Microsoft Exchange 2013 Logo, cumulative update 1

“Cumulative Update 1 for Exchange Server 2013 resolves issues that were found in Exchange server 2013 since the software was released. This update rollup is highly recommended for all Exchange Server 2013 customers.  Note: the CU1 package can be used to perform a new installation, or to update an existing Exchange Server 2013 installation to CU1.”  ~ The Windows Administrator Center

As many of you know, this long anticipated update is the minimum version of Exchange 2013 that is required for co-existence with Microsoft supported legacy Exchange versions in an on-premises environment. With cumulative update 1 in place, Exchange 2013 will be able to co-exist with Exchange 2010 Service Pack 3 or Exchange 2007 Service Pack 3 RU10. It also allows for a mix of those two legacy servers in your environment.

If, however, you are still running Exchange 2003 or earlier and wish to migrate to Exchange 2013, you will need to do so by using Exchange 2007 or 2010 as a stepping stone.  An alternative would be moving to the cloud with Office 365. If you have been waiting for this Exchange update before beginning your migration to 2013, know that you will need to pay special attention to the details of deployment, such as the introduction of a new Offline Address Book, how to deploy the CAS so that it handles connections properly for your organization, and the changes in the Client Access Server role.  In Exchange 2013, the Client Access Server (CAS) role no longer performs any data rendering functionality.  It will instead only provide authentication and proxy/redirection logic, supporting the client Internet protocols, transport, and Unified Messaging.

As Tony Redmond stated on his Exchange Unwashed Blog, “OWA is faster in CU1, which is welcome. Regretfully, the functionality available in OWA has not matched its new turn of speed as several notable omissions still remain.”

This is where Messageware comes in; if you are planning on deploying Outlook Web App with Exchange 2013 talk to us, we can help secure OWA and add functionality to make the transition easier.

For more information contact us to speak to a product specialist who can help you understand what Messageware can do for you.