These release notes are for a beta release. They are in-progress and may not be complete or correct. They are for informational purposes only.
Add2Exchange 7.3 and 12.4 Release Notes
|
*Bulletin ID* |
A2E_185 |
|
*Last Review* |
4/21/2010 |
|
*Previous IDs* |
None |
|
*Obsoletes* |
None |
Summary
Add2Exchange Standard 7.5 and Add2Exchange Enterprise 12.5 are strongly recommended upgrades for all Add2Exchange customers and a mandatory upgrade for users of the GAL sync feature of Add2Exchange Enterprise.
These release notes apply to both Standard and Enterprise Editions of Add2Exchange, except as noted explicitly for a particular edition.
Add2Exchange Standard 7.3 and Add2Exchange Enterprise 12.4.387.176- Released 4/2010
Summary
The following issues have been addressed in this release.
|
Edition |
Feature |
Severity |
Issue ID |
subject |
Explanation of Severity Levels:
Our severity classification system is straightforward:
|
Critical |
Issue may cause loss of data or other harmful effect |
|
Major |
Product does not perform correctly despite correct configuration and environment |
|
Minor |
Product does not respond correctly to configuration or environment problem |
Details
Enterprise Feature #616 – do not delete galcache
The GAL cache holds a copy of the GAL for GAL synchronization. When clearing the cache for any reason, Add2Exchange now saves the old GAL cache in a subfolder in order to preserve any modifications to cached items made by the administrator.
Enterprise Feature #556 – Assess improvement of using stored procedures
SQL queries have been reimplemented as stored procedures to improve synchronization performance.
Enterprise Feature #504 – Added metering to GAL option
GAL synchronization may take a long time on the initial sync, depending on the size of the GAL. There is a metering option to reduce the impact of this synchronization on the synchronization server CPU.
Enterprise Feature #390 – Gal Exclusions
A new tab has been added to the GAL Sync configuration dialog, allowing you to select entries in the GAL. These entries are exclusions that will be ignored during GAL sync.
Both Editions Feature #360 – Replace SQL 2005 SP2 with 2005 SP3
SQL Server 2005 Express SP3 is now the default SQL package for Add2Exchange. SP3 is the first version of SQL 2005 Express to be supported by Microsoft with Microsoft Server 2008 R2.
SQL Server 2005 Express has been updated to Service Pack 3 on the full install. Upgrades to existing Add2Exchange installs must be done with Microsoft update, as SQL is not included with the upgrade package.
Enterprise Bug #336 – GAL – Major – Address book entry not in the right format
When using the GAL synchronization feature, not all entries in the resulting contact list had the proper format for the email address of an individual contact. This has been fixed.
GAL synchronization currently does not fully support distribution lists. This feature is slated for an upcoming release.
Enterprise Bug #389 – GAL – Major – Make GAL work with IDs
GAL synchronization would not detect items that have had their names changed (such as change to Last Name) and would create new items in the destination rather than renaming them. This resulted in near-duplicates.
GAL sync has been fixed to recognize items by their IDs rather than names. Renaming is properly detected.
Enterprise Bug #392 – RGM – Major – If Distribution list name changes, needs to change in RGM and relationships
Name changes to distribution lists were not filtering into the user interface to the Relationship Group Manager. Fixed.
Enterprise Bug #448 – RGM – Major – RGM Excludes
Relationship Group Manager was not excluding items in distribution lists which do not point to mailboxes, such as external emails. Fixed.
Enterprise Bug #479 – RGM – RGM cannot find account for template
When creating an RGM template, if there were an account in AD that had the service account’s name as a prefix, account logon would fail with an ambiguous name resolution, preventing the template from being created. Fixed.
Getting the Latest Version
Free upgrades are available for customers with current software maintenance agreements. To verify your software maintenance expiration date, open the Add2Exchange console and examine the headings in the main console window.
Add2Exchange licensees with expired software maintenance must purchase a Current Version Upgrade license prior to installing the upgrade. Please contact one of our authorized resellers in your area or one of our DidItBetter Software consultants to purchase your current version upgrade license.
For technical assistance, call 800-837-8636. Support available 9-5 Eastern Time US.
Prior Revision Log
Add2Exchange Standard 7.3 and Add2Exchange Enterprise 12.4.387.176- Released 4/2010
Important Upgrade Notice for GAL sync users
This release of Add2Exchange will force the GAL cache to be cleared and repopulated. If you have edited the items in the GAL cache, for example to add pictures to contacts, then these items will be removed to a subfolder of the cache!
Because of GAL sync changes to accommodate Exchange 2007 and 2010, the GAL cache needs to be refreshed, which will remove any customizations to those items. We regret the inconvenience, but this means that such customizations will need to be redone by the user after the first synchronization of the new version. Because some of those customizations may be important or difficult to recall, the cleared cache items are moved to a subfolder of the GAL cache rather than being deleted. You can find them there.
Do not drag items from the subfolder, since that will cause duplication. Wait for the GAL sync to complete, then edit the items in the GAL cache manually to reproduce your customizations. Once the information is no longer needed, you may delete the subfolder at any time.
This process will only happen once and will not have to be performed again.
As a benefit from this change, we have relaxed the rules on the GAL cache so any that other contacts which are added to the GAL cache folder manually will now be replicated and not be removed after GAL sync has run.
We have also created a GAL exclusion list which will allow service accounts and other accounts to not participate in the GAL sync replication relationships.
Change to Version Numbering
In order to better serve our customers, our internal version numbering scheme has changed as well. The old system was based on three numbers: the major, minor and build numbers, e.g. 12.2.0226. The new system will allow us to more easily track down issues experienced by our customers and help us introduce new features in a timely and more maintainable fashion.
The new version numbering maintains the same major and minor numbers, but changes from the old system at the third place number. The new system uses revision and build numbers that are not related to the old build number. However, the new third-place number, the revision number, does start at a higher value than the old build number, so version numbers are still strictly increasing when comparing a new version number to the old number. So from a practical standpoint, it is still easy to tell that a release with the new numbering system is newer than one with the old numbering system. Still, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Changes to download packaging
In addition to the need for package naming to change because of the version numbering change, we have also improved the manner in which the download packages are named and packaged. This includes:
-
simplified upgrade package naming
-
smaller package size
-
self-extracting executables
Simplified naming
The version numbers on the package names now match the system described above, of course. In addition, we have simplified the naming of upgrade packages. There are still three packages; a full package which includes the SQL installer, an upgrade for old versions of Add2Exchange that did not have SQL (versions 2 or 3), as well as an upgrade package for more recent Add2Exchange versions (which already have SQL installed) that does not include the SQL installer.
The upgrade package names used to include every possible major version number that you could have installed, so you could distinguish between the upgrade package with SQL and the one without. For example, the normal upgrade package included “5_6_7_11_or_12_to_12.x.x.x” in the name. This is cumbersome.
Instead, the upgrade packages now include “2_or_3_upgrade” and “all_other_upgrade”. This requires you to read the package names in relation to one another, but is more maintainable than the alternative. The difference between the files should be clear when you look at the list of downloadable files on the website.
Smaller package size and self-extracting executables
Due to the size of the download packages, we have switched to 7-zip for compression. Since 7-zip is not installed by default on customer systems, the packages are now self-extracting executables. They extract automatically to a subdirectory clearly marked with the version number.
We’ve also removed the CHM version of the documentation from the main package (it is still installed by the installer), saving additional space. The PDF version is still available directly in the unzipped files, without the need to install Add2Exchange to see it.
Between these two improvements we’ve lowered the package sizes by more than 10% – 20%.
Enterprise Feature #616 – do not delete galcache
The GAL cache holds a copy of the GAL for GAL synchronization. When clearing the cache for any reason, Add2Exchange now saves the old GAL cache in a subfolder in order to preserve any modifications to cached items made by the administrator.
Enterprise Feature #556 – Assess improvement of using stored procedures
SQL queries have been reimplemented as stored procedures to improve synchronization performance.
Enterprise Feature #504 – Added metering to GAL option
GAL synchronization may take a long time on the initial sync, depending on the size of the GAL. There is a metering option to reduce the impact of this synchronization on the synchronization server CPU.
Enterprise Feature #390 – Gal Exclusions
A new tab has been added to the GAL Sync configuration dialog, allowing you to select entries in the GAL. These entries are exclusions that will be ignored during GAL sync.
Both Editions Feature #360 – Replace SQL 2005 SP2 with 2005 SP3
SQL Server 2005 Express SP3 is now the default SQL package for Add2Exchange. SP3 is the first version of SQL 2005 Express to be supported by Microsoft with Microsoft Server 2008 R2.
SQL Server 2005 Express has been updated to Service Pack 3 on the full install. Upgrades to existing Add2Exchange installs must be done with Microsoft update, as SQL is not included with the upgrade package.
Enterprise Bug #336 – GAL – Major – Address book entry not in the right format
When using the GAL synchronization feature, not all entries in the resulting contact list had the proper format for the email address of an individual contact. This has been fixed.
GAL synchronization currently does not fully support distribution lists. This feature is slated for an upcoming release.
Enterprise Bug #389 – GAL – Major – Make GAL work with IDs
GAL synchronization would not detect items that have had their names changed (such as change to Last Name) and would create new items in the destination rather than renaming them. This resulted in near-duplicates.
GAL sync has been fixed to recognize items by their IDs rather than names. Renaming is properly detected.
Enterprise Bug #392 – RGM – Major – If Distribution list name changes, needs to change in RGM and relationships
Name changes to distribution lists were not filtering into the user interface to the Relationship Group Manager. Fixed.
Enterprise Bug #448 – RGM – Major – RGM Excludes
Relationship Group Manager was not excluding items in distribution lists which do not point to mailboxes, such as external emails. Fixed.
Enterprise Bug #479 – RGM – RGM cannot find account for template
When creating an RGM template, if there were an account in AD that had the service account’s name as a prefix, account logon would fail with an ambiguous name resolution, preventing the template from being created. Fixed.
Add2Exchange Standard 6.12 and Add2Exchange Enterprise 11.12 – Released 12/2009
Enterprise Bug #311 – Critical – RGM – Relationships Lost if Distribution Lists Become Hidden in Active Directory
If you are using the Relationship Group Manager in Add2Exchange Enterprise, relationships could be permanently lost if the defining distribution list is hidden in Active Directory. You should upgrade to this version of Add2Exchange Enterprise immediately.
Enterprise Bug #273 – Critical – Database – SQL Upgrade Query Fails
In rare cases, a SQL command that was part of support for Exchange 2007 changes would cause database tables to lose information.
Enterprise Bug #269 – Major – Sync – Source Message Failure/Transaction Rollback
This update addresses the Source Message Failure/Transaction Rollback issue in the Add2Exchange event log. This release is a mandatory upgrade for those users. It is strongly recommended that all users under current Software Maintenance update to this version of software.
Upgrading to this version to repair the issue is a two-step process.
-
Perform the upgrade according to the usual steps. Stop the Add2Exchange service, remove the old version and install the new one.
-
Run the “Remove Invalid Database rows” script from the A2EDiags kit. Instructions for this are in technical bulletin A2E_183 at: http://support.diditbetter.com/kb/A2E_183.html.
Standard Bug #159 – Major – Sync – Source Message Failures Return After Cleanup
Same as prior issue, for Add2Exchange Standard. Follow the same instructions for upgrade.
Enterprise Bug #246 – Major – Database – Group Membership Field Isn’t Wide Enough for Exchange 2007 DNs
Microsoft increased the amount of data necessary to identify Exchange mailboxes. The database had to have fields widened to accommodate.
Enterprise Bug #160 – Major – GAL Sync – GAL Cache Creates Duplicates When Display Names Are Edited
GAL synchronization used display names to identify records, causing duplicate items to be created if the names changed. The identification method has been improved.
Standard Bug #157 – Major – Console – Deleted Relationships Don’t Clean up
Deleted relationships were not being removed during synchronization, leaving unwanted items in destination folders. Workaround was to manually remove the items.
Standard Bug #251 – Major – Console – Folder Picker Generates “Run-time error 438”
The folder picker would crash in certain situations, preventing creation of relationships.
Add2Exchange Standard Edition 6.9.0915 and Enterprise Edition 11.9.0915 – Released 9/2009
|
*Critical Update* |
This update addresses an issue that may affect the correctness or continued operation of synchronization in the prior released version of Add2Exchange. It is strongly recommended that all users under current Software Maintenance update to this version of software. This may be a mandatory upgrade for users of some revisions of Add2Exchange. Consult the revision log below to see if there is a known issue with your installed version. |
Enterprise Edition Post Synchronization Added
The biggest new feature in this release is “Post” synchronization for the Enterprise Edition of Add2Exchange.
Posts are the Exchange name for emails or notes which are not of an appointment, task or contact type. Add2Exchange Enterprise now can handle synchronization of post items, such as emails, which exist in any kind of folder (calendar, contact or task), including Post folders such as mailboxes. This is a major enhancement.
Improved Synchronization Time for Enterprise Edition
Several minor enhancements contribute to an overall faster synchronization time for Enterprise Edition.
Reduced Resource Usage
Both editions of Add2Exchange use fewer WMI calls and less transaction processing in SQL, making better use of server resources.
Improved Diagnostic Messages
Diagnostic log messages have been reviewed and improved to give more and better detail.
Multiple Instances of Add2Exchange Director Fix
Some customers experienced issues with the Add2Exchange Director program not exiting correctly. These are fixed.
Server Move Fixes
Customers relocating Add2Exchange to a new server experienced some issues with the latest version of the Server Move assistant product and x64 systems. These are resolved.
Note: the Server Move assistant is a separately licensed product.
Synchronization Timer Issue Resolved in Enterprise
Minor issue with the timing of GAL sync resolved in Enterprise Edition.
SQL Installation Fix
Some users experienced failures to connect with the SQL database upon initial installation. Fixed.
Recovery and Migration Manager Fix
Relationships were not being repaired properly as part of Server Moves, which also may have affected repairs for Mailbox restores. Affected both Standard and Enterprise Editions. Fixed.
GAL Sync Fix for Enterprise Edition
Global Address List synchronization in Enterprise Edition was failing on Distribution Lists which contained apostrophes in their names. Fixed.
Relationship Group Manager 424 Error Fix
In some situations the Relationship Group Manager would throw a 424 error when attempting to create or edit a relationship. Fixed.
ToolBox Licensing Fix
In some situations the Add2Exchange ToolBox would throw an error when trying to request a license for the ToolBox. Fixed.
Tuned Default Relationship Settings
Default settings for Relationships when being created now match the recommended settings in the Guide.
Add2Exchange 6.5 – Released 5/2009
|
*Known Issue* |
This version of Add2Exchange contains a known issue that is addressed by the most recent update. The most current version is a mandatory upgrade for all users of this version who are under active Software Maintenance. |
Recurring Item Synchronization fix
The implementation of the Global Recurrence Window has changed. Instead of using a range of days in the past to determine whether a recurrence should be synchronized, Add2Exchange now uses a hard cutoff date to determine the recurrence window. If a recurrence starts after the cutoff date, it is synchronized and otherwise it is not. This allows synchronization of recurrences to be more predictable and eliminates the need to periodically reset on-going recurring meetings to begin more recently when they were falling outside the old rolling window. The new cutoff date is fixed and does not roll forward with the passage of time.
Multiple Relationship Deletion fix
When deleting multiple relationships from the console at once, in some circumstances not all destination folder copies would be successfully deleted. This version successfully deletes the destination copies for multiple relationships. However, deletion now occurs upon the next synchronization cycle, as opposed to immediate deletion when the relationship is removed in the console.
Add2Exchange 5.x
|
*Outdated* |
This version of Add2Exchange is no longer supported. The most current version is a mandatory upgrade for all users of this version who are under active Software Maintenance. |
|
*Known Issue* |
This version of Add2Exchange contains a known issue that is addressed by the most recent update. The most current version is a mandatory upgrade for all users of this version who are under active Software Maintenance. |
See Technical Bulletin A2E-151 Prior Release Notes for details on 5.x releases.
Add2Exchange 4.x
|
*Outdated* |
This version of Add2Exchange is no longer supported. The most current version is a mandatory upgrade for all users of this version who are under active Software Maintenance. |
|
*Known Issue* |
This version of Add2Exchange contains a known issue that is addressed by the most recent update. The most current version is a mandatory upgrade for all users of this version who are under active Software Maintenance. |
Add2Exchange 4.x does not contain the latest SQL Server revision and Microsoft Updates frequently fail to update the SQL Server. Numerous potential data integrity issues in this version have also been fixed in the 5.x series.
See Technical Bulletin A2E-151 Prior Release Notes for details on 4.x releases.
Add2Exchange 3.x and Prior
Changes to Microsoft’s Exchange security model also outdate all 3.x revisions. Add2Exchange 3.x also has restrictions on the number of relationships which can be built.
See Technical Bulletin A2E-151 Prior Release Notes for details on 3.x and prior releases.
Keywords: Add2Exchange, Upgrade, Release Notes