Could any one explain Exchange Server SE Licensing Model?
I have the following M365 licenses in my education tenant: Microsoft 365 A5 without Audio Conferencing (Student Use Benefit) As per my understanding, each user requires an A3/A5 license to access their mailbox on an Exchange Server (Exchange SE). Since A3/A5 licenses already include Exchange Online, do we still need to assign these licenses to each on-premises user, or is this only for compliance purposes? For example, if we have 100 on-premises users, must all 100 users be assigned A3/A5 licenses in Microsoft 365? Reference articles are below. Microsoft Product Terms Please correct me if I am wrong.Announcing the preview of Azure Local rack aware cluster
We are excited to announce the public preview of Azure Local rack aware cluster! We previously published a blog post with a sneak peek of Azure Local rack aware cluster and now, we're excited to share more details about its architecture, features, and benefits. Overview of Azure Local rack aware cluster Azure Local rack aware cluster is an advanced architecture designed to enhance fault tolerance and data distribution within an Azure Local instance. This solution enables you to cluster machines that are strategically placed across two physical racks in different rooms or buildings, connected by high bandwidth and low latency within the same location. Each rack functions as a local availability zone, spanning layers from the operating system to Azure Local management, including Azure Local VMs. The architecture leverages top-of-rack (ToR) switches to connect machines between rooms. This direct connection supports a single storage pool, with rack aware clusters distributing data copies evenly between the two racks. Even if an entire rack encounters an issue, the other rack maintains the integrity and accessibility of the data. This design is valuable for environments needing high availability, particularly where it is essential to avoid rack-level data loss or downtime from failures like fires or power outages. Key features Starting in Azure Local version 2510, this release includes the following key features for rack aware clusters: Rack-Level Fault Tolerance & High Availability Clusters span two physical racks in separate rooms, connected by high bandwidth and low latency. Each rack acts as a local availability zone. If one rack fails, the other maintains data integrity and accessibility. Support for Multiple Configurations Architecture supports 2 machines up to 8 machines, enabling scalable deployments for a wide range of workloads. Scale-Out by Adding Machines Easily expand cluster capacity by adding machines, supporting growth and dynamic workload requirements without redeployment. Unified Storage Pool with Even Data Distribution Rack aware clusters offer a unified storage pool with Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) volume replication, automatically distributing data copies evenly across both racks. This ensures smooth failover and reduces the risk of data loss. Azure Arc Integration and Management Experience Enjoy native integration with Azure Arc, enabling consistent management and monitoring across hybrid environments—including Azure Local VMs and AKS—while maintaining the familiar Azure deployment and operational experience. Deployment Options Deploy via Azure portal or ARM templates, with new inputs and properties in the Azure portal for rack aware clusters. Provision VMs in Local Availability Zones via the Azure Portal Provision Azure Local virtual machines directly into specific local availability zones using the Azure portal, allowing for granular workload placement and enhanced resilience. Upgrade Path from Preview to GA Deploy rack aware clusters with the 2510 public preview build and update to General Availability (GA) without redeployment—protecting your investment and ensuring operational continuity. Get started The preview of rack aware cluster is now available to all interested customers. We encourage you to try it out and share your valuable feedback. To get started, visit our documentation: Overview of Azure Local rack aware clustering (Preview) - Azure Local | Microsoft Learn Stay tuned for more updates as we work towards general availability in 2026. We look forward to seeing how you leverage Azure Local rack aware cluster to power your edge workloads!
Update Dynamic Distribution List
we are a hybrid environment, running exchange 2019 and have a few DDLs which have been around from previous exchange versions. One of the DDLs i need to modify is the below. Its hard to read and i am trying to work out where i add the extra fields i want to include. I am looking to add another custom attribute and possibly include members of a security group. Is there anyway to make this easier to read so i know where to add things? Any other tips? ((((((((((((((((((((((((((Company -eq 'Contoso') -and (CustomAttribute4 -eq 'City'))) -and (((((CustomAttribute7 -eq 'Group') -or (CustomAttribute7 -eq 'Contractor'))) -or (CustomAttribute7 -eq 'Permanent'))))) -and (((RecipientType -eq 'UserMailbox') -or (((RecipientType -eq 'MailUser') -and (CustomAttribute12 -ne 'Excluded'))))))) -and (-not(Name -like 'SystemMailbox{*')))) -and (-not(Name -like 'CAS_{*')))) -and (-not(RecipientTypeDetailsValue -eq 'MailboxPlan')))) -and (-not(RecipientTypeDetailsValue -eq 'DiscoveryMailbox')))) -and (-not(RecipientTypeDetailsValue -eq 'PublicFolderMailbox')))) -and (-not(RecipientTypeDetailsValue -eq 'ArbitrationMailbox')))) -and (-not(RecipientTypeDetailsValue -eq 'AuditLogMailbox')))) -and (-not(RecipientTypeDetailsValue -eq 'AuxAuditLogMailbox')))) -and (-not(RecipientTypeDetailsValue -eq 'SupervisoryReviewPolicyMailbox')))) -and (-not(Name -like 'SystemMailbox{*')) -and (-not(Name -like 'CAS_{*')) -and (-not(RecipientTypeDetailsValue -eq 'MailboxPlan')) -and (-not(RecipientTypeDetailsValue -eq 'DiscoveryMailbox')) -and (-not(RecipientTypeDetailsValue -eq 'PublicFolderMailbox')) -and (-not(RecipientTypeDetailsValue -eq 'ArbitrationMailbox')) -and (-not(RecipientTypeDetailsValue -eq 'AuditLogMailbox')) -and (-not(RecipientTypeDetailsValue -eq 'AuxAuditLogMailbox')) -and (-not(RecipientTypeDetailsValue -eq 'SupervisoryReviewPolicyMailbox')))
OL client in-app link for getting OL for iOS or Android not working
Hello! Redirected to this forum from here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5617563/ol-desktop-link-broken-file-get-ol-app-for-ios-and See error description and attempt to solve it by following the link. For some reason, Windows clients in our organization can not follow the Outlook desktop client in-app link for getting Outlook for iOS or Android. (hybrid, no mailboxes in MS-cloud, only on prem) The link for getting the Outlook app for iOS and Android under File when logged into Outlook app does not seem to work. Clicking on it seems to send user to the URL: go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=2112779 but quickly redirects and ends up with https://w2.outlook.com/l/mobile?WT.mc_id=Backstage**Win32**All**Hyperlink** https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/cb7d456f-ac6e-4566-a4ef-ffa912500423?platform=QnAhttps://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/cb7d456f-ac6e-4566-a4ef-ffa912500423?platform=QnA We haven't been able to figure out why, but since the same two different accounts mentioned in the thread above works on a private device on a private home network, is seems like something in our environment is the cause.Expanding Azure Arc for Hybrid and Multicloud Management
Hybrid and multi-cloud environments are no longer optional—they’re essential for modern enterprises. At Ignite 2025, we are announcing key enhancements to Azure Arc based on your feedback, designed to simplify governance, improve security, and deliver operational consistency across diverse infrastructures. Here’s what’s new: 1. Multicloud Connector for GCP – Public Preview Azure Arc now extends its multicloud reach with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) support in public preview. Customers can now inventory and manage resource and gain a single pane of glass across AWS, GCP, and Azure resources. Learn more https://aka.ms/multicloud-connector-gcp-blog Agentless inventory discovery: Automatically detects GCP resources and projects them into Azure Resource Graph for unified visibility. Arc onboarding for GCP VMs: Bring GCP virtual machines under Azure management to apply monitoring, policy, and security controls. Secure authentication via OIDC federation: Eliminates the need for storing credentials, reducing security risk. 2. Azure virtual desktop for hybrid environments As part of this wave of new releases, Azure Virtual Desktop for hybrid environments is now available in preview through Azure Arc server. Building on the current offering of Azure Virtual Desktop for Azure Local, this capability enables organizations to deliver a rich virtual desktop experience on-premises—without requiring new hardware investments or hypervisor changes. In this release, Azure Virtual Desktop is enabled on Arc connected servers to address scenarios with high-latency, data residency, or application constraints that demand local VDI, while leveraging the Azure management plane for streamlined operations. This expansion provides greater deployment flexibility and supports customers who need both local and cloud-based solutions. To learn more: https://aka.ms/AVDHybridIgnite2025Blog 3. Azure Arc Auto-Agent Upgrades Managing Connected Machine Agents just got easier. With auto agent upgrades we reduce the operational overhead and minimizes downtime risk. Ensures machines stay secure and compliant with the latest features and patches automatically. Learn more Public Preview: Auto agent upgrade for Azure Arc-enabled servers | Microsoft Community Hub Automatic agent upgrade: Keeps agents current without manual intervention. Flexible control: Enable or disable auto-upgrade via Azure Portal, CLI, or PowerShell. Resilience built-in: Includes rollback and retry mechanisms for failed upgrades. 4. Azure Machine Configuration: OS Configuration Editor and Policy The new OS Configuration Editor simplifies compliance at scale. Accelerates compliance initiatives and reduces configuration drift. Non-technical teams can manage OS settings visually, improving agility and reducing errors. Learn more https://aka.ms/MCBaselinesPreviewBlog Visual authoring interface: Create and apply guest configuration policies without writing code. Fleet-wide auditing: Enforce OS settings across Azure and Arc-enabled servers. Integration with Azure Policy: Centralized governance for hybrid environments. 5. Windows Server Recovery Configuration Audit via Arc Part of the Windows Resiliency initiative, Azure Arc now supports recovery audits. Improves disaster recovery preparedness and compliance reporting. Enterprises can proactively identify gaps and reduce downtime during critical incidents. Learn more Audit WinRE policies: Validate Windows Recovery Environment readiness across Arc-enabled servers. Compliance visibility: View recovery status in Azure portal dashboards. Future roadmap: Configure your servers to receive boot critical updates and remote remediation for disaster recovery scenarios. 6. Workload Identity for Arc-enabled Kubernetes – General Availability Secure identity management for Kubernetes workloads is now GA. Strengthens security posture by eliminating secret sprawl. Simplifies identity management for hybrid and edge-native applications, reducing operational risk. Learn more https://aka.ms/workload-identity-arc-for-kubernetes-ga Federated identity integration: Connect workloads to Microsoft Entra without static secrets. Token-based authentication: Pods securely access Azure resources without manual credential rotation. Broad compatibility: Works across multiple Kubernetes distros connected via Azure Arc. 7. Azure Arc Site Manager – Public Preview Refresh Site Manager is a powerful solution designed to streamline site configuration and edge infrastructure observability and management at scale, making it easier to manage distributed environments, apply consistent policies, and streamline workflows across hybrid and edge deployments. Learn more Hierarchical Site Organization: Site creation that mirror an organization’s hierarchical structure Aggregated Monitoring and Insights: Single pane of glass for monitoring distributed environments for Connectivity, Updates, Alerts and Security baseline status Site Configurations: Define configurations at the site level and reuse them across partner solutions 8. Simplified migration journey for Arc customers - Preview Azure Migrate now natively integrates with Azure Arc to simplify the migration journey for Arc customers. Customers can leverage Azure Arc data to generate a comprehensive business case for migration as well as full estate migration readiness assessments with no additional on-premises deployments. Learn more Simple set up: Create a project and scope Arc resources by subscription. Azure Migrate generates business cases and assessments automatically. Optionally deploy the Azure Migrate Collector VM extension to collect additional information to improve the accuracy of business cases and assessments. Comprehensive business case: Compare the Total Cost of Ownership of your current Arc-enabled on-premises estate with that in Azure as well as insights into sustainability improvements of migrating to Azure. Full-estate readiness assessment: Assess the readiness of your workloads to various Azure targets such as Azure VMs, Azure SQL Databases, Azure SQL Managed Instance etc. Get right-sized recommended SKUs as well as potential monthly costs for your workloads in Azure. 9. Azure Key Vault Secret Store Extension – General Availability Azure Key Vault Secret Store Extension (SSE) is now generally available for Arc-enabled on-premises Kubernetes, including clusters that you connect yourself and AKS Arc managed clusters. SSE automatically fetches secrets from an Azure Key Vault to the on-premises cluster for offline access. Learn more Offline Access: With SSE, workloads can access Azure Key Vault secrets from the local Kubernetes secrets store regardless of internet connectivity interruptions. Scalability: SSE helps very large distributed deployments with hundreds or thousands of clusters to work with Azure Key Vault by spreading demand over time. These innovations reinforce Azure Arc’s position as the most comprehensive platform for hybrid and multicloud management. From easy connecting to AWS/GCP to Azure through multicloud connector to enabling secure workload identities and resilient OS configurations, Azure Arc is helping enterprises stay agile, secure, and compliant.
