Quest® Spotlight on Messaging

Version 7.4

Release Notes

November 2009


Contents

Welcome to Spotlight on Messaging

New in this Release

Resolved Issues and Enhancements

Known Issues

Upgrade and Compatibility

System Requirements

Global Operations

Getting Started

For More Information

 


Welcome to Spotlight on Messaging

Spotlight on Messaging helps administrators detect problems in their messaging environment, accurately locate the root cause, and resolve the problems from a single, easy-to-use interface. It provides a robust and informed troubleshooting solution for Exchange, BlackBerry, and Office Communications Server (OCS).

From the Management Console, you can launch the Diagnostic Console for an individual server which shows, in real-time, the actual flow of data within individual servers at increasingly granular levels of detail. This level of detail allows you to pinpoint problems and take preventative action.

Spotlight on Messaging supports the following platforms:


New in This Release

Spotlight on Messaging 7.4 now contains the following functions:

Feature

Description

Support for Exchange Server 2010 Spotlight on Messaging supports Microsoft Exchange Server 2010. You can run all Health tests against Exchange Server 2010.
Edit Performance Counters You can change the description, conditions, and thresholds of the performance counter and event log entries to customize them for your environment or organization.
Remove Exchange Organizations or OCS Environments You can remove an Exchange Organization or OCS Environment from the treeview.  Removing your organization/environment stops Spotlight on Messaging from collecting any information about that organization/environment. All data, such as test results history, web report data, and test settings, related to the organization or environment is permanently deleted. You can reconnect to your organization/environment, but you must reconfigure all test settings and web reports.
Database size column in Storage Group Disk Utilization Web Report The Storage Group Disk Utilization Web Report will now report database size.
Database Availability Group For Exchange Server 2010, you can view the information for Database Availability Groups (DAG). DAG allows you to replicate your database copies where your mail is stored across as many as 16 mailbox servers.

Resolved Issues and Enhancements

The following is a list of issues addressed and enhancements implemented in this release of Spotlight on Messaging.

Feature

Resolved Issue

Defect ID

Data Recorder The Default.asp file, included with the Data Recorder, no longer functions with Spotlight on Messaging 7.4. TF# 66392
Installer
The installation may fail prematurely if you are not logged in as a domain user. Ensure that you have domain account credentials. TF# 69792
Documentation The Spotlight on Messaging Deployment Guide states that the SoEDiagnosticConsoleTemplateConverter.exe is located in SoEDiagnosticConsoleTemplateConverter.exe %Programfiles%\Quest Software\Spotlight on Messaging\diagnostic conosle\binaries. It is located in C:\Program Files\Quest Software\Spotlight on Messaging\ManagementConsole\Scripts\Exchange. TF# 107133
Alternative Credentials Spotlight on Messaging does not allow you to specify alternative credentials containing the following characters: ,. #, or <space>. TF# 104582
Topology View When you save the topology view layout, the topology tries to auto-arrange the layout after you re-import it. TF# 103711
Health Tests Health Tests can time out on a very rare occasion due to services restarting. TF# 103100
BlackBerry database The BlackBerry database encounters a problem when the wrong port number is entered in the registry on the BlackBerry server. TF# 102869
Performance Counters False alarm raised for the PhysicalDisk\Average Disk sec/Write or PhysicalDisk\Average Disk sec/Read counters. TF# 97901
OCS Discovery OCS discovery fails if Active Directory has traces of OCS objects in both domain and configuration containers. TF# 107812
OCS discovery fails with internal error. TF# 107813
Internal error in OCS discovery occurs if next hop property of the Edge server retrieved from the environment does not correspond to any of the discovered objects. TF# 107817
Unexpected error occurs in OCS discovery when site name (or domain name), retrieved from the computer using Windows 32 API, returns empty. TF# 107818
Internal Message Delivery Health Test Internal Message Delivery Health times out in an organization with multiple root level domains (Caused by AD query being extremely slow).  To workaround, create a test mailbox in the first storage group in the first store in alphabetical order on every server to speed up the query. TF# 107814

Known Issues

The following is a list of issues known to exist at the time of Spotlight on Messaging release.

Feature

Known Issue

Defect ID

Installer The installer does not respect non-default configuration directories for the Diagnostic Console. TF# 63849
Any Counter Web Report You can generate the Any Counter web report from data collected from the Server Health Test only. We do not recommend generating this report from data from other tests. TF# 65412
OCS servers in Management Console In the Management Console, an OCS front-end server may show the icon for the coexistent role rather than the icon for the front-end server. TF# 69798
Exchange 2007 Diagnostic Console If you reorder or hide columns on the Storage Group drilldown in the Exchange 2007 Diagnostic Console, an error message appears. To workaround, right-click the column header and select Restore Default Settings. TF# 96243
Diagnostic Tests In some situations, when the SQL server for Spotlight on Messaging cannot be reached or is not responsive, Spotlight on Messaging fails to retrieve valid test targets from the database. As a result, the test will not run and the following error is displayed in the test results view in the Management Console: "There were no valid targets for the test". No entry is recorded in the test history for this test run. The test will resume normal execution when the SQL connection is re-established. TF# 108101

Upgrade and Compatibility

Spotlight on Messaging is compatible with the latest versions of Quest MessageStats and Spotlight on Active Directory.

If you manually installed the database, you must manually upgrade the database. For more information, see the Spotlight on Messaging Deployment Guide.

If you are upgrading from a previous version , IIS services will stop while upgrading the Web Reports components. IIS services will automatically restart once upgrading is complete.

You can migrate data from Spotlight on Exchange 5.8 to Spotlight on Messaging. For more information, see the Quest Spotlight on Messaging Deployment Guide.

 


System Requirements

Before installing Spotlight on Messaging, ensure your system meets the following minimum hardware and software requirements:

NOTE: For the most up-to-date system requirements, see https://support.quest.com/SUPPORT/index?page=solution&id=SOL58414.

See the Spotlight on Messaging Deployment Guide for technical details on system requirements for each Diagnostic Pack.

 

Platform x86 or x64, running at a minimum speed of 2 GHz
Memory 2 GB
Hard Disk Space 300 MB on system drive for application. Historical reporting database requires additional space. For more information, see the Spotlight on Messaging Deployment Guide.
Management Console for all Diagnostic Packs
  • Microsoft Management Console (MMC) 3.0
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 or later
  • Microsoft XML Core Services (MSXML) 6.0
  • Microsoft PowerShell 2.0 or later (only required for Exchange 2010 with Database Availability Group)
Diagnostic Services for all Diagnostic Packs
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 or later
  • Microsoft XML Core Services (MSXML) 6.0
  • Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.8

NOTE: MDAC 2.8 comes with your operating system. If MDAC is uninstalled, Spotlight on Messaging will not run.

Diagnostic Services for the Diagnostic Pack for Exchange 2000/2003

    NOTE: ESM is supported on the following:

    Windows XP 32-bit

    Windows 2003 32-bit

    Windows Vista 32-bit and 64-bit

Diagnostic Services for the Diagnostic Pack for Exchange 2007
    NOTE: If your organization contains Exchange 2007 servers and Exchange 2000/2003 servers, you must install ESM and EMC. MAPI CDO is not required.

    NOTE: If your organization contains Exchange 2007 servers and Exchange 2010 servers, you must install EMC 2007 Service Pack 2.

    NOTE: The Exchange Management Tools version installed on your Spotlight on Messaging computer must match the Exchange version installed on your Exchange server. For example, if you have Exchange 2007 Service Pack 2 installed on your Exchange Server, you must have Exchange Management Console 2007 Service Pack 2 installed on your Spotlight on Messaging computer.

    NOTE: Microsoft Outlook should not be installed on the same computer where you have MAPI CDO installed. For more information, see the following Microsoft knowledgebase article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/266418.

Diagnostic Services for the Diagnostic Pack for Exchange 2010
Diagnostic Services for the Diagnostic Pack for BlackBerry
Diagnostic Services for the Diagnostic Pack for OCS
Diagnostic Console for Diagnostic Pack for Exchange 2000/2003
  • ESM 2003 Service Pack 1 or later
  • Common Files for Internet Information Services (IIS)
  • MSXML 6.0
Diagnostic Console for Diagnostic Pack for Exchange 2007
  • EMC 2007 Service Pack 1 or later
  • MSXML 6.0
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 or later
Diagnostic Console for Diagnostic Pack for Exchange 2010
  • Microsoft PowerShell 2.0 or later
  • MSXML 6.0
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 or later
Diagnostic Console for Diagnostic Pack for BlackBerry
  • MSXML 6.0
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 or later
Diagnostic Console for Diagnostic Pack for OCS
  • MSXML 6.0
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 or later
Operating System
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 or later (32-bit or 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Server Service Pack 2 or later (32-bit or 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Server Service Pack 2 or later (32-bit or 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows Vista® Service Pack 2 or later (32-bit or 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 or later (32-bit or 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 (64-bit)
Database
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 3 or later
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 or later
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Service Pack 2 or later
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 or later
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express Edition Service Pack 1 or later
  • NOTE: If you are installing the database on a remote computer, ensure remote connections are enabled on the SQL server, and you have sufficient permissions to create/modify the database.

Web Reports For installing Web Reports, you need:
  • IIS 6.0 with the following enabled: Common Files, World Wide Web Services, ASP, ASP.NET

-OR-

  • IIS 7.0 or later with the following enabled: World Wide Web Services, Application Development Features, ASP, ASP.NET, Server-Side Includes, Security, and Windows Authentication

For viewing Web Reports, you need:

  • Internet Explorer 6.0 or later
Rights and Privileges Local Windows Administrator privileges are required on the computer where Spotlight on Messaging in installed
Additional Software

Global Operations

This section contains information about installing and operating this product in non-English configurations, such as those needed by customers outside of North America. This section does not replace the materials about supported platforms and configurations found elsewhere in the product documentation.

This release is Unicode-enabled and supports any character set. It supports simultaneous operation with multilingual data. This release is targeted to support operations in the following regions: North America, Western Europe and Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, Far-East Asia, Japan.

 


Getting Started

Contents of the Release Package

The Spotlight on Messaging release package contains the following products:

  1. Quest Spotlight on Messaging version 7.4
  2. Product Documentation, including:

    You must use the latest version of Adobe Reader 9.1 to view the documentation. Adobe Reader is a free download available at: http://get.adobe.com/reader or in the Documentation tab of the Autorun dialog box.

Installation Instructions

Refer to Evaluator's Guide or Deployment Guide for installation instructions.

 


For More Information

Contacting Quest Software:

Email info@quest.com
Mail Quest Software, Inc.
World Headquarters
5 Polaris Way
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
USA
Web

http://www.quest.com

Refer to our Web site for regional and international office information.

Contacting Quest Support:

Quest Support is available to customers who have a trial version of a Quest product or who have purchased a commercial version and have a valid maintenance contract.
Quest Support provides around the clock coverage with SupportLink, our web self-service. Visit SupportLink at http://support.quest.com/.

From SupportLink, you can do the following:

View the Global Support Guide for a detailed explanation of support programs, online services, contact information, and policy and procedures.
The guide is available at: http://support.quest.com/pdfs/Global%20Support%20Guide.pdf.


© 2009 Quest Software, Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

This document contains proprietary information protected by copyright. The software described in this document is furnished under a software license or nondisclosure agreement. This software may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the applicable agreement. No part of this guide may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording for any purpose other than the purchaser’s personal use without the written permission of Quest Software, Inc.

 

If you have any questions regarding your potential use of this material, contact:

Quest Software World Headquarters
LEGAL Dept
5 Polaris Way
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

 

http://www.quest.com/

Email: legal@quest.com

Refer to our website for regional and international office information.

Trademarks

Quest, Quest Software, the Quest Software logo, and Spotlight are trademarks and registered trademarks of Quest Software, Inc in the United States of America and other countries. Other trademarks and registered trademarks used in this guide are property of their respective owners.

Third Party Contributions

Spotlight on Messaging 7.4 contains some third party components (listed below). Copies of their licenses may be found on our website at http://www.quest.com/legal/third-party-licenses.aspx.

Component License or Acknowledgement
Zlib zlib 1.2.3


Disclaimer

The information in this document is provided in connection with Quest products. No license, express or implied, by estoppel or otherwise, to any intellectual property right is granted by this document or in connection with the sale of Quest products. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN QUEST'S TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS SPECIFIED IN THE LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR THIS PRODUCT, QUEST ASSUMES NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER AND DISCLAIMS ANY EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY WARRANTY RELATING TO ITS PRODUCTS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL QUEST BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR LOSS OF INFORMATION) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THIS DOCUMENT, EVEN IF QUEST HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Quest makes no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this document and reserves the right to make changes to specifications and product descriptions at any time without notice. Quest does not make any commitment to update the information contained in this document.