On Nov. 2nd, Microsoft updated the popular Exchange Server Best Practices Analyzer tool (ExBPA version v 2.5) which is designed for administrators who want to determine the overall health of their Exchange servers and topology. The tool scans Exchange servers and identifies items that do not conform to Microsoft best practices. Key features of the updated ExBPA include automatic updates, minimal installation prerequisites and state-of-the-art expert system analysis.  

Microsoft also released additional new analyzer tools for Exchange Server that can help to identify and resolve potential configuration, performance and disaster recovery problems in an Exchange Server messaging topology. These new analyzer additions, which are built on the framework of ExBPA, include Microsoft Exchange Server Disaster Recovery Analyzer Tool v1.0 (ExDRA), used in scenarios where Exchange databases fail to mount, and Microsoft Exchange Server Performance Troubleshooting Analyzer Tool v1.0 (ExPTA), utilized in scenarios where users are complaining about the performance of the messaging system. 

For more information or to download these free upgrades, visit: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/downloads/2003/analyzers/