Tag: #MsExchange

Outlook says .. Microsoft Exchange is not available

by ucinfo, posted in Exchange, Exchange 2010

This was is a good one and has been doing my head in!

I had a user mailbox that could log in to OWA but not Outlook.

With outlook you would get an error saying:

"Cannot open your default e-mail folders. Microsoft Exchange is not available. Ether there are network problems or the exchange Computer is down for maintenance"

If you run:

Get-LogonStatistics -Identity <email address>

Then have a look at the FullMailboxDirectoryName

This should match the users legacyexchangedn.  In my case, another user has the same address as a proxy address.

Just removed it and everything worked fine!

Monitor-MailboxDatabaseCopyStatus.ps1

by ucinfo, posted in Exchange, Exchange, Exchange 2010, MsExchange, Powershell

#Exchange2010 #MsExchange #Powershell

Hello every Happy New Year and all that .. long time to talk.

Wanted to share this.  Basically had a Cisco UCS Blade failure today, where it took 2 nodes of a 3 node Exchange 2010 dag out.

Its been a fun day! NOT!

Anyway, I knocked this script up to monitor the database copy status when we put everything back.

PARAM([String]$Server = (HOSTNAME),
[int]$time            = 30)

Write-Host "Server:.."$Server
Write-Host "Timer:..."$time
$position = $host.ui.rawui.cursorposition
$position.y = $position.y+4
while($True){
  Get-MailboxDatabaseCopyStatus -Server $Server
  $endpos = $host.ui.rawui.cursorposition
  for($i=1;$i-le $time;$i++){write-host "." -nonewline -f Yellow;sleep 1}
  $host.ui.rawui.cursorposition=$endpos;
  Write-Host (" "*$time)
  $host.ui.rawui.cursorposition=$position;
}

Find Exchange Databases using Powershell

by ucinfo, posted in MsExchange, Powershell

A small change in $strFilter=”(objectClass=msExchPrivateMDB)” and you get all the mailbox databases ;-)

$forest    = [System.DirectoryServices.ActiveDirectory.Forest]::GetCurrentForest()
$Dom  = "LDAP://CN=Microsoft Exchange,CN=Services,CN=Configuration,DC=" + $Forest.Name.Replace(".",",DC=")
$strFilter="(objectClass=msExchPrivateMDB)"
$Root       = New-Object DirectoryServices.DirectoryEntry $Dom 
$selector   = New-Object DirectoryServices.DirectorySearcher 
$selector.PageSize    = 1000 
$selector.Filter      = $strFilter 
$selector.SearchRoot  = $root 
$selector.SearchScope = "Subtree" 
$Objs = $selector.findall() 
$Objs.count 
$Objs

NetApp SnapManager for Exchange and The communication object, System.ServiceModel.Channels.ServiceChannel, cannot be used for communication because it is in the Faulted state.

by ucinfo, posted in Exchange 2010, NetApp

#NetApp #MsExchange

Okay so nailed this one eventually.

[SERVER1] Initializing SnapManager server on remote machine [SERVER2]…
[SERVER1] Connecting to remote server [SERVER2]…
[SERVER1] Remote server [SERVER2] is connected successfully.
[SERVER1] Verify Sme Launch Exception, Error code: 0x80131501, Error description: The communication object, System.ServiceModel.Channels.ServiceChannel, cannot be used for communication because it is in the Faulted state., stack trace:
Server stack trace:
at System.ServiceModel.Channels.CommunicationObject.ThrowIfFaulted()
at System.ServiceModel.Channels.ServiceChannel.Call(String action, Boolean oneway, ProxyOperationRuntime operation, Object[] ins, Object[] outs, TimeSpan timeout)
at System.ServiceModel.Channels.ServiceChannelProxy.InvokeService(IMethodCallMessage methodCall, ProxyOperationRuntime operation)
at System.ServiceModel.Channels.ServiceChannelProxy.Invoke(IMessage message)Exception rethrown at [0]:
at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.HandleReturnMes
[21:02:47.831]  [SERVER1] Verify SME Launch on SERVER2 returned error 0x80131501
[SERVER1] Verify Sme Launch2 Exception, Error code: 0x80131501 [The communication object, System.ServiceModel.Channels.ServiceChannel, cannot be used for communication because it is in the Faulted state.], stack trace:
Server stack trace:
at System.ServiceModel.Channels.CommunicationObject.ThrowIfDisposedOrNotOpen()
at System.ServiceModel.Channels.ServiceChannel.Call(String action, Boolean oneway, ProxyOperationRuntime operation, Object[] ins, Object[] outs, TimeSpan timeout)
at System.ServiceModel.Channels.ServiceChannelProxy.InvokeService(IMethodCallMessage methodCall, ProxyOperationRuntime operation)
at System.ServiceModel.Channels.ServiceChannelProxy.Invoke(IMessage message)

Exception rethrown at [0]:
at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.HandleReturnMessage(IM
[SERVER1] CCR/DAG Remote Rename Backup Exception, Error code: 0x80131501 [The communication object, System.ServiceModel.Channels.ServiceChannel, cannot be used for communication because it is in the Faulted state.], stack trace:
Server stack trace:
at System.ServiceModel.Channels.CommunicationObject.ThrowIfDisposedOrNotOpen()
at System.ServiceModel.Channels.ServiceChannel.Call(String action, Boolean oneway, ProxyOperationRuntime operation, Object[] ins, Object[] outs, TimeSpan timeout)
at System.ServiceModel.Channels.ServiceChannelProxy.InvokeService(IMethodCallMessage methodCall, ProxyOperationRuntime operation)
at System.ServiceModel.Channels.ServiceChannelProxy.Invoke(IMessage message)

Exception rethrown at [0]:
at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.HandleReturn

[SERVER1] Error Code: 0x80131501
Please check the SnapManager-SnapDrive Reports and Windows Event Logs for more details.

It was caused by the Cisco ASA firewall on our Inter DC link timing out idle connections after one hour.

When the SME service starts, it establishes a connection over TCP port 810 to other servers in it’s DAG. SME expects the link to be available all the time and not time out.

SME is a but stupid, in that as it EXPECTS the link to be open, and s.

Workaround: Restart the SnapManagerService before the Backups Starts.
Solution#1: Increase the timeout value on the ASA firewalls for port 808 and 810 from 1 hour to8 hours  (we do backups every 6 hours).
Solution#2: Product change to SME, so before it initiates a backup, it actually re-establishes the connection before it starts. BUG/RFE 828920 has been raised to address this.

 

 

#MsExchange 2010 Get-MailboxDatabaseCopyStatus

by ucinfo, posted in Exchange 2010, MsExchange, Powershell

So Tony Redmond gave me a blank look when I spoke to him for like 30 seconds at MEC, but this little code snippet is featured on PG 491 of Microsoft Exchange 2010 Inside Out.

I use this a lot, and have it wrapped in to a .ps1. Just discovered that like Get-ExchangeServer you can pipe an array of objects to Get-MailboxDatabase. So you could say run:

"db01","db02" | Get-MailboxDatabase
Now that is cool. I have an issue at the moment where some Donkey thought it would be a good idea to reseed two 600GB databases (We use NetApp storage so there is a better way to do it!). I wanted a way to keep an eye on them so I updated the original script.

Do you can use the -database switch like this to get the database copy status for db01 and db04
 .\Check-DatabaseCopyStatus.ps1 -Database @("db01","db04")

-and you could you the server switch to get the database copy status for db01 and db04 just on ex1
 .\Check-DatabaseCopyStatus.ps1 -Database @("db01","db04") -Server ex1

Enjoy
PARAM([String]$Server="", [String[]]$Database = "*")
If($server -ne ""){$srvtxt=$server;$Server="\" + $server.ToUpper()}ELSE{$srvTxt="All"}
Write-Host "Server:" $srvtxt "`nDatabase:"$Database "`n"

##########################################################################################
#Load the Exchange 2010 bits & bobs
#########################################################################################
$xPsCheck = Get-PSSnapin | Select Name | Where {$_.Name -Like "*Exchange*"}
If ($xPsCheck -eq $Null) {Write-Host "Loading Exchange Snapin"; Add-PsSnapin Microsoft.Exchange.Management.PowerShell.e2010}

$Database | Get-MailboxDatabase | Sort Name | FOREACH {$db=$_.Name; $xNow=$_.Server.Name ;$dbown=$_.ActivationPreference| Where {$_.Value -eq 1}; Write-Host $db "on" $xNow "Should be on" $dbOwn.Key -NoNewLine; If ( $xNow -ne $dbOwn.Key){Write-host " WRONG" -ForegroundColor Red; }ELSE{Write-Host " OK" -Foregroundcolor Green};Get-MailboxDatabaseCopyStatus $db$Server;"`n"}

Download it from here

#MsExchange Versions

by ucinfo, posted in Exchange 2010, MsExchange, Powershell

#IAMMEC

So if you want to find out the version of Exchange you are running you can always run:

Get-ExchangeServer | Select Name, ServerRole, Edition, AdminDisplayVersion

Now this is cool, but it only shows the major version and not the CU.

You can find exchange build information from two main places:

I have dropped the information into a CSV file [ExchangeBuilds].   I found that updating a CSV file with new builds was easier than editing code all the time.

Now code below to create a summary matrix.  Enjoy

#Import the csv and covert to a hash table
$ExchangeBuilds = import-csv .\ExchangeBuilds.csv
$BuildMatrix = @{}
ForEach($Item in $ExchangeBuilds){
  $BuildMatrix.Add($item.Build, $item.version)
}

#Get exchange servers
Get-ExchangeServer | Select Name, ServerRole, Edition, AdminDisplayVersion

#Loop the servers to create the matrix
$matrix =@()
$ExchangeServers = Get-ExchangeServer | Sort Name
ForEach($Item in $ExchangeServers){
  $tmpServer = $item.Name + "." + $item.domain
  Write-Host $tmpServer 
  $tmpMatrix = "" | Select Name, Roles, Edition, FileVersion,UpdateRollup
  $tmpMatrix.Name = $tmpServer 
  $tmpMatrix.Roles = $Item.ServerRole
  $tmpMatrix.Edition = $Item.Edition

  Switch($item.AdminDisplayVersion.Major){
     6 {$key="SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Exchange\Setup"}
     8 {$key="SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Exchange\Setup"}
    14 {$Key="SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ExchangeServer\v14\Setup"}
  }

  #Find the exchange binary path
  $type = [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryHive]::LocalMachine
  $regKey = [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKey]::OpenRemoteBaseKey($type, $tmpServer )
  $regKey = $regKey.OpenSubKey($key)

  #work out the file we need to use
  Switch($item.AdminDisplayVersion.Major){
     6      {$tmpPath = $regKey.GetValue("Services");      $tmpFile = "mad.exe";    $tmpPath += "\bin\"}
    Default {$tmpPath = $regKey.GetValue("MsiInstallPath");$tmpFile = "ExSetup.exe";$tmpPath += "bin\"}
  }

  #Get the file verision of mad.exe or exsetup.exe
  $tmpPath = $tmpPath.replace(":", "$")
  $tmpunc  = "\\" + $tmpServer + "\" + $tmpPath + $tmpFile

  IF (test-path $tmpunc){
    $tmpVer = (dir "$tmpunc").VersionInfo.FileVersion
    $tmpMatrix.FileVersion = $tmpVer
    $tmpMatrix.UpdateRollup = $BuildMatrix.$tmpver
  }
  $Matrix += $tmpMatrix
}
$Matrix

Exchange Server 2010 MCM

by ucinfo, posted in Exchange 2010, MCM

#MSExchange #MCM

So I worked for Microsoft for 6 1/2 years.  Then I had my first contracting gig designing and installing Exchange 2007 for a UK Bank.  Since then I have moved along on to Exchange 2010.

The MCM or Ranger program as it used to known (to me anyway) is the best of the best, the top gun of Microsoft Exchange!  Even when at Microsoft and now being an independent contractor, it is something I have always wanted to do, but the sheer cost of the course, excluding flights, accommodation and the unpaid holiday I would have to take, make it too rich for my blood.I totally understand the course costing and are fine with that, I suspect the thing that gets me is that “some” Microsoft partners are able to get a discount on the course cost!  Hey wonder if it would be done over live meeting, to a global audience, sitting at home or in a Microsoft office?

So I thought, how about the “poor mans” version, it could be interesting, and exam and a qual lab are doable!  So I paid the $500 for 088-974 and booked it for 18th April at Prometric in London.  So I take a day off and rock up at the allotted time, only to find out that my exam has been cancelled.  They said they hadn’t had the “training” to be able to run the exam for me .. WTF i thought, I had a go and waited for them to call me to rearrange.

So yesterday 2nd May I took another day off and went for the exam.  It appears I was the first to take it at Prometrc in London, so they have to run around to try and work out what they needed to do.  This started with a biometric check, and the a hunt for passwords, but then I was off.

So 60 Questions and 3hrs (I need just over 2), with everything from DAG design to RBAC to Powershell cmdlets, Lync integration and UM. It wasn’t easy, some answers where calculated finger in air answers, but it wasn’t as hard as I thought.  I would probably give a 7/10.  What I was disappointed about is my exam had no mention of any RFCs and the documented readiness and exam preparation was over kill.  I reckon you could get away with a good read of Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Inside Out.  I would be nice to have a more concise list of stuff to read!

If I am honest to myself, I would be surprised if I passed, but I am going to have to wait 30 days to find out.

Its funny,thinking about my expectations for the exam, I’m not sure what they were. I know a few Exchange MCM and one in particular is awesome.  I suppose I was expecting more real world questions, like a bunch of scenarios and design decisions to agree with or not, but that can be hard to articulate with multi-choice answers.  Maybe some of the questions where you drag and drop answers or arrange things in order would be good.  Some of questions, in the real world I would have just searched for the answer.

My impression of an MCM is someone that is like a Swiss army knife.  They can standing in front of customers and sell exchange, they can design it, they can support it.  They can also parachute in to hostile customers Winking smile and fix issues, all knowing they have the backing and support of the Exchange Product Team. .. Doesn’t that just make you want to be one?!  You could be one of the GI Joe or Jane of the Exchange world Disappointed smile

I’ll get off my soap box now.  If your up for it, give it a go! .. but be afraid very afraid, its not a walk in the park and you have to know your sh1t. The Exam and Lab rock in at $3,000 but just look at the rewards .. and I will keep dreaming of 3 weeks in Redmond doing it the “proper way”