Help with Exchange 2007 Distribution Groups

Hi Chris, no, for some reason it doesn't...

Are they mail enabled? Do they appear in the Exchange Management Console under Recipient Configuration \ Distribution Group?

If not, they may just need enabling which should be possible through the GUI at that stage. Remember that they must be set to Universal for use with Exchange 2007.

Chris

Thanks for the help Chris. Sorry for the ignorance with this!

Both the Distribution list and the Mailbox are visible from the Exchange Management Console, I can send email to the Mailbox I created without issue, and I have no errors that I've noticed.

If I look at the "Recipient Type Details" for the Distribution Group it tells me that it is "Mail-Enabled Universal Distribution Group". For the Mailbox it tells me it is a "User Mailbox".

Not sure what I've done wrong here!

One other thing I've noticed, if I go to the properties of the Mailbox I've just created, then go to the "Mail Flow Settings", "Delivery Options" and then try to add a forwarding address (and click Browse) I don't get any "Groups" in there, just mailboxes and Mail-Enabled Public Folders.... Not even the fresh new Distribution Group I've just created.

Odd?

Okay cool. Would you mind checking Web Access and see if the distribution list shows up in the address book there. It could just be the Offline Address book that isn't updating (if Outlook on the client is running with Cached Mode).

And if you find that to be the case, restrart (or start) the Microsoft Exchange File Distribution service and try again. The service is responsible for updating the Offline Address Book.

If that gets us nowhere we'll have to increase some of the diagnostic logging and see if it'll tell us anything with that.

Chris

None of them show?

Would you run this command in the Exchange Management Shell please?

(Get-GlobalAddressList).RecipientFilter

Verify that "ObjectClass -eq 'group'" is included in the Filter.

Chris

Thanks Chris, I've run the (Get-GlobalAddressList).RecipientFilter command, but it returned nothing?

Okay, that's slightly unexpected.

Run these two (almost the same as above):

Get-GlobalAddressList
Get-OfflineAddressBook

Do you have any Exchange 2003 servers in there as well? Or is this a new build with 2007 as the base?

Chris

Hi Chris,

We 'did' have Exchange 2003 servers, however it has given up with life and we were unable to get the machine back into a working state that would allow us to properly remove it from the domain.

The results from Get-GlobalAddressList:

Name                                                                                     RecipentFilter
-------                                                                                    -----------------
Default Global Address List


The results from Get-GlobalAddressList:

Name                          Server                           Versions                      AdressLists
-------                          --------                           -----------                      ---------------
Default Offline ...        ISSEXCHSVR                {Version2, Versi...       {Default Global ...


Incidentally, ISSEXCHSVR is out old redundant (broken) Exchange 2003 server....

Hmm I wonder... Can you run:

Get-GlobalAddressList | Format-List

I wonder if has an LdapRecipientFilter, but just hadn't got around to writing the OPath version that we were echoing above.

Can you also run:

Get-GlobalAddressList | Update-GlobalAddressList

Then check the Event Log for error messages.

It would be a good idea to run the Exchange Best Practice Analyzer from the Toolbox in the Exchange Management Console as well.

Chris

Thanks again Chris, output from Get-GlobalAdressList I Format-List is:

IsDefaultGlobalAddressList   : True
RecipientFilter              :
LdapRecipientFilter          : (& (mailnickname=*) (| (&(objectCategory=person)
                               (objectClass=user)(!(homeMDB=*))(!(msExchHomeSer
                               verName=*)))(&(objectCategory=person)(objectClas
                               s=user)(|(homeMDB=*)(msExchHomeServerName=*)))(&
                               (objectCategory=person)(objectClass=contact))(ob
                               jectCategory=group)(objectCategory=publicFolder)
                               (objectCategory=msExchDynamicDistributionList) )
                               )
LastUpdatedRecipientFilter   :
RecipientFilterApplied       : False
IncludedRecipients           :
ConditionalDepartment        :
ConditionalCompany           :
ConditionalStateOrProvince   :
ConditionalCustomAttribute1  :
ConditionalCustomAttribute2  :
ConditionalCustomAttribute3  :
ConditionalCustomAttribute4  :
ConditionalCustomAttribute5  :
ConditionalCustomAttribute6  :
ConditionalCustomAttribute7  :
ConditionalCustomAttribute8  :
ConditionalCustomAttribute9  :
ConditionalCustomAttribute10 :
ConditionalCustomAttribute11 :
ConditionalCustomAttribute12 :
ConditionalCustomAttribute13 :
ConditionalCustomAttribute14 :
ConditionalCustomAttribute15 :
RecipientFilterType          : Legacy
IsValid                      : True
OriginatingServer            : ISSEXCH01.win.issolutions.co.uk
ExchangeVersion              : 0.0 (6.5.6500.0)
Name                         : Default Global Address List
DistinguishedName            : CN=Default Global Address List,CN=All Global Add
                               ress Lists,CN=Address Lists Container,CN=IS Solu
                               tions Plc,CN=Microsoft Exchange,CN=Services,CN=C
                               onfiguration,DC=win,DC=issolutions,DC=co,DC=uk
Identity                     : \Default Global Address List
Guid                         : fc8765a0-a9a7-44e9-a1b1-34160186d6a3
ObjectCategory               : win.issolutions.co.uk/Configuration/Schema/Addre
                               ss-Book-Container
ObjectClass                  : {top, addressBookContainer}
WhenChanged                  : 14/04/2008 16:18:29
WhenCreated                  : 14/05/2004 12:20:38



Regarding the 2nd instruction, I saw a multitude of errors when I ran that, basically a whole load of:

WARNING: The recipient "FQDN/Microsoft Exchange System Objects /MKS\/06\/2 & 3 51331171" is invalid and could not be updated.

Seems like something is inherently wrong here!

This is your old Exchange Server, isn't it?

OriginatingServer            : ISSEXCH01.win.issolutions.co.uk
ExchangeVersion              : 0.0 (6.5.6500.0)

How far along did you get with decomissioing the old Exchange server? For instance, have the System Folders been replicated to this new one?

Chris

No, the old (2003) Exchange server is "ISSEXCHSVR" and the new (2007) is "ISSEXCH01".

We didn't decomission it at all, for a period we were co-existing them, but unfortunately it just basically blew up!

Just what you need for a happy life :)

Ah well, the list is still running in Exchange 2003 mode, hence the old version number. We can upgrade that, at least in theory, by adding the OPath attribute. I'm just a bit concerned that rather a lot is going to be missing from Exchange due to the failure.

Back in the Shell, can you run:

Get-PublicFolderStatistics

I'm hoping that it's going to show some activity there, especially on the Offline Address Book (OAB) and Free Busy information.

The old server will have to be removed using ADSIEdit. Because the operating is destructive it is important that you are happy with the backup system that's in place for your AD domain.

Is mail flowing at the moment?

Chris

Thanks Chris :)

Get-PublicFolderStatistics gives:


Name                                     ItemCount               LastAccessTime
----                                     ---------               --------------
EX:/o=IS Solutions Plc/ou=Exchange Admin 7                  12/01/2009 02:02:23
istrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)                                              
EX:/o=IS Solutions Plc/ou=Exchange Admin 0                  11/01/2009 19:00:00
istrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)                                              
globalevents                             0                  12/12/2008 18:14:42
internal                                 0                  12/12/2008 18:14:42
OWAScratchPad{5454F570-CAB2-453A-807E-01 0                  12/12/2008 18:14:42
153333ADD1}                                                                    
StoreEvents{5454F570-CAB2-453A-807E-0115 0                  12/12/2008 18:14:42
3333ADD1}                                                                      


In general, we mailflow appears to be 100% working. Internally and Externally is fine and all fairly fast.

Backup wise, we have full backups of the Exchange Store and system data using Backup Exec 12.5 for our Exchange 2007 server, and our backup man says he is happy with that :)

Curious, did you install Exchange 2007 with Outlook 2003 compatibility? Or are you only running Outlook 2007?

Chris

Hmm, sorry not 100% sure on that one. But we do use a combination of OL 2003 & 2007.

Shame, you definitely need the public folder version of the Offline Address Book then (and Free Busy).

We should be able to update the Global Address List with the command below (it should copy and paste into the management shell). There are a few more default address lists as well.

Check your Email Address Policies under Organisation Configuration / Hub Transport / Email Address Policies (verify they apply when creating a new user).

The Offline Address Book should be configurable through the Management Console. It hides under Organisation Configuration \ Mailbox \ Offline Address Book. See if it thinks it is housed on your current server. If not, attempt to change it so it is.

Chris

# Update Global Address List
 
Set-GlobalAddressList "Default Global Address List" -RecipientFilter "(Alias -ne $null -and (ObjectClass -eq 'user' -or ObjectClass -eq 'contact' -or ObjectClass -eq 'msExchSystemMailbox' -or ObjectClass -eq 'msExchDynamicDistributionList' -or ObjectClass -eq 'group' -or ObjectClass -eq 'publicFolder'))"
 
# Update standard Address Lists
 
Get-AddressList | Update-AddressList
Set-AddressList "All Users" IncludedRecipients MailboxUsers
Set-AddressList "All Contacts" IncludedRecipients MailContacts
Set-AddressList "All Groups" IncludedRecipients MailGroups
Set-AddressList "All PublicFolders" RecipientFilter { RecipientType eq 'PublicFolder' }

                                              

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Sorry, some suspect characters in there. This is a correction.

# Update standard Address Lists
 
Get-AddressList | Update-AddressList
Set-AddressList "All Users" -IncludedRecipients MailboxUsers
Set-AddressList "All Contacts" -IncludedRecipients MailContacts
Set-AddressList "All Groups" -IncludedRecipients MailGroups
Set-AddressList "All PublicFolders" -RecipientFilter { RecipientType -eq 'PublicFolder' }

                                              

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Another odity here:

Check your Email Address Policies under Organisation Configuration / Hub Transport / Email Address Policies (verify they apply when creating a new user).

I have my "Default Policy" with a "Lowest" priority, however, under the "Applied" heading it is "False"!

Go to open the properties and it moans that it was created using a legacy version of Exchange and must be upgraded using the "Set-EmailAddressPolicy" task...

One more (ignorant) question, with the commands you gave me above, do I just copy the whole lot into the shell? Or do they have to be done one line at a time?

Thanks for all your help so far Chris.

Yep, into the shell. It doesn't matter whether you do them all at once or one at a time. You'll get a "yes / no" option after most of them.

For the Email Address Policy.... do you just have one?

If you have more, can you show me the output from:

Get-EmailAddressPolicy | Format-List

If it's just the default policy then we're looking at the command below.

This is discussed in the Exchange Team blog here. It's what we'd use if we needed to update more of them:

http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2007/01/11/432158.aspx

Chris

Set-EmailAddressPolicy "Default Policy" -IncludedRecipients AllRecipients

                                              

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Output from Get-EmailAddressPolicy | Format-List:

RecipientFilter                   :
LdapRecipientFilter               : (mailnickname=*)
LastUpdatedRecipientFilter        :
RecipientFilterApplied            : False
IncludedRecipients                :
ConditionalDepartment             :
ConditionalCompany                :
ConditionalStateOrProvince        :
ConditionalCustomAttribute1       :
ConditionalCustomAttribute2       :
ConditionalCustomAttribute3       :
ConditionalCustomAttribute4       :
ConditionalCustomAttribute5       :
ConditionalCustomAttribute6       :
ConditionalCustomAttribute7       :
ConditionalCustomAttribute8       :
ConditionalCustomAttribute9       :
ConditionalCustomAttribute10      :
ConditionalCustomAttribute11      :
ConditionalCustomAttribute12      :
ConditionalCustomAttribute13      :
ConditionalCustomAttribute14      :
ConditionalCustomAttribute15      :
RecipientFilterType               : Legacy
Priority                          : Lowest
EnabledPrimarySMTPAddressTemplate : @issolutions.co.uk
EnabledEmailAddressTemplates      : {smtp:@axl.co.uk, smtp:@getmethere.co.uk, S
                                    MTP:@issolutions.co.uk, X400:c=US;a= ;p=IS
                                    Solutions Plc;o=Exchange;}
DisabledEmailAddressTemplates     : {smtp:@win.issolutions.co.uk}
Enabled                           : True
HasEmailAddressSetting            : True
HasMailboxManagerSetting          : False
NonAuthoritativeDomains           : {smtp:@issolutions.co.uk}
AdminDescription                  :
AdminDisplayName                  :
ExchangeVersion                   : 0.0 (6.5.6500.0)
Name                              : Default Policy
DistinguishedName                 : CN=Default Policy,CN=Recipient Policies,CN=
                                    IS Solutions Plc,CN=Microsoft Exchange,CN=S
                                    ervices,CN=Configuration,DC=win,DC=issoluti
                                    ons,DC=co,DC=uk
Identity                          : Default Policy
Guid                              : 0e596db4-f99c-46f7-b628-87e5d316da1c
ObjectCategory                    : win.issolutions.co.uk/Configuration/Schema/
                                    ms-Exch-Recipient-Policy
ObjectClass                       : {top, msExchGenericPolicy, msExchRecipientP
                                    olicy}
WhenChanged                       : 22/04/2008 22:07:24
WhenCreated                       : 14/05/2004 12:20:39
OriginatingServer                 : ISSEXCH01.win.issolutions.co.uk
IsValid                           : True

Okay, great. We'll be fine using the command above then. It should warn you again that it is upgrading the policy.

Chris

Now you're scaring me! :)

I guess I had better do it though! No good having attached to a legacy Exchange server that no longer exists right!

Absolutely :)

Unless you're bringing the old Exchange Server back then there's no harm in running these commands. They're constructive rather than destructive.

It's the bit where we have to remove the old Exchange server from the directory that makes me nervous. If only because I'm normally in front of it when doing things quite as serious as that. Still, it'll be fine, we just have to check 50 times to get all the items that should be running on the 2007 server first.

Chris

Hehe, I can't thank you enough Chris, I'd be a gonner without your help so far :)

I'm running: Set-EmailAddressPolicy "Default Policy" -IncludedRecipients AllRecipients now.

Did you have any luck with the Offline Address Book? It would be nice to see that one pop up in "Get-PublicFolderStatistics".

Chris

Hmm, got an error:

Set-EmailAddressPolicy : The operation cannot be completed on the default e-mail adress policy.
At line:1 char:23
+ Set-EmailAddressPolicy <<<< "Default Policy" -IncludedRecipients AllRecipients

The policy is labled "Default Policy"...

I knew that had to be too easy.

What patch level are we running on Exchange?

We can, potentially, manually edit the entries for the address policy using ADSIEdit. It would just be nice to avoid having to hack through the directory for all of this.

I have to go and catch my train, but I'll have a think and see if I can come up with an alternative. If not, directory hacking will be it...

Chris

OK, regarding the Offline Address Book:

Get-AddressList | Update-AddressList:

This returned about a million yellow erros, most of which look like this: WARNING: The recipient "win.issolutions.co.uk/Microsoft Exchange System Objects/SOMETHING GOES HERE" is invalid and could not be updated.

Set-AddressList "All Users" -IncludedRecipients MailboxUsers:

This returned a red error: Set-AddressList : The operation could not be performed because object 'All Users' could not be found on domain controller 'ISSEXCH01.win.issolutions.co.uk'. At line:1 char:16
+ Set-AddressList <<<< "All Users" -Include Recipients MailboxUsers.

Set-AddressList "All Contacts" -IncludedRecipients MailContacts:

This gave a yellow error: WARNING: The command copleted successfully but no settings of '\All Contacts' have been modified.

Set-AddressList "All Groups" -IncludedRecipients MailGroups:

This one didn't return any values, maybe it worked?

Set-AddressList "All PublicFolders" -RecipientFilter { RecipientType -eq 'PublicFolder' }:

This gave a red error: Set-AddressList : The operation could not be performed because object 'All PublicFolders' could not be found on domain controller 'ISSEXCH01.win.issolutions.co.uk'
At line:1 char:16
+ Set-AddressList <<<< "All PublicFolders" -RecipientFilter { RecipientType -eq 'PublicFolder' }

Thanks Chris, appreciate the help so far :)

Okay, I'm going to try and do what's been done here to one of my test environments tomorrow then see where that leaves me.

Could you confirm that Exchange 2003 was running SP2? That the domain is 2003 (functional level and forest functional level)? And the current Service Pack of Exchange 2007 (assuming no service packs at the moment)?

Chris

Cheers Chris,

Exchange 2003 was up-to-date with SP2 and all other updates before it died.
Exchange 2007 is at version: Version: 08.01.0291.001 (I can't tell exactly what SP that is, but the number corresponds to one greater than SP1, so I would guess it is at its latest SP?)

I'm sure what you have told me to do is correct, it is just my Exchange Server being poorly!

I've run an edit on our Email Address Policy from the EMC GUI (I'm guessing this is pretty much the same thing you got me to do via the Shell?) only this time where as the end result was the same (it gave errors such as: "Warning: The recipient "win.issolutions.co.uk/GetMeThere/.CR" is invalid and could not be updated.") but it did set the "Applied" column as "True" after it finished.

One other thing I've noticed, the errors it gives when editing the Email Address Policy are all pointing at manually created OU's within Active Directory. Now not sure if this is significant or not (seems a bit to co-incidental to ignore!) but I thought I would point it out?? Could be some form of incorrect permission setting??

 

All the OUs exist though, don't they?

Chris

Yes, there are there in AD right now...

I'd like to see what the test environment does tomorrow. It could be that it won't end up in the same state, but it will give me a much clearer idea of how to get all the bits you're current missing back (there's plenty of those).

Chris

Magic, I really appreciate the help.

If there is anything at all I can let you know to aid then just shout!

Not 100% sure what the EE code is for contact etc, but if you want an email address etc then let me know and i'll forward you on further contact details.

Just a quick update... I've just killed the Exchange 2003 server on my test network leaving an Exchange 2007 server that looks to be in the same state as yours. Sorry it took so long to get there, takes ages to build Exchange 2007, so many pre-requisites.

Chris

Don't apologise! You are doing me a massive favour here! :)

System Folders are proving to be a real issue, that's EFORMS Registry and SCHEDULE+ FREE BUSY.

This is the command set so far. Not sure how far you'll get with these considering the previous issues. The Offline Address Book change involves deletion of the current version, then addition of a new one to replace it. I advise taking a backup before running any of these, just in case and all that.

I'll let you know when I make some progress with the system folders.

Chris

# Fix Address Lists:
 
Set-AddressList "All Users" -IncludedRecipients MailboxUsers -ForceUpgrade
Set-AddressList "All Contacts" -IncludedRecipients MailContacts -ForceUpgrade
Set-AddressList "All Groups" -IncludedRecipients MailGroups -ForceUpgrade
Set-AddressList "Public Folders" -RecipientFilter { RecipientType -eq 'PublicFolder' } -ForceUpgrade
 
# Fix GAL:
 
Set-GlobalAddressList "Default Global Address List" -RecipientFilter {(Alias -ne $null -and (ObjectClass -eq 'user' -or ObjectClass -eq 'contact' -or ObjectClass -eq 'msExchSystemMailbox' -or ObjectClass -eq 'msExchDynamicDistributionList' -or ObjectClass -eq 'group' -or ObjectClass -eq 'publicFolder'))} -ForceUpgrade
 
# Fix EmailAddressPolicy:
 
Set-EmailAddressPolicy "Default Policy" -IncludedRecipients AllRecipients -Confirm
 
# Fix Offline Address List:
 
# Removal of current address list - Edits Active Directory
$RootDSE = [ADSI]"LDAP://RootDSE"
$Configuration = [ADSI]"LDAP://$($RootDSE.Get('configurationNamingContext'))"
$OfflineAddressBook = ((New-Object System.DirectoryServices.DirectorySearcher($Configuration, `
  "(objectClass=msExchOAB)")).FindOne()).GetDirectoryEntry()
$OfflineAddressBook.PSBase.DeleteTree()
 
# Creation of a new default
New-OfflineAddressBook -Name "Default Offline Address Book" `
  -AddressLists "Default Global Address List" -Server $($Env:ComputerName) `
  -PublicFolderDistributionEnabled $True -Versions @("Version3","Version4")
 
# Force an update
Update-OfflineAddressBook "Default Offline Address Book"
                                              

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Okay, I've finally found a KB article for the FREE BUSY information. Lets not worry about EFORMS REGISTRY, my test box shows the same as my live system for that now.

Here's the original article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945602/en-us

And here's my version of the commands.

Note that every user on the system will have to accept or decline a meeting request to populate FREE BUSY as documented in the KB article.

Chris

$Folder = Get-PublicFolder -Server $($Env:ComputerName) "\NON_IPM_SUBTREE\SCHEDULE+ FREE BUSY" -Recurse | `
  Where-Object { $_.Name -Like "Ex:*" }
Set-PublicFolder -Identity $($Folder.Identity) -Replicas "$($Env:ComputerName)\Public Folder Database"
                                              

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Thank you Chris, I'll probably have to leave that till tomorrow to get them to all do that :-)

I'll read up on the KB article also.

RE: the commands, do I just copy and paste the whole lot into the Shell window?

Cheers,

Yep, they're all intended to run under your environment, no hard-set names or paths.

I recommend copying them in small sets, makes checking less of a bother.

Chris

Thanks Chris, will let you know how it pans out...

There's still a pile of cleanup commands to follow those (if that lot even executes). I'll probably finish those off in the morning, getting a little late now :)

Chris

Not a problem :)

And I missed a comment out. Once the Offline Address Book has been recreated you must enable Web Distribution manually. I didn't spend long looking, but it's not quite as trivial to enable on the command line. That's needed for your Outlook 2007 clients.

Chris

Hi Chris, one more little thing to ask, users are getting a lot of these:

Sync Issues:

08:32:04 Synchronizer Version 11.0.8200
08:32:04 Synchronizing Mailbox 'Jonathan Garratt'
08:32:04 Synchronizing Hierarchy
08:32:04 Synchronizing local changes in folder 'Inbox'
08:32:04 Uploading to server 'ISSEXCH01.win.issolutions.co.uk'
08:32:05 7 item(s) added to online folder
08:32:05 25 item(s) deleted in online folder
08:32:05 1 view(s)/form(s) updated in online folder
08:32:05 Downloading from server 'ISSEXCH01.win.issolutions.co.uk'
08:32:05 Synchronizing local changes in folder 'Junk E-mail'
08:32:05 Uploading to server 'ISSEXCH01.win.issolutions.co.uk'
08:32:06 17 item(s) added to online folder
08:32:06 Downloading from server 'ISSEXCH01.win.issolutions.co.uk'
08:32:06 Done
08:32:06 Microsoft Exchange offline address book
08:32:06 0X8004010F


Now, these users are all running OL2003, but then there are only two people running OL2007 and one of them is me who doesn't have OL set in Cached Exchange Mode or have an offline folder setup.

Are these errors to do with the Offline Folders issues mentioned by you above?

Okay, we're missing a bit...

Open up the properties for the Mailbox Store. There's a setting there that allows you to specify an Offline Address Book. If you re-created it as above you'll find the link is gone.

Once that's back attempt to download the address book on a client running in cached mode then.

Chris

Is that the:

Server configuration --> Mailbox --> Mailbox Database (properties) --> Client Settings (tab)?

If so, there is a path of: "\Default Offline Address List" in there.

Have you recreated the address book? If not, it won't exist on the current server as it's housed on the old Exchange 2003 server as a public folder.

Chris

Hi Chris,

I've done the bits in the attached code snippet.

This successfully changed the Default public folder database location to:

ISSEXCH01\Second Storage Group\Public Folder Database

(The Exchange 2007 server)

The Offline address book entry was empty, so I clicked browse and selected the "Default Offline Address Book".

# Fix Offline Address List:
 
# Removal of current address list - Edits Active Directory
$RootDSE = [ADSI]"LDAP://RootDSE"
$Configuration = [ADSI]"LDAP://$($RootDSE.Get('configurationNamingContext'))"
$OfflineAddressBook = ((New-Object System.DirectoryServices.DirectorySearcher($Configuration, `
  "(objectClass=msExchOAB)")).FindOne()).GetDirectoryEntry()
$OfflineAddressBook.PSBase.DeleteTree()
 
# Creation of a new default
New-OfflineAddressBook -Name "Default Offline Address Book" `
  -AddressLists "Default Global Address List" -Server $($Env:ComputerName) `
  -PublicFolderDistributionEnabled $True -Versions @("Version3","Version4")
 
# Force an update
Update-OfflineAddressBook "Default Offline Address Book"

                                              

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Excellent, that sounds a lot more promising.

Does the offline address book work on the client now?

And are we still missing the Global Address List update?

Chris

Cheers Chris,

OK, here is the responce to the rest of the commands:

# Fix Address Lists:
 
Set-AddressList "All Users" -IncludedRecipients MailboxUsers -ForceUpgrade
Set-AddressList "All Contacts" -IncludedRecipients MailContacts -ForceUpgrade
Set-AddressList "All Groups" -IncludedRecipients MailGroups -ForceUpgrade
Set-AddressList "Public Folders" -RecipientFilter { RecipientType -eq 'PublicFolder' } -ForceUpgrade

This completed all A-OK, apart from the first line:

Set-AddressList : The operation could not be performed because object 'All Users' could not be found on domain controller 'ISSEXCH01.win.issolutions.co.uk'.
At line:1 Char:16
+ Set-AddressList <<<< "All Users" -IncludedRecipients MailboxUsers -ForceUpgrade


# Fix GAL:
 
Set-GlobalAddressList "Default Global Address List" -RecipientFilter {(Alias -ne $null -and (ObjectClass -eq 'user' -or ObjectClass -eq 'contact' -or ObjectClass -eq 'msExchSystemMailbox' -or ObjectClass -eq 'msExchDynamicDistributionList' -or ObjectClass -eq 'group' -or ObjectClass -eq 'publicFolder'))} -ForceUpgrade
 
This appeared to work ok, no errors or success messages.


# Fix EmailAddressPolicy:
 
Set-EmailAddressPolicy "Default Policy" -IncludedRecipients AllRecipients -Confirm
 
This failed. Error was:

Set-AddressList : The operation cannot be completed on the default e-mail address policy.
At line:1 char:23
+ Set-EmailAddressPolicy <<<< "Default Policy" -IncludedRecipients AllRecipients -Confirm


# Fix Offline Address List:
 
# Removal of current address list - Edits Active Directory
$RootDSE = [ADSI]"LDAP://RootDSE"
$Configuration = [ADSI]"LDAP://$($RootDSE.Get('configurationNamingContext'))"
$OfflineAddressBook = ((New-Object System.DirectoryServices.DirectorySearcher($Configuration, `
  "(objectClass=msExchOAB)")).FindOne()).GetDirectoryEntry()
$OfflineAddressBook.PSBase.DeleteTree()
 
# Creation of a new default
New-OfflineAddressBook -Name "Default Offline Address Book" `
  -AddressLists "Default Global Address List" -Server $($Env:ComputerName) `
  -PublicFolderDistributionEnabled $True -Versions @("Version3","Version4")
 
# Force an update
Update-OfflineAddressBook "Default Offline Address Book"

All these seem to have worked.


I've just had an email from a user complaining that:

"If you go into Outlook and create a meeting request and select people to attend the meeting, you cannot see their availabilty.

You can however see there calendars on calendar view."

However, not sure if this is a related issue!


Thanks again,

> "If you go into Outlook and create a meeting request and select people to attend the meeting, you cannot see their availabilty.

Every user will need to accept or decline a meeting request to re-populate Free Busy. It's a pain, but in an ideal world we'd have transferred it from the old server.

It would probably be beneficial to run "Outlook.exe /CleanFreeBusy" on each client as well if possible.

I'm afraid there's no way to do those two from the server side.

> The operation cannot be completed on the default e-mail address policy.

I think we should make ourselves a new default policy then. Perhaps just duplicate the contents of the existing policy using the Exchange Management Console? It can be done in the Shell as well, just depends which you are more comfortable with.

Once created, you should be able to right click on it and set it as the Default. Then delete the old one.

> The operation could not be performed because object 'All Users' could not be found on domain controller

Can you see if you can see that one in the Exchange Management Console? They're listed under Organisation Configuration \ Mailbox \ Address Lists.

Chris

Thanks Chris,

I'm about to send a meeting request to everybody with Exchange accounts asking them to decline the meeting request. Is this what you mean?

RE: the "Outlook.exe /CleanFreeBusy", we've just run this on a client and got a message stating that it was "unable to clean your Free/Busy information on this server"...

> Is this what you mean?

Yes, that should work. But try it on a couple first (just to make sure the new folder starts to populate).

> unable to clean your Free/Busy information on this server

Hmm it's probably trying to connect to the old server, might not work until after the new folder is populated.

Chris

>Yes, that should work. But try it on a couple first (just to make sure the new folder starts to populate).

Cool, I've started with a small meeting request for the support team, of which everyone is declining :)

I'm getting a few responces through now, how shall I check that the folder is populating?

Thanks,

The most obvious will be if you can see their availability in Outlook.  But you might see if you're getting activity on the public folder as well with "Get-PublicFolderStatistics".

Chris

Interesting one this...

I'm using OL2007, I ran the "outlook.exe /clearfreebusy" command and it re-loaded outlook and didn't say anything. However if I attempt to view the free/busy information on someone in a meeting request OL crashes!

OL 2003 however as stated above returns the "cannot clear free/busy information" message when running the command, but when viewing the free/busy information it just says "cannot find free/busy information"....

Output from "Get-PublicFolderStatistics":


Name                                     ItemCount               LastAccessTime
----                                     ---------               --------------
EX:/o=IS Solutions Plc/ou=Exchange Admin 7                  15/01/2009 02:02:32
istrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)                                              
EX:/o=IS Solutions Plc/ou=Exchange Admin 0                  15/01/2009 00:15:06
istrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)                                              
globalevents                             0                  12/12/2008 18:14:42
internal                                 0                  12/12/2008 18:14:42
OAB Version 2                            0                  15/01/2009 03:50:52
OAB Version 3a                           2                  15/01/2009 03:50:52
OAB Version 4                            1                  15/01/2009 03:50:53
OWAScratchPad{5454F570-CAB2-453A-807E-01 0                  12/12/2008 18:14:42
153333ADD1}                                                                    
StoreEvents{5454F570-CAB2-453A-807E-0115 0                  12/12/2008 18:14:42
3333ADD1}                                                                      
/o=IS Solutions Plc/cn=addrlists/cn=oabs 0                  15/01/2009 03:50:51
/cn=Default Offline Address Book                                              

heh good start...

Outlook 2007 relies on a web-based availability, so not quite the same mechanism as OL 2003. We might need to configure Autodiscover so Outlook 2007 can find the service. That means making the name "autodiscover.yoursmtpdomain.com" resolve to the IP address of the Exchange Server.

It can be tested if you hold down Control and right click on the Outlook icon in the system tray. Select "Test E-mail Autoconfiguration". It should tell you the URL it's using to attempt to access the Availability (Free Busy) service.

OL 2003 on the other hand is still reliant on that public folder which is... troublesome... Perhaps try creating a new appointment on an OL 2003 client?

Chris

Cheers Chris :)

OK, I've been creating new appointments from various OL2003 clients for a while now, everything works except for the Free/Busy bits!

I'm also not getting any extra activity from "Get-PublicFolderStatistics": (although not sure if this is expected to show activity that soon after 'doing things'...?)


Name                                     ItemCount               LastAccessTime
----                                     ---------               --------------
EX:/o=IS Solutions Plc/ou=Exchange Admin 7                  15/01/2009 02:02:32
istrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)                                              
EX:/o=IS Solutions Plc/ou=Exchange Admin 0                  15/01/2009 00:15:06
istrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)                                              
globalevents                             0                  12/12/2008 18:14:42
internal                                 0                  12/12/2008 18:14:42
OAB Version 2                            0                  15/01/2009 03:50:52
OAB Version 3a                           3                  15/01/2009 03:50:52
OAB Version 4                            1                  15/01/2009 03:50:53
OWAScratchPad{5454F570-CAB2-453A-807E-01 0                  12/12/2008 18:14:42
153333ADD1}                                                                    
StoreEvents{5454F570-CAB2-453A-807E-0115 0                  12/12/2008 18:14:42
3333ADD1}                                                                      
/o=IS Solutions Plc/cn=addrlists/cn=oabs 0                  15/01/2009 03:50:51
/cn=Default Offline Address Book                                              

RE this bit: Outlook 2007 relies on a web-based availability, so not quite the same mechanism as OL 2003. We might need to configure Autodiscover so Outlook 2007 can find the service. That means making the name "autodiscover.yoursmtpdomain.com" resolve to the IP address of the Exchange Server.

It can be tested if you hold down Control and right click on the Outlook icon in the system tray. Select "Test E-mail Autoconfiguration". It should tell you the URL it's using to attempt to access the Availability (Free Busy) service.


I've run the "Test E-mail Autoconfiguration" from my OL2007 client and that all appears the check out. I.e. the Availability Service URL shows: https://issexch01.win.issolutions.co.uk/EWS/Exchange.asmx

...also having a few users reporting this error with OL2003 clients:

Task 'Microsoft Exchange Server' reported error (0x8004010F) : 'The operation failed. An object could not be found.'


Could this be something entirely different? (although I'm trying to get clarification if it is only users working remotely that get this...)

Free Busy is a pain, I need to have more of a play and see what can be done to resurrect it (not working on my test server either).

Hmm difficult to know what it could be referring to. Clarification would be good if possible otherwise it's just random googling for the error ;)

Chris

Not a problem, I'll hunt on the 2nd error and as always appreciate your help with the Free/Busy stuff.

Sorry, I forgot to answer this bit:

> The operation could not be performed because object 'All Users' could not be found on domain controller

Can you see if you can see that one in the Exchange Management Console? They're listed under Organisation Configuration \ Mailbox \ Address Lists.

I did an output of the address lists, and its not there: "get-addresslist"

Name                      DisplayName               RecipientFilter            
----                      -----------               ---------------            
CH4 Staff                 CH4 Staff                                            
All Internal Users        All Internal Users                                  
AXL                       AXL                                                  
Open Methods              Open Methods                                        
Room 58                   Room 58                                              
Toyota                    Toyota                                              
GetMeThere                GetMeThere                                          
All Rooms                 All Rooms                 (Alias -ne $null -and (Reci
                                                    pientDisplayType -eq 'Confe
                                                    renceRoomMailbox' -or Recip
                                                    ientDisplayType -eq 'Synced
                                                    ConferenceRoomMailbox'))  
All Groups                All Groups                (RecipientType -eq 'MailUni
                                                    versalDistributionGroup' -o
                                                    r RecipientType -eq 'MailUn
                                                    iversalSecurityGroup' -or R
                                                    ecipientType -eq 'MailNonUn
                                                    iversalGroup' -or Recipient
                                                    Type -eq 'DynamicDistributi
                                                    onGroup')                  
All Contacts              All Contacts              RecipientType -eq 'MailCont
                                                    act'                      
Public Folders            Public Folders            RecipientType -eq 'PublicFo
                                                    lder'                      


So I guess if it is important to have "All Users" there then it needs adding, or if its not important then ignore the error?

Yep, although we should update those other address lists to the 2007 format. May I see the LDAP filters for each of those?

Chris

>May I see the LDAP filters for each of those?

Of course, just let me know how and I'll put everything down :)

This should do it, from the Exchange Management Shell:

Get-AddressList | ?{ $_.RecipientFilter -eq $Null } | Select-Object Name,LdapRecipientFilter

If it gives you the right lists back, re-run it with this:

Get-AddressList | ?{ $_.RecipientFilter -eq $Null } | Select-Object Name,LdapRecipientFilter | Export-CSV "AddressLists.csv"

Which drops the results to a CSV file, much more user friendly...

Chris

Hmm,

Ran those, however the CSV file is empty!

Did the first command show anything on the screen? Might try this instead:

Get-AddressList | ?{ $_.RecipientFilter -eq $Null -or $_.RecipientFilter -eq "" } | Select-Object Name,LdapRecipientFilter | Export-CSV "AddressLists.csv"

Chris

Thanks for that Chris, worked a peach :)

CSV file is attached.

Missed the attachment :)

Chris

Sorry Chris, I've sent you an email, EE would't accept the .zip for some reason!

Getting this in the Event log now:

Error updating public folder with free/busy information on virtual machine ISSEXCH01. The error number is 0x80040115.

(At least it is mentioning the E2007 server this time!)  :-)

Thank you Chris :)

I'll take a good look at that KB article and let you know...