password in a cookie instead of in the
browser. When a user closes their browser, the cookie will be
cleared. Additionally, after a period of inactivity, the cookie will
be cleared automatically. The new logon page requires users to enter
either their domain name\alias and password or their full UPN e-mail
address and password to access their e-mail.
Figure
2.8 Outlook Web Access logon page
This
logon page represents more than a cosmetic change; it offers several
new features.
To
enable forms-based authentication
In
Exchange System Manager, expand the Servers node.
Expand
the Protocols node under the Exchange server for which you wish to
enable forms-based authentication.
Expand
HTTP, and then right-click the Exchange Virtual Server.
On
the Exchange Virtual Server properties page, select the check box
next to Enable Forms Based Authentication for Outlook Web Access.
Click
Apply, and then click OK.
Cookie
Authentication Timeout
Outlook
Web Access user credentials are now stored in a cookie. When the user
logs out of Outlook Web Access, the cookie is cleared and is no
longer valid for authentication. Additionally, by default the cookie
is set to expire automatically after 20 minutes of user inactivity.
The
automatic timeout is valuable for keeping a user’s account
secure from unauthorized access. Although this timeout does not
completely eliminate the possibility that an unauthorized user might
access an account if an Outlook Web Access session is accidentally
left running on a public computer, it greatly reduces this risk.
Note:
Cookie Authentication Timeout is available for the rich experience
version of Outlook Web Access only.
The
inactivity timeout value can be configured by an administrator to
match the security needs of your organization.
Note:
The default value for the cookie timeout is 10 minutes. If you want
to set this value to something other than 10 minutes, you must modify
the registry settings on the server. Warning This section contains
information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry,
make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For
information about restoring the registry, see the “Restore the
Registry” Help topic in Regedit.exe or Regedt32.exe
To
set the Outlook Web Access cookie timeout value
Click
Start, click Run, and type Regedit in the box next to Open. Click
OK.
Navigate
to the following registry key:
HKey_local_machine\system\
CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeWeb\OWA\
Create
a new Dword value and name it KeyInterval.
Right-click
the KeyInterval Dword value and click Modify.
In
the Base window, click the button next to Decimal.
In
the Value Data field, enter a value (in minutes) between 1 and 1440.
Click
OK.
How
to server administration and user support?
How to create the
routing table?
How to handle the mail box? (e.g. move mailbox to
other server)
What's the bridgehead server used for?
What's
the difference between front-end server and backend server for
exchange?
Exchange installation procedure from start up
What
you need to do when install exchange domain?
]
How
do I configure and test the MX Record for my Internet Domain name?
http://www.petri.co.il/configure_mx_records_for_incoming_smtp_email_traffic.htm
http://blogs.msexchange.org/walther/2006/03/26/best-of-qa-from-webcast-exchange-server-2003-tips-tricks-and-shortcuts
Navy SEALS mount an attack on Colombian special forces to clear their names and rescue a hostage.
Good Night, and Good Luck director George Clooney pulls double duty once again in this sports-oriented romantic comedy set against the formation of professional football in the 1920s. Dodge Connelly (Clooney) is a brash and handsome gridiron giant who is equally comfortable leading his team in a barroom brawl or charging for a touchdown in a packed stadium. But when Connelly's team loses their sponsor and the entire league appears set to collapse, the quick-thinking jock attempts a creative late-game comeback. If Connelly can convince former college football star and decorated war hero Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski) to join the team, there may be hope for the ill-fated team after all. Back in World War I, Rutherford single-handedly forced the surrender of multiple German soldiers -- a feat that firmly established the dashing young soldier as America's favorite son. Not only that, but Rutherford's unparalleled speed makes him a valuable asset to the team. To cub reporter Lexie Littleton (Renée Zellweger), Rutherford seems simply too good to be true, and she's determined to prove that her theory is correct. As Littleton digs deep into Rutherford's past, the two teammates enter into a fierce competition for her erratic affections. Now, as Connelly's plan begins to work better than he ever could have anticipated, the rowdy sport he always loved starts to take on a whole new look and feel. In the midst of holding his team together and simultaneously charming the girl of his dreams, Connelly discovers he may be able to use the same strategies he does to win on the field to win in love. Of course, there might be a few fouls as this game enters the fourth quarter, but like every good player, Connelly knows the value of always having a secret play to fall back on before the final score is called. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide.
Finding Forrester star Rob Brown steps into the cleats of Heisman Trophy-winning gridiron giant Ernie Davis in director Gary Fleder's inspirational sports docudrama. As a young boy reared not far from the northern Pennsylvania state line, Davis dreamed of blasting through the end zone and scoring a triumphant touchdown while fans rose to their feet and cheered. When Davis later became a star running back for the Syracuse Orangemen, his dreams were finally on the way to becoming a reality. Under the wing of coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid), it seemed as if there is nothing that could stop Davis from entering into the annals of sports history; even during an era in which the civil rights movement was just gaining momentum, this fledgling gridiron giant never once doubted his ability to rise to the top. When Davis was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after being drafted into the NFL, however, his will to survive soon eclipsed his dreams of success. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide.
Inspired by a true story, director Edward Zwick's epic World War II drama Defiance tells the tale of three Jewish Eastern European brothers (Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, and Jamie Bell) who narrowly escape certain death at the hands of the Nazis, subsequently vowing to avenge the deaths of their loves ones by launching a desperate battle against the forces that seek to exterminate their entire race. The year is 1941, and the setting is Nazi-occupied Poland. The Final Solution is in full effect, and the Jews of Eastern Europe are being slaughtered wholesale. Tuvia (Craig), Zus (Schreiber), and Asael (Bell) have miraculously managed to escape into the dense surrounding forest. Having played in these woods since childhood, the brothers have a distinct advantage over their adversaries, and soon decide that simply surviving is not enough. In order to make a difference, they must take action, but in order to take action they will need support. As whispers of their bravery take wind, others like them appear determined to lay their lives on the line for the cause of freedom. Tuvia has become the de facto leader of the group, but he's still somewhat reluctant to take on such a heavy responsibility and his brother Zus expresses concern that his idealistic plan will ultimately bring about the group's downfall. With winter setting in, everyone works to create a functioning community that will help them endure the frigid months that lie ahead, and Asael reluctantly finds himself caught in the crossfire of his older siblings' rivalry. Is it possible to keep faith alive in a time when the world seems devoid of humanity and survival becomes a way of life? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide.
A grief counselor (Anne Hathaway) begins to suspect foul play when the six airplane crash survivors she is tending to mysteriously begin to disappear and the truth behind the tragedy grows ever more clouded in Nine Lives director Rodrigo García's conspiratorial supernatural thriller. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Richard Linklater's third feature -- set, like his other works, over the course of one 24-hour period -- Before Sunrise is a sweet, intelligent romantic comedy filmed primarily in Austria. It stars Ethan Hawke as Jesse, a young American travelling through Europe. On a train he meets Celine, a French student portrayed by Julie Delpy. Together they leave the train to begin exploring the city of Vienna, walking and talking into the wee hours of the night and slowly falling in love as the minutes before Jesse's return to the U.S. tick away. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
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