This page explains the new way of creating mailboxes in Exchange 2007. There
really is a
knack to enabling users' mailboxes. If you transitioning from Exchange
2003, the the fastest way to learn is to open your mind to new ways of performing old tasks.
For once, any knowledge of previous
Exchange versions is a positive disadvantage. My advice is to un-learn how Exchange 2000 and 2003 rely on Active Directory to create mailboxes. Instead, in Exchange 2007, fixate on the
Exchange Management Console (formerly the Exchange System Manager).
Trust me, it may look as thought ADUC (Active Directory Users and Computers) functions much as before, but this is deceptive and any mailboxes created in Active Directory
will only lead to disappointment.
By all means create a new
user object with ADUC, but do not add mailboxes with this interface, even if prompted by the wizard. Instead, switch to the
Exchange Management Console and learn the technique to enable mailboxes for existing
users.
To achieve the goal of generating a mail-enabled user, first create a user without mailbox, then switch to the Exchange
Management Console. Don't worry if you make a mistake and and mailbox with ADUC I will
explain later how to correct this error.
From the Exchange Management Console, expand the Recipient Configuration container, then right-click on Mailbox. You will see on the
shortcut menu, 'Enable
Mailbox...' which encourages you to select a user and then connect them to their new mailbox.
Guy Recommends: SolarWinds' Free Bulk Mailbox Import Tool
Import users from a spreadsheet, complete with their mailbox. Just provide a list of the
users with the fields in the
top row, and save as .csv file. Then launch this FREE utility, match
your Exchange fields with AD's
attributes, click and import the users. Optionally, you can
provide the name of the OU where the new mailboxes will be born.
There are also two bonus tools in the free download, and all 3 have been approved by Microsoft:
Bulk-import new users and mailboxes into Active Directory.
The Exchange Mailbox wizard points the way to the users via the 'Select...' button. Once
you choose the user, click 'Next..', followed by 'Finish'. When you return to the Recipient Container you should see the new user's Display Name and Alias. Throughout the
configuration, pay particular attention to the
Primary SMTP Address; if you follow my method you get a proper SMTP address. However, should you try to create a mailbox with ADUC, then
the trap is that the Primary Email address is blank; consequently the account cannot send and
receive email.
If you have installed the Client
Access Role on your Exchange 2007 server, then Outlook Web Access is a convenient way to
test the new account that you created. Type the following command in the browser:
http:\\ server \owa.
(This is a change from previous versions: http: \\ server \exchange). You can now logon to the mailbox by providing the Alias and Password.
Guy Recommends:
The SolarWinds Exchange Monitor
Here is a
free tool to monitor your Exchange Server. Download and
install the utility, then inspect your mail queues, monitor the Exchange
server's memory, confirm there is enough disk space and check the CPU
utilization.
This is the real deal - there is no catch. SolarWinds provides this
fully-functioning freebie, as part of their commitment to supporting
the network management community.
If you try and create a mailbox with ADUC, on the surface everything seems in
order. Unfortunately, if you try and send an email then you get error messages. Here below is a diagram illustrating the problem, the Psycho user has no Primary SMTP Address, this is an indication of a
problem. The solution is to disable the mailbox through the Exchange System Manager, then Enable the mailbox as shown in the Create a Mailbox Wizard. Note,
deleting the mailbox does not work, you need the Disable / Enable routine.
In conclusion, the latest technique is
to abandon Exchange 2003 methods, which rely on ADUC, and instead embrace the
new features of the 2007's Exchange Management Console.
With Exchange 2007, the past does not equal
the present. What I mean is that Exchange 2007 has a completely new method of creating mailboxes. Make it your reflex to launch the
Exchange Management Console when you need to give a user a mailbox.
Active Directory Users and Computer is still used for creating users, but not their mailboxes.
If you like this page then please share it with your friends
Here is a
free tool to monitor your Exchange Server.
Download the utility, then inspect your mail queues, monitor Exchange server's
memory, confirm there is enough disk space and check the CPU utilization.
