Making Sense of ExchangeDefender SMTP Alerts
For the past week we have been running the newly updated version of the ED SMTP alerts and I’ have got to say this is probably the most overwhelming response to a product that I’ve designed since being with ExchangeDefender. There were many partners who forgot they had the feature enabled, and for the first time, received alerts about issues connecting to their clients. My biggest fear when re-enabling the alerts was possibly upsetting partners with emails that they may consider useless or something they “don’t” want. Surprisingly, the response from every partner I spoke with since enabling the feature was positive and I heard many partners say “We’ve been waiting for this.”
Throughout last week and yesterday I’ve made minor modifications to the alerts to include more verbosity and to have threshold values for failures. Now, alerts will wait for three consecutive failures before sending an alert to the partner. Alerts will only be sent once per hour for consecutive failures. Once the connection error is cleared, the admin email on file for the domain will receive an “up” email.
Now, alerts will contain more helpful, verbose information.
For example, here is an alert about backpressure
ExchangeDefender had trouble communicating with the MTA (xx.xx.xx.xx) for domain.com MTA Experiencing Backpressure To resolve this, please review the following articles:
Exchange 2010: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb201658.aspx
Exchange 2007: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb201658(v=exchg.80).aspx
And here is an alert about the SMTP connector rejecting emails because authentication is required
MTA Rejected Mail From Command. It is possible that anonymous relay is not enabled for the SMTP connector and that authentication is required.
Currently the alerting system will alert for:
– Incorrect IP restrictions (MTA answers, but rejects the connection because the IP restrictions do not allow ExchangeDefender)
-SMTP Authentication Required, not allowing anonymous relay
-Exchange experiencing Backpressure
-Connection failed / timed out
The next upgrades will save the SMTP test debug output to SQL to allow partners to review the SMTP transaction logs and allow partners to control the threshold values for failures.
Travis Sheldon
VP, Network Operations, ExchangeDefender
(877) 546-0316 x757
travis@ownwebnow.com
Memorial Day Promotion!!!
In honor of Memorial Day we are running another promotion!!!
Check your mailbox for a special postcard about the promotion as you can see below!
We really value our partners and always want to provide you with additional ways to have a more profitable and successful partnership with ExchangeDefender.
The Memorial Day promotional offer is for our Hosted Exchange solution. Our Hosted Exchange solution is offered with a generous 10 GB mailbox. This is a great promotion to take advantage of. Also, the postcard reminds you of our Exchange Essentials offering which is a more cost-effective alternative to the full Exchange solution. Also, our ExchangeDefender Essentials offering is mentioned which provides the basics of our SPAM and Virus Filtering protection.
Our Exchange 2010 + SharePoint 2010 solution comes with:
-Exchange 2010
-SharePoint 2010
-ExchangeDefender
-ExchangeDefender LiveArchive
-10 GB of Storage per user
-Encryption, Web File Sharing, Web Filtering, Reporting
-Public Folders
-Mail-Enabled Contacts
-Distribution Groups
-ActiveSync & Mobile Device Support
-Split Domains & POP3 Access
-Branded Experience
-Much, Much, Much More!
The promotion will be running starting from this Friday, May 25th through June 25th, and will only be valid on any new Exchange + SharePoint 2010 accounts that are signed up during that promotional period. Also, the assigned coupon code must be used at the time of ordering in order for the promotional pricing to be applied to your order.
For more information about ExchangeDefender’s Exchange + SharePoint 2010, Exchange Essentials 2010, or ExchangeDefender Essentials, please visit our website, www.exchangedefender.com and visit the corresponding pages. Also, for more information on this promotion go to our promotions page, http://www.exchangedefender.com/promotions.php.
As always, please feel free to contact us with any questions that you may have!
Stephanie Hasenour
VP Marketing, ExchangeDefender
stephanie@ownwebnow.com
Your Mail Server is Down, Really…
For about a year we have had a feature in ExchangeDefender called SMTP monitor. Although it was undocumented, many clients found the feature and enabled it. For months the script worked as expected — if we cannot hit the mail server via port 25, send an alert to the “Admin contact email” on file. Sadly, around January the script stopped sending out alerts to partners and the feature became rather useless. Today, we’ve revisited the script and updated it with new check logic and alert control.
Once enabled, the SMTP monitor will check your clients mail server every minute and will check for events like backpressure, broken pipes and server offline. If a critical event is detected the SMTP monitor will send an alert only if a previous alert was not sent in the past hour about the domain.
Emails get sent to the “Domain Admin Email” address under the domain configuration settings. To enable SMTP monitoring login to your XD SP account and select “Change configuration” on the desired domain to enable the checks.
Travis Sheldon
VP, Network Operations, ExchangeDefender
(877) 546-0316 x757
travis@ownwebnow.com
The Snowball Effect of 123
Recently, we have had a rush of folks whose techs feel that user and user123 is an adequately secure set of credentials. I assure you my friends, it is not! But Carlos who cares it’s just a pop3 mailbox!? If it wasn’t part of the scope of my branch at ExchangeDefender, I’d probably think the same way.
However, accounts deployed with the old user123 or even better ‘password’ passwords are a huge problem. So here’s the chain of events in a worst case scenario.
1. Account is deployed with terrible password.
2. Account gets cracked
3. Account starts SPAMMING
4. Server gets listed on RBL
5. Mailflow is now affected.
Now generally we catch it between 2 & 3 and do a forced password change on the account which solves the issue. However, eventually that person will report to their provider that they can’t access their account and we pray that they read our notice and do not make the same insecure password, before we have to take more finite actions.
Therefore, please tell your team to avoid using such “temporary” passwords at all since they’re so easily left and forgotten.
Carlos Lascano
VP Support Services, ExchangeDefender
carlos@ownwebnow.com
(877) 546-0316 x737
LOUIE Mailbox Server Reload
Last week we successfully upgraded the OS on LOUIEMBOX1 to Windows Server 2008 R2 (From 2008 RTM SP2) as part of the outline to bring automated, native DAG redundancy to LOUIE. This weekend we will be reloading the OS on LOUIEMBOX2 and LOUIEMBOX3. In preparation for the reload we’ve performed the following steps:
· Updated the ExchangeDefender delivery location away from LOUIEMBOX2 to LOUIEMBOX1
· Moved all offline address books generated by LOUIEMBOX2 to LOUIEMBOX1
· Ensured all public folders were replicated between LOUIEMBOX2 and LOUIEMBOX3 to LOUIEMBOX1.
· Moved all users off LOUIEMBOX2 and LOUIEMBOX3 to LOUIEMBOX1
The OS reload will be transparent to users and is expected to be completed by Sunday evening.
Travis Sheldon
VP, Network Operations, ExchangeDefender
(877) 546-0316 x757
travis@ownwebnow.com
ExchangeDefender–Lexicon & Pattern Matching Encryption
This week our main focus has been implementing more advanced encryption methods. These new additions will be available sometime next week and will require an additional fee to enable these features. This new system implements two new types of encryption “triggers” that will flag the messages and send them through the encryption process.
Lexicon Encryption
The first method is called Lexicon Encryption. This feature works by examining a pre-defined set of keywords that act as encryption triggers anytime they are encountered inside a message. Once a keyword is located inside of a message, that message is sent through our encryption process.
The [Default Action] determines the action that occurs once the message hits the encryption system. You can choose one of the following:
Encrypt
*This is the normal encryption process, which will deliver a secure link to the user’s mailbox and require a password to view the message.
Clear Encrypt
*This method is similar to the normal encryption method, except a password is not required to view the message.
Alert Administrator
*This method, delivers an encryption summary to the domain administrator and will require them to (view, deliver, delete) the message before it reaches the user.
We understand that some users may already have a predefined list from another 3rd party or software provider. So we have implemented a very simple “import” process which will allow you import these keyword definitions.
The format is .CSV and is implemented in the following sequence: (keyword, category)
Pattern Matching
The next method is called Pattern Matching. This approach examines the message for a series of common patterns found when referencing things like (credit card numbers, social security numbers and birthdays.) Later in the year we also plan on implementing custom pattern matching, which will allow you to enter your own custom defined patterns.
Once any of these patterns is located inside of a message, the same encryption process will occur. Unlike Lexicon matching, each individual pattern is allowed to have a different action. This will help route crucial and confidential information more accurately.
Hank Newman
VP Development, ExchangeDefender
hank@ownwebnow.com
Coming this Week…
This week we’ll be touching a couple of different topics. The first one, if you have folks on XDSYNC we recently released a new version of it that has some upgrades to the tool. These upgrades include enhanced security, enhancements to the new password syncing feature we added in the latest build, among other minor tweaks. Please feel to free to download the new distribution here:
Among other exciting news, our CEO, Vlad, laid out our plans for the rest of the year in detail last week. In case you missed it, you can catch that here in its entirety. It is a bit long but since it is our roadmap in essence I’d say it’s worth listening to it over lunch.
http://www.exchangedefender.com/blog/2012/04/quarterly-meeting-summary/
Feel free to reach to me with any questions regarding the Support of any of the points covered.
Carlos Lascano
VP Support Services, ExchangeDefender
carlos@ownwebnow.com
(877) 546-0316 x737
Shockey Monkey Web Connect
SM Web Connect allows you to quickly add Lead Creation or Support Request integration directly into your existing website. We have two different implementation methods: one that is very simple & one that requires minimum modifications to get it working on your website. These are both Shockey Monkey Pro features and will require you to upgrade your subscription to PRO, in order to take advantage of these features.
Method 1 (Easy):
This method combines the backend API mechanics and implantation methods from our servers and simplify requires a one line HTML insert on any webpage to enable either (Lead Creation or Ticket Creation).
Copy and paste the <iframe> code into the HTML of your site where you would like the form to appear.
· You should edit the [src] to match the portal address of your unique portal.
· You can also switch the appearance by modifying the [theme] parameter, values 1-6.
· If you would like to adjust the [width] and [height], those can also be modified.
Lead Creation
<iframe src=”https://portal.shockeymonkey.com/api/v1/template_lead.php?theme=3″ style=’width: 370px; height: 450px;’ scrolling=”no” frameBorder=”0″></iframe>
Ticket Creation
<iframe src=”https://portal.shockeymonkey.com /api/v1/template_ticket.php?theme=2″ style=’width: 370px; height: 300px;’ scrolling=”no” frameBorder=”0″></iframe>
Method2 (Advanced):
This method is for those who are more comfortable with editing HTML and want their form to have a special look and feel or a tighter integration into their website. The only real requirement is that your website supports PHP for the transactions to occur.
You can download the development package here, it will contain 3 files.
· demo_server.php
o This is the only file you are required to edit, to have this working out of the box. Simply modify the following lines to match the primary admin account within your Shockey Monkey portal.
· demo_create_lead.php
o This is a very simplistic implementation of our current API to handle new contact creation, which in this instance is directed towards leads. You can modify the look and feel of this file to match your unique needs.
· demo_create_ticket.php
o This is a very simplistic implementation of our current API to handle new ticket creation. You can modify the look and feel of this file to match your unique needs.
Hank Newman
VP Development, ExchangeDefender
hank@ownwebnow.com
Shockey Monkey RMM User Interface Contest!!
Shockey Monkey is looking to offer the BEST RMM User Interface and to do that we need your help!
We are now holding a contest to find the best, most user-friendly and appealing layout for the dashboard (for the IT department) and printed report (for the end user) for the Shockey Monkey RMM User Interface. Every submission is welcome! In order to enter, we would like you to create and design an interface that would show you what you need to know, what you need to present and demonstrate to your clients. We want to know the best way to design an RMM dashboard with the best strategy and best look and feel! We’re not looking for a Picasso appeal or the accuracy of a CAD design – just the general layout, presentation style and scale.
The overall goal of this contest is to figure out a way to present all of the information below, into something that the end user, business owner, decision maker, etc., can look at and understand the value you deliver and IT problems they face.
Hard drives
Patches applied
Operating System
Event Logs
Critical Issues
Availability
RAM
Optical Drives
Serial Number
# of Monitors
External Drives
Here are some of our current screenshots of the RMM:
This is the current Dashboard that shows uptime and downtime and recent event history:
This view currently shows the system information and a lit of installed applications:
This view currently shows all the event logs and details regarding each entry:
There are CASH (American Dollars) prizes with our contest! There will be four cash prizes given away: $1,000 to the winner of the contest, (2) $250 to the runner-ups, and $100 for the honorable mention.
Put your creativity cap on and help us make the Shockey Monkey RMM look awesome!
To submit your entry, simply send us an email at contest@shockeymonkey.com. Thank you and we look forward to seeing your ideas!
Not so legalease: By entering this contest you are granting Own Web Now Corp exclusive right to use, distribute and modify your design at will regardless of whether or not you win any of the 4 prizes. You agree not to send in any copyrighted works or works of other individuals or companies and we in turn agree not tell the copyright owner where you live in exchange for a candy bar.
Moving on up…
Today marks a very special day for the ExchangeDefender Hosted Exchange team: today we put our newest 2010 cluster for Hosted Exchange Essentials: DARKWING.
For many of our client who jumped on the offer of Hosted Exchange 2010 Essentials, the biggest selling feature was the price. Partners were able to finally compete head to head with BPOS / Office365 by using our Hosted Exchange Essentials.
Unfortunately, there was one drawback: All Essentials clients were placed into an already existing server infrastructure used by our full Hosted Exchange clients. At the time of release/announcement of essentials, the projected demand for the solution did not call for a dedicated infrastructure environment. Hosted Exchange Essentials has now grown to the point where we felt it would be best to separate the load of users of Essentials and Full Exchange between unique networks, but technically segregated.
After careful planning, we’ve designed a way to marginalize the impact of the migration to DARKWING for existing Hosted Exchange Essential mailbox. While we will offer the ability to stay on ROCKERDUCK (we certain conditions), we highly recommend Exchange 2010 Essentials users migrate to DARKWING as there are certain feature sets (Such as Address Book Policies), which are currently not available in our other networks currently. All new accounts for Essentials are currently being provisioned DARKWING and all existing users will be automatically migrated. Prior to the start of any work the ExchangeDefender team will reach out to the partner who controls the account to coordinate changes.
Travis Sheldon
VP, Network Operations, ExchangeDefender
(877) 546-0316 x757
travis@ownwebnow.com