FAQ: Exchange Upgrade

A: LINK2CITY will handle the upgrade to Exchange on the back end, meaning that for the majority of users it will be a seamless and transparent process with no downtime.

Users may be prompted to re-start their Outlook when the upgrade is completed. For most users updated versions of Outlook Web Access (OWA) will be the only noticeable change.

A: Most accounts and users will not have to do anything to prepare for the upgrade unless any of the following apply:

• You are using Outlook 2007 or older: We will be sending a separate email to the small number of customers that have recently connected with Outlook 2007. This email will provide details on how to upgrade to Outlook 2016 and the date by which you must complete this upgrade.
• You are not using the most updated version of Outlook 2010: Users will need to update to Outlook 2010 Service Pack 2 in order for their email to continue to function properly after the upgrade to Exchange. You can find all necessary instructions for this update on Microsoft’s support website.
• You do not have an Autodiscover Record in your DNS: If you do not have Autodiscover or it is not correctly pointing to our Exchange Servers, you will be receiving a separate communication with instructions.
• You are using SEND AS email addresses that are different from a user’s FROM Address: Update your SMTP appliance’s configuration to use the same addresses for SMTP authentication and sending emails or grant the mailbox that is used for SMTP authentication SEND AS permissions to the mailbox which email address is used as the FROM address.

A: After an Exchange platform has been around for 10 years, Microsoft will stop supporting it. This means that they stop offering extended support to LINK2CITY and more importantly it means they stop releasing critical security patches essential to protecting your business against viruses and hackers, making it critical to migrate to a newer platform.

A: Unfortunately, no. As LINK2CITY wants to ensure the best experience for our customers, we are proactively upgrading the platform well before Microsoft stops supporting it.

A: Please contact your IT Support department. If you do not have an in-house or 3rd party IT vendor, please contact us for a referral.

A: No, there is no impact on mobile devices.

A: Yes, you do if any of the following scenarios is used in your configuration:

• your device is using port 465 for SMTP send. The port needs to be updated to port 25 or 587 which are supported by the upgraded Exchange.
• the email address used for authentication (usually specified in the username or login fields in the settings) differs from the FROM address (usually specified in the Email Address or From fields in the settings). Please either:
  • update your configuration to use the same addresses for SMTP authentication and sending emails;
  • or grant the mailbox that is used for SMTP authentication Send As permissions to the mailbox which email address is used as the FROM address

A: Yes, but there will be a period of time that we need to take down Public Folders to migrate them. During this time your mailboxes will also be moved and accessible, but the Public Folders will remain offline until the migration is completed. You will be notified regarding Public Folder maintenance in advance to plan accordingly.

A: You are likely to experience a number of enhancements with the Exchange and Outlook upgrades. One of the most significant differences is the OWA interface. It has been updated with a more robust feature set, improved look and feel, and optimizations for mobile devices. OWA now more closely resembles the Outlook 2016 look, feel, and usability. Note: Most people that are already using Outlook 2013 and up, will likely not notice much of a difference in their day-to-day email use.

A: All other services will remain as they are now. No changes or action required on your part.

A: For most customers your bill will remain unchanged.

A: If you have any other questions prior, you can always contact your account manager at +1 305-259-7776.