Unable to uninstall E13 or remove database with Exchange 2013‎, This mailbox database contains one or more mailboxes …

If you are unable to remove such database or in the process of trying to remove the Exchange 2013 server and receiving fallowing errors take a quick look how to deal with “Arbitration mailboxes?

See the steps listed below.

Remove-MailboxDatabase : This mailbox database contains one or more mailboxes, mailbox plans, archive mailboxes, public folder mailboxes or arbitration mailboxes. To get a list of all mailboxes in this database, run the command Get-Mailbox -Database <Database ID>. To get a list of all mailbox plans in this database, run the command Get-MailboxPlan.

to see  the Arbitration mailboxes ,

Get-Mailbox -Arbitration

Get-MailboxDatabase

Get-Mailbox -Arbitration |ft Name, Servername

Copy and paste the name of the A_MB into fallowing PS and confirm the deletion until you get rid of all

Disable-Mailbox “SystemMailbox{bb558c35-97f1-4cb9-8ff7-d53741dc928c}” -Arbitration -DisableLastArbitrationMailboxAllowed

Finally,

Get-MailboxDatabase | Remove-MailboxDatabase

Remove an Arbitration Mailbox

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd298110(v=exchg.150).aspx

Respectfully,
Oz Casey, Dedeal ( MVP north America)
MCITP (EMA), MCITP (SA)
MCSE 2003, M+, S+, MCDST
Security+, Project +, Server +
http://smtp25.blogspot.com/ (Blog)
http://telnet25.wordpress.com/ (Blog)

Exchange 2010 & 2013 Active Passive Database IOPS

This is one of the most frequent asked topic, and misunderstood concept in my opinion. When it comes to design and giving decisions on how to architect your environment , you need to realize the

IOPS you will get from your active and passive DB copy in Exchange 201 are the same ( almost). The misconception is the passive DB should not be required such IOPS as no user activity is expected on the passive copy and this assumption turns out not to be true. Perhaps the very aggressive pre-reading Exchanged 2010 does to maintain the passive DB integrity and low check point for fast fail over design in Exchange 2010 architecture contributes the “fact”.

In Exchange 2013 where does this falls into ? the passive copy IOPS are reduced %50 percent, Exchange 2013 is offering huge IOPS reduction over Exchange 2010. The aggressive pre-reading is no longer being done within the passive copy, due to changes have been done to ESE logging.

 

Exchange 2013 is looking real promising, Although the product is not fully ready IMO , “yet” once pieces put together and given little time I am pretty sure it will offer some compelling business reasons to move into Exchange 2013 version.

Resource

http://blogs.technet.com/b/scottschnoll/archive/2012/09/19/storage-high-availability-and-site-resilience-in-exchange-server-2013-part-1.aspx

Respectfully,
Oz Casey, Dedeal ( MVP north America)
MCITP (EMA), MCITP (SA)
MCSE 2003, M+, S+, MCDST
Security+, Project +, Server +
http://smtp25.blogspot.com/ (Blog)
http://telnet25.wordpress.com/ (Blog)

 

 

Exchange 2013 Open EAC

If you have installed E2013 on windows 2012 and wondering how to open EAC ( Exchange Admin console) here is small PS will help you quickly to accomplish the mission.

See my previous post in regards to EAC

http://smtp25.blogspot.com/2012/11/exchange-administration-center-eac_26.html

Now below simple script will open ECP 14 and ECP 15 as well as MSexchange Team website, you can configure the URL as you wish

 

# Open EAC 2010 and 2013 # smtp25.blogspot.com $ie = New-Object -ComObject InternetExplorer.Application $ie.Navigate2("https://localhost/ecp/?ExchClientVer=15") $ie.Navigate2("https://localhost/ecp/?ExchClientVer=14",0X1000) $ie.Navigate2("https://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/",0X1000) $ie.Visible = $true

 

Download the script

 

Respectfully,
Oz Casey, Dedeal ( MVP north America)
MCITP (EMA), MCITP (SA)
MCSE 2003, M+, S+, MCDST
Security+, Project +, Server +
http://smtp25.blogspot.com/ (Blog)
http://telnet25.wordpress.com/ (Blog)

Exchange 2013 Surviving Server Roles and Business Logic

In exchange 2010 we do have 5 Server roles and the business logic build in middle tier, which means MAPI request goes to HLB ( if exists ), from there is goes to CAS Servers in Exchange 2010 Architecture, then the Exchange 2010 CAS start talking to Exchange 2010 MBX Server. The process in Exchange 2013 has changed, the business logic got moved into MBX Server role, while Exchange 2013 supports RPC/HTTP only dropping support for RPC/TCP. This means MAPI client will use RPC packets wrapped inside the HTTP to talk to their respected MBX Server.

Some of the compelling futures build into Exchange 2013……

• Exchange 2013 is much simpler to deploy , less servers roles, simple name space and better site resilience support.
• Exchange 2013 introduces huge cost saving by offering faster, and smarter messaging application.
• Exchange 2013 does have built in "application awareness" , new Exchange 2013 Application can detect and fix most of the problems automatically while the service continuity is not interrupted, ( much better seamless end user experience)

 

IOPS Reduction !!!!

This translate better performance obviously and cost saving, Faster the application is, better disk utilization and usage will be, allowing low end disk to be used and utilized by Exchange 2013.

Comparing exchange 2013 IOPS with some of the previous versions of Exchange Server

Exchange 2003---------------------------->95.5% IOPS reduction ( compare to Exchange 2013 )

Exchange 2010----------------------------->50-70% reduction in IOPS ( compare to Exchange 2013 )

 

CAS	Client Access  ( Available Role in Exchange 2013 )
HTS	Hub Transport ( Combined into CAS Role )
MBX	Mailbox    ( Available Role in Exchange 2013 )
UM	Unified messaging ( Combined into CAS & MBX Roles)
EDGE	Edge Transport Server ( depreciated !!!! )

 

In Exchange 2013 the Server Roles do have major reduction

CAS	Client Access Server  Role
MBX	Mailbox Server Role

 

CAS Server Role

Domain joined Server ( not placed in DMZ ) existed within the ADDS name space. Provides Layer4  (transport) Load balancing

• Session affinity functionality got moved into CAS Server role.
• CAS Server Light weight protocol proxy Server
• Exchange Aware proxy Server, supports proxy and redirection

 

 

Here where you can find more information in regards to exchange 2013…

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/fp179701.aspx

Respectfully,
Oz Casey, Dedeal ( MVP north America)
MCITP (EMA), MCITP (SA)
MCSE 2003, M+, S+, MCDST
Security+, Project +, Server +
http://smtp25.blogspot.com/ (Blog)
http://telnet25.wordpress.com/ (Blog)

Exchange 2013 and Server Roles

One of the biggest surprise in Exchange 2013 is the reduction on the server roles. I remember days when Exchange server had to do all in once ( Exchange 5.5) later version of Exchange Servers 2007 and 2010 had server roles separations , the major roles ( HTS, CAS and MBX) Hub transport, Client Access, and Mailbox , also ( UM and EDGE) Unified messaging and Edge Server roles and when the most latest and greatest version Exchange is almost on the way ( it is listed in MSDN for download today) out Exchange 2013 let's take a look at the server roles…

• CAS ROLE ( Client Access Server)
• MBX ROLE ( Mailbox Server )

That is it, there will be no more roles, much simpler and efficient in a way and the future best practices as far as deploying roles may change , and all in one deployments might be recommended officially ( we will see (-: how that goes )

What happen to HTS , UM and EDGE roles ? The HTS ( Hub transport role) has been distributed in between CAS Server and MBX Server roles see below

UM role story is the same, so does EDGE, UM and EDGE roles are not there anymore (-:

I will get into more details in remains these two roles and their functions…..

Respectfully,
Oz Casey, Dedeal ( MVP north America)
MCITP (EMA), MCITP (SA)
MCSE 2003, M+, S+, MCDST
Security+, Project +, Server +
http://smtp25.blogspot.com/ (Blog)
http://telnet25.wordpress.com/ (Blog)

Exchange 2013 EAC ( Exchange Admin Center)

For sure new version of Exchange ( 2013) has many improvements. One of the most striking future is EAC which will be  new to almost everyone out there. The new management interface for E2013 is now comes with the browser there is no more heavy, slow MMC interface. The previous versions of management understanding and experience in Exchange versions always been problematic and such changes are hear breaking (-: remember the news we no longer see active directory and Exchange within the ADUC, and how that felt.
Yes to understand the value better and give credits to Exchange team, we need to focus on changing fast technology. Coloration and online services , their increasing heavy usage , pushed the product to have sharp changes in my opinion and yes they have the correct tract.
I am sure many of you will be surprised and some of you may get disappointed, but once again IMO this is necessary change and will improve the messaging quality for administrators. Now I like to share with you little secrets I figured out , might help you to get over with these changes (-:
You install E 2013 preview and excited to get on it to play on the new E2013 server after successful install you will see this

Now you open Exchange tool box and here is what you see

Now you are confused and wondering how you jump onto EAC ???? you need to open IE and type the fallowing URL in there

https://localhost/ecp

and now if install did go well here is EAC

Okay you can start playing with new way of managing your environment , now if you like to see things bit more organized
open MMC

• Add remove snap in
• Lets say pick AD snap in
• Pick Active Directory
• Pick Link to Web address

in the URL insert

https://localhost/ecp/default.aspx

Give it a name



Now you have the tool box, ADCU and EMC ( Wish adding PS here too)

I hope this makes bit easy for you guys to see things together.

You can utilize to use Pick Link to Web address add Exchange team blog and any other useful website you use in your daily administration day.
Stay tuned for more exciting news, and remember IOPS gain in E2013 is somewhere over %40 over Exchange 2010, and I am sure case studies will be available for us to verify this soon. Exchange 2013 ROCKS and has many great futures and offerings, I am very excited to see the improvements.
Respectfully,
Oz Casey, Dedeal ( MVP north America)
MCITP (EMA), MCITP (SA)
MCSE 2003, M+, S+, MCDST
Security+, Project +, Server +http://smtp25.blogspot.com/ (Blog)http://telnet25.wordpress.com/ (Blog)

Installing Exchange 2013 Preview

If you are installing Exchange 2013 Preview  and running into issues or problems here are quick tips for you to get moving.

I have installed E2013 on windows 2008 R2 and here is the link you need to fallow to get the work done.

Exchange 2013 Prerequisites, MBX and CAS Roles install is same as any other version install you have done in the past.

Before install you must  fallow the steps listed in this article.

Import-Module ServerManager

Add-WindowsFeature Desktop-Experience, NET-Framework, NET-HTTP-Activation, RPC-over-HTTP-proxy, RSAT-Clustering, RSAT-Web-Server, WAS-Process-Model, Web-Asp-Net, Web-Basic-Auth, Web-Client-Auth, Web-Digest-Auth, Web-Dir-Browsing, Web-Dyn-Compression, Web-Http-Errors, Web-Http-Logging, Web-Http-Redirect, Web-Http-Tracing, Web-ISAPI-Ext, Web-ISAPI-Filter, Web-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console, Web-Metabase, Web-Mgmt-Console, Web-Mgmt-Service, Web-Net-Ext, Web-Request-Monitor, Web-Server, Web-Stat-Compression, Web-Static-Content, Web-Windows-Auth, Web-WMI

After you manage the install this is all you will have

You may ask yourself what is next (-: , first open EMC and verify you are connecting to your Exchange server.

IF you are , now time to open EAC Exchange Administration Center, by putting this URL into your browser

https://localhost/ecp

 

Enjoy your new fast interface to manage your environment.

Respectfully,
Oz Casey, Dedeal ( MVP north America)
MCITP (EMA), MCITP (SA)
MCSE 2003, M+, S+, MCDST
Security+, Project +, Server +
http://smtp25.blogspot.com/ (Blog)
http://telnet25.wordpress.com/ (Blog)

Exchange 2013 Welcome !!!!!!!!!!

If you are not fallowing the exchange Server and its related new, here are some head start information and links , What is new in Exchange 2013

• EAC  (Exchange Administration Center) I know terms all the time changes (-: , Exchange 2010 EMC ( MMC ) has been replaced, no longer wait time, the new interface is ***Fast***

What's New in Exchange 2013 Preview

• In-place upgrades are not supported , however Coexistence with Exchange 2007 , 2010 is supported. So if you have two server in your DAG, you will be able to break your DAG wipe out one of your server and brings it back as Exchange 2013 and move onto second server.
• Installing Exchange 2013 you have to install Mailbox server and at least one Client Access server in each AD sites
• Store has been re-written to improve the performance, better IO reeducation and reliability.

New mail flow see details………..

• Coexistence with Exchange 2003 is NOT Supported, Windows 2008 R2  is supported OS and support for Windows 8 is in works
• Build in DLP Data loss prevention ( Woww , this is great add on to newest Exchange server) DLP will help & protect companies  sensitive data and inform users of internal compliance policies.
• Achieving, eDiscovery search capabilities and preserve data cross multiple data repositories ( Share point and Lync) the coloration of SP and Lync in Exchange 2013 is incredible, Extra security futures build into multiple platforms and their coloration is  incredibly useful.
• Good by to RPC and welcome to RPC over HTTPS, this means the RPC packets will be wrapped into SSL packets for communication.

I will continue to post , stay tuned and get ready for Exchange 2013 (-:

Respectfully,
Oz Casey, Dedeal ( MVP north America)
MCITP (EMA), MCITP (SA)
MCSE 2003, M+, S+, MCDST
Security+, Project +, Server +
http://smtp25.blogspot.com/ (Blog)
http://telnet25.wordpress.com/ (Blog)