Exchange 2013 CU11 Released

Exchange 2013 CU11 has been released to the Microsoft download centre!  Exchange 2013 has a different servicing strategy than Exchange 2007/2010 and utilises Cumulative Updates (CUs) rather than the Rollup Updates (RU/UR) which were used previously.    CUs are a complete installation of Exchange 2013 and can be used to install a fresh server or to update a previously installed one.  Exchange 2013 SP1 was in effect CU4, and CU11 is the seventh post SP1 release.

This is build 15.00.1156.006 of Exchange 2013 and the update is helpfully named Exchange2013-x64-cu11.exe.  Which is a great improvement over the initial CUs that all had the same file name!  Details for the release are contained in 3099522.

Whether or not your AD Schema needs to be updated depends upon your initial Exchange 2013 version.  This will dictate if the AD Schema needs to be modified.  Check the values as noted in this post.   CU11 does not contain additional AD Schema changes, but may contain additional RBAC definitions. 

Updates Of Particular Note

Cumulative Update 11 includes a change in behaviour when Exchange Server 2013 coexists with Exchange Server 2010 or 2016.  These changes are outlined in the following blog article: Exchange Management Shell and Mailbox Anchoring.

• KB 3106475 POP3 and IMAP4 are not supported to use TLS protocol 1.1 or 1.2 in Exchange Server 2013
• KB 3105760 Exchange Server 2016 mailbox server can be added to an Exchange Server 2013 DAG
• KB 3088487 IOPS Write increase causes email delivery delays in an Exchange Server 2013 environment
• KB 3076376 IMAP clients that use Kerberos authentication protocol are continually prompted for credentials in Exchange Server 2013
• KB 3048372 Exchange Calendar items are shifted incorrectly when some Windows DST updates are applied

Issues Resolved

• KB 3120594 Appointment on the Outlook calendar isn't updated to a meeting when attendees are added
• KB 3108345 "The app couldn't be downloaded" error occurs when you try to install an application from the Intranet in Exchange Server 2013
• KB 3108011 Error message occurs in Outlook after you change a single instance of a recurring meeting by using an iOS device
• KB 3107781 Exchange ActiveSync device doesn't keep messages for 30 days as configured
• KB 3107379 Noderunner.exe consumes excessive CPU resources by parsing an attached document in Exchange Server 2013
• KB 3107337 Mailbox migration from Exchange Server 2007 to Exchange Server 2013 is very slow
• KB 3107291 Exception occurs when you run the Invoke-MonitoringProbe cmdlets to set probes for IMAP and POP3 in Exchange Server 2013
• KB 3107205 "Custom error module does not recognize this error" error when OWA web parts fail to load
• KB 3107174 Pages that use the People pop-up URL don't load in Chrome when you access OWA or the Exchange Server Administration Center
• KB 3106613 Outlook Web App shows partial contacts in an Exchange Server 2013 environment
• KB 3106475 POP3 and IMAP4 are not supported to use TLS protocol 1.1 or 1.2 in Exchange Server 2013
• KB 3106421 Very long URLs in an email message do not open in OWA in Internet Explorer
• KB 3105760 Exchange Server 2016 mailbox server can be added to an Exchange Server 2013 DAG
• KB 3105690 Outlook clients that use MAPI over HTTP to connect to Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 mailboxes are intermittently disconnected
• KB 3105685 The lsass.exe process leaks an amount of handles in Exchange Server 2013
• KB 3105654 Cannot edit Inbox rules in Outlook Web App by using Chrome
• KB 3105625 ActiveSync device downloads emails while it's in quarantine in an Exchange Server 2013 environment
• KB 3105389 WSMan-InvalidShellID error when you create remote PowerShell sessions in an Exchange Server 2013 environment
• KB 3100519 No responses are sent from a room mailbox when a booked meeting extends beyond the date you set in Exchange Server 2013
• KB 3093866 The number of search results can't be more than 250 when you search email messages in Exchange Server 2013
• KB 3088911 Inline attachments are sent as traditional when you smart forward an HTML email in an iOS device in Exchange Server 2013
• KB 3088487 IOPS Write increase causes email delivery delays in an Exchange Server 2013 environment
• KB 3076376 IMAP clients that use Kerberos authentication protocol are continually prompted for credentials in Exchange Server 2013
• KB 3068470 "Something went wrong" error in Outlook Web App and ECP in Exchange Server 2013
• KB 3048372 Exchange Calendar items are shifted incorrectly when some Windows DST updates are applied
• KB 2968265 OWA cannot be accessed after you upgrade Exchange Server 2013

This update also includes new daylight saving time (DST) updates for Exchange Server 2013. For more information about DST, go to Daylight Saving Time Help and Support Center.

Some Items For Consideration

As with previous CUs, CU11 follows the new servicing paradigm which was previously discussed on the blog.  The CU11 package can be used to perform a new installation, or to upgrade an existing Exchange Server 2013 installation to CU11.  You do not need to install Cumulative Update 1 or 2 for Exchange Server 2013 when you are installing CU11.  Cumulative Updates are well, cumulative.  What else can I say…

• After you install this cumulative update package, you cannot uninstall the cumulative update package to revert to an earlier version of Exchange 2013. If you uninstall this cumulative update package, Exchange 2013 is removed from the server.

• Ensure that you consult with all 3rd party vendors which exist as part of your messaging environment.  This includes archive, mobility and management services.

• Ensure that you do not forget to install this update on management servers, jump servers/workstations and application servers where the management tools were installed for an application.  FIM and 3rd party user provisioning solutions are examples of the latter.

• Disable file system antivirus prior to installing.

• Once server has been restarted, re-enable file system antivirus.

• Note that customised configuration files are overwritten on installation.  Make sure you have any changes fully documented!

• CU11 may contain AD Schema updates for your organisation – please test and plan accordingly!  Whether or not your AD Schema needs to be updated depends upon your initial Exchange 2013 version.  This will dictate if the AD Schema needs to be modified.  Check the values as noted in this post.

Please enjoy the update responsibly!

What do I mean by that?  Well, you need to ensure that you are fully informed about the caveats with the CU  and are aware of all of the changes that it will make within your environment.  Additionally you will need to test the CU your lab which is representative of your production environment.

Cheers,

Rhoderick