What are the new features and benefits of upgrading to Directory and Resource Administrator 8.0? (NETIQKB54966)

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What are the new features and benefits of upgrading to Directory and Resource Administrator 8.0?

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Why should I upgrade to Directory and Resource Administrator 8.0?

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Directory and Resource Administrator 8.0

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Exchange Administrator 8.0

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This version of Directory and Resource Administrator (DRA) and Exchange Administrator (ExA) provides several new features. This version also improves usability and extends several capabilities. Many of these improvements were made in direct response to suggestions from our customers. We thank you for your time and valuable input.

Why Install This Version?

DRA and ExA provide highly secure and automated administration of Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, and Microsoft Exchange. Through advanced delegation and powerful policy-based management capabilities, DRA and ExA increase Active Directory security, dramatically reduce administrative efforts and costs while increasing efficiency, and protect the integrity of data in your Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory, Microsoft Windows 2000 server Active Directory, and Microsoft Exchange directory.

This version provides enhanced policy and regulation compliance, operational integrity, and process enforcement capabilities. These new features, combined with the powerful, policy-based administration that DRA provides, help you comply with regulatory standards and increase the security of your Active Directory deployment. The following is a list of the new key features and functions:

• Additive Licensing
  DRA allows you to purchase additional user licenses without requiring Order Management to determine the number of licenses you already have. You can add an unlimited number of user licenses and view this information.
  
• Active Directory Printer Management
  DRA allows you to manage any printer published in the Active Directory within any managed domain, such as local printers or even printers attached to a Microsoft Windows 2000 Server.
  
• Custom Tools
  DRA allows you to launch scripts and other executable files from within DRA using custom tools. Once you create a custom tool, you can upload the new tool to the primary Administration server, which replicates the custom tool to the secondary servers and DRA client computers using the file replication feature.
  
• Temporary Group Assignment
  DRA allows you to provide users temporary access to a resource to make an authorized change. You can specify the duration of the temporary group assignment and also whether you would like to save the temporary group assignment for future use.
  
• Clone Exceptions
  DRA allows you to manage the list of clone exceptions through the Delegation and Configuration console.
  
• Multiple Property Sheets View
  DRA allows you to concurrently open many property sheets for different objects.
  
• Multiple Domains Search Through Web Console
  DRA allows you to search either the current focus domain or all managed domains through the Web Console.
  
• Exchange 200x Custom Attribute Caption
  DRA allows administrators to specify the custom attribute caption through the Exchange Policies window.
  
• Support for Multiple Values in Attributes
  DRA allows you to specify multi-valued string attributes on User Interface pages.
  
• Support for Distinguished Name Attributes in User Interface Extensions
  DRA allows you to define objects for distinguished name attributes in the user interface extensions.
  
• Sorted Custom User Interface Pages
  DRA allows users to view the custom user interface pages in a numerically-sorted order after the built-in user interface pages.
  
• Load Balancing DRA
  DRA performs enhanced load balancing of available Administration servers if there are multiple Administration servers in the site.
  
• Enhanced Agent-Server Handling>DRA enables administrators to un-register a DRA server from a particular agent computer when the DRA server fails or becomes inaccessible.
  
• Support for Copying Changed Home Directory Contents
  DRA allows you to copy the contents of the changed home directory without editing the registry.
  
• Support for Specifying Time Interval for Incremental Cache Refresh
  DRA allows users to specify a maximum time interval to attempt an incremental cache refresh before scheduling a full account cache refresh. You can change these settings without editing the registry.
  
• Foreign Language Support
  DRA supports Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Exchange in English and Japanese languages.
  
• Date and Time Settings in the Web Console
  The Web Console displays the local computer date and time instead of the Administration server date and time, if the Administration server is located in a different time zone. DRA resolves all time-bound activities using the local date and time.
  
• Support for Managing Custom Exchange Mailbox Properties in the Web Console
  DRA allows you to manage custom Exchange mailbox properties in the Web Console.
  
• Support for Account Expiration Dates Set to Never
  DRA allows you to specify that a user account should never expire.
  
• Dual Monitor and Different Screen Resolution Support
  DRA no longer retains the last position of an application window you have closed when you open the same application on a remote computer or at a different screen resolution.
  
• Support for Foreign Security Principals
  If the trust relationship between domains is broken, you can remove users and groups that belong to the other domain from the group membership.
  
• Support for Extended Recycle Bin Functionality
  In addition to user accounts, DRA now allows you to delete and restore groups, contacts, and computer accounts from the Recycle Bin.
  

Installation and Compatibility Notes

DRA and ExA are compatible with hardware and software configurations within Windows Server 2003 and Windows 2000 Server environments. While these products are easy to install and use, the Installation Guide provides important installation information you should understand before you install the products. The following information supplements the Installation Guide and describes issues regarding compatibility and installation of DRA and ExA. For more information about DRA and ExA and how they work, see the User Guide and the Administrator Guide.

• Applying Security Patches
  We recommend you apply all appropriate security updates for your environment. Ensure all such updates are compatible with the NetIQ products you have installed.
  
• Compatibility Between DRA 8.0 and Earlier Versions
  DRA 8.0 does not support versions of DRA prior to DRA 7.5. For example, the DRA 8.0 user interfaces cannot connect to a DRA 7.0 or earlier Administration server, but can connect to a DRA 7.5 Administration server. The DRA 7.0 or earlier user interfaces cannot connect to the DRA 8.0 Administration server. The DRA 7.5 user interfaces can connect to the DRA 8.0 Administration server but will only display and manage DRA 7.5 functionality.
  
• Support for Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Windows Server 2003 R2
  DRA and ExA 8.0 support administration of the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory from the same DRA Administration server. DRA 8.0 supports forest trusts, which are only available in Windows Server 2003. DRA 8.0 also supports Windows Server 2003 R2. DRA 8.0 does not support Windows NT Server 4.0.
  
I>Support for Microsoft Exchange 2003 Standard Edition and Microsoft Exchange 2003 Enterprise Edition Service Pack 2
DRA and ExA 8.0 support the management of Microsoft Exchange 2003 Standard Edition and Microsoft Exchange 2003 Enterprise Edition Service Pack 2 mailboxes.

• Upgrading from DRA and ExA 6.6 or Earlier
  DRA and ExA 8.0 do not support upgrading from DRA and ExA 6.6 or earlier. You can upgrade from DRA and ExA 7.0 or later to DRA and ExA 8.0. For more information, see the Installation Guide.
  
• Upgrading Multiple Administration Servers
  When you upgrade multiple Administration servers, such as a Multi-Master Set configuration, ensure you synchronize the server set after installing DRA. By synchronizing the server set, you can immediately use the new roles and powers provided by DRA 8.0. For more information about synchronizing a Multi-Master Set, see the Help.
  
• Upgrading Exchange Tools to Exchange 2000 SP2
  When you upgrade the Microsoft Exchange 5.5 and Microsoft Exchange 2000 tools to Microsoft Exchange 2000 SP2, the Microsoft Exchange 2000 SP2 setup program moves the exchmem.dll file to another location on that computer. As a result, the DRA user interfaces may no longer support Microsoft Exchange 5.5 tasks and policies. For more information about this upgrade issue, see the NetIQ Knowledge Base Article  NETIQKB21259.
  
• Upgrading When You Have Deleted Built-in Policies
  If you deleted a built-in policy, you will need to delete that policy again after you upgrade or reinstall DRA and ExA 8.0. To preserve an unused built-in policy, consider disabling the policy rather than deleting it.
  
• Removing NetIQ Folder Manually after Uninstalling
  When you uninstall DRA and ExA 8.0, you will need to manually remove the {Installation Path}\NetIQ folder. By default, the installation path is C:\Program Files.
  
• Installing Multiple Licenses
  If you install multiple licenses and if there are differences in the licensed products that you install each time, you may notice that the license information in the About window and the Web Console is incorrect. However, DRA license enforcement will continue to function properly and this issue only relates to displaying incorrect license information.
  

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Formerly known as NETIQKB54966