Introduction
Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Pocket Consultant: Databases, Services, & Management is designed to be a concise and compulsively usable resource for Exchange Server 2013 administrators. This is a resource guide that you’ll want on your desk at all times. The book covers everything you need to perform the core administrative tasks for Exchange databases, transport services, mail flow, and Client Access servers, whether your servers are running on Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2008 R2. Because the focus of this book is on giving you maximum value in a pocket-size guide, you don’t have to wade through hundreds of pages of extraneous information to find what you’re looking for. Instead, you’ll easily find exactly what you need to get the job done.
This book zeroes in on daily administrative procedures, frequently performed tasks, documented examples, and options that are representative although not necessarily inclusive. One of my goals is to keep the content so concise that the book remains compact and easy to navigate while at the same time ensuring that the book is packed with as much information as possible. Thus, instead of a hefty 1,000-page tome or a lightweight 100-page quick reference, you get a valuable resource guide that can help you quickly and easily perform common tasks, and solve problems.
Although you might not install Exchange Server 2013 on touch-enabled computers, you can still manage Exchange Server 2013 from your touch-enabled computers; therefore, understanding the touch UI in addition to the revised interfaces options will be crucial to your success. For this reason, I discuss both the touch UI and the traditional mouse and keyboard techniques throughout this book.
When you are working with touch–enabled computers, you can manipulate on-screen elements in ways that weren’t possible previously. You can enter text by using the on-screen keyboard and also in the following ways:
Tap. Tap an item by touching it with your finger. A tap or double-tap of elements on the screen generally is the equivalent of a mouse click or double-click.
Press and hold. Press your finger down and leave it there for a few seconds. Pressing and holding elements on the screen generally is the equivalent of a right-click.
Swipe to select. Slide an item a short distance in the opposite direction compared to how the page scrolls. This selects the items and also might bring up related commands. If pressing and holding doesn’t display commands and options for an item, try using swipe to select instead.
Swipe from edge (slide in from edge). Starting from the edge of the screen, swipe or slide in. Sliding in from the right edge opens the Charms panel. Sliding in from the left edge shows open apps and allows you to easily switch between them. Sliding in from the top or bottom edge shows commands for the active element.
Pinch. Touch an item with two or more fingers and then move the fingers toward each other. Pinching zooms in or shows less information.
Stretch. Touch an item with two or more fingers and then move the fingers away from each other. Stretching zooms out or shows more information.
As you’ve probably noticed, a great deal of information about Exchange Server 2013 is available on the web and in other printed books. You can find tutorials, reference sites, discussion groups, and more to make using Exchange Server 2013 easier. However, the advantage of reading this book is that much of the information you need to learn about Exchange Server 2013 is organized in one place and presented in a straightforward and orderly fashion. This book has everything you need to master Exchange databases, transport services, mail flow, and Client Access servers.
In this book, I teach you how features work, why they work in the way that they do, and how to customize features to meet your needs. I also offer specific examples of how certain features can meet your needs, and how you can use other features to troubleshoot and resolve issues you might have. In addition, this book provides tips, best practices, and examples of how to optimize Exchange Server 2013. This book won’t just teach you how to work with Exchange databases, transport services, mail flow, and Client Access servers; it will teach you how to squeeze every last bit of power out of these features and options while making the most of what Exchange Server 2013 provides.
Unlike many other books about administering Exchange Server 2013, this book doesn’t focus on a specific user level. This isn’t a lightweight beginner book. Regardless of whether you are a beginning administrator or a seasoned professional, many of the concepts in this book will be valuable to you, and you can apply them to your Exchange Server 2013 installations.
Who is this book for?
Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Pocket Consultant: Databases, Services, & Management covers the Standard and Enterprise editions of Exchange Server 2013. The book is designed for the following readers:
Current Exchange Server 2013 administrators
Current Windows administrators who want to learn Exchange Server 2013
Administrators upgrading to Exchange Server 2013 from Exchange Server 2007 or Exchange Server 2010
Administrators transitioning to Exchange Server 2013 from Exchange Server 2003
Administrators transferring from other messaging servers
Managers and supervisors who have been delegated authority to manage mailboxes or other aspects of Exchange Server 2013
To pack in as much information as possible, I had to assume that you have basic networking skills and a basic understanding of email and messaging servers. With this in mind, I don’t devote entire chapters to explaining why email systems are needed or how they work, nor do I devote entire chapters to installing Exchange Server 2013. I do, however, provide complete details on the components of Exchange organizations and how you can use these components to build a fully redundant and highly available messaging environment. You will also find complete details on all the essential Exchange administration tasks for availability groups, Exchange databases, mail flow, transport services, Client Access servers, and much more.
I also assume that you are fairly familiar with Windows Server. If you need help learning Windows Server, I highly recommend that you buy Windows Server 2012 Pocket Consultant or Windows Server 2012 Inside Out.
How is this book organized?
Rome wasn’t built in a day, nor was this book intended to be read in a day, or in a week, or even in a month for that matter. Ideally, you’ll read this book at your own pace, a little each day as you work your way through each of the nine chapters. The chapters are arranged in a logical order, taking you from planning for availability groups and databases to Exchange Server maintenance and disaster recovery.
Ease of reference is an essential part of this hands-on guide. This book has an expanded table of contents and an extensive index for finding answers to problems quickly. Many other quick-reference features have been added to the book as well, including quick step-by-step procedures, lists, tables with fast facts, and extensive cross references.
As with all Pocket Consultants, Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Pocket Consultant: Databases, Services, & Management is designed to be a concise and easy-to-use resource for managing Exchange servers. This is the readable resource guide that you’ll want on your desktop at all times. The book covers everything you need to perform the core administration tasks for the following:
Managing availability groups and Exchange databases
Managing mail flow and transport services
Working with Client Access servers
Managing mobile messaging users
Maintaining and monitoring Exchange servers
Backing up and restoring Exchange servers
Although designed and written to stand on its own, this book also can be used with Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Pocket Consultant: Configuration & Clients, which focuses on the following:
Deploying Exchange Server 2013
Exchange administration essentials
Managing Exchange clients
Administration of users, contacts, and mailboxes
Configuring distribution groups and address lists
Implementing Exchange Server security and permissions
Because the focus is on giving you maximum value in a pocket-size guide, you don’t have to wade through hundreds of pages of extraneous information to find what you’re looking for. Instead, you’ll find exactly what you need to get the job done, and you’ll find it quickly.
Conventions used in this book
I’ve used a variety of elements to help keep the text clear and easy to follow. You’ll find code terms and listings in monospace type, except when I tell you to actually enter a command; in which case, the command appears in bold type. When I introduce and define a new term, I put it in italics.
Other conventions include the following:
Best practices. To examine the best technique to use when working with advanced configuration and administration concepts
Caution. To warn you of potential problems
Important. To highlight important concepts and issues
More info. To provide more information on the subject
Note. To provide details on a point that needs emphasis
Real world. To provide real-world advice when discussing advanced topics
Security alert. To point out important security issues
Tip. To offer helpful hints or additional information
I truly hope you find that Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Pocket Consultant: Databases, Services, & Management provides everything you need to perform essential administrative tasks as quickly and efficiently as possible. You are welcome to send your thoughts to me at [email protected]. Follow me on Twitter at WilliamStanek and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/William.Stanek.Author.
Other resources
No single magic bullet for learning everything you’ll ever need to know about Exchange Server 2013 exists. Although some books are offered as all-in-one guides, there’s simply no way one book can do it all. With this in mind, I hope you use this book as it is intended to be used—as a concise and easy-to-use resource. It covers everything you need to perform core administration tasks for availability groups, databases, transport services, mail flow, and Client Access servers, but it is by no means exhaustive.
Your current knowledge will largely determine your success with this or any other Exchange resource or book. As you encounter new topics, take the time to practice what you’ve learned and read about. Seek out further information as necessary to get the practical hands-on know-how and knowledge you need.
For topics this book doesn’t cover, you might want to look to Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Pocket Consultant: Configuration & Clients. I also recommend that you regularly visit the Microsoft website for Exchange Server (microsoft.com/exchangeserver/) and support.microsoft.com to stay current with the latest changes. To help you get the most out of this book, you can visit my corresponding website at pocket-consultant.com. This site contains information about Exchange Server 2013 and updates to the book.
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