PowerShell Set-Mailbox

PowerShell Set-Mailbox For Exchange 2010

Set-Mailbox is a handy PowerShell cmdlet for modifying an existing Exchange mailbox.  When changing multiple mailboxes employ a second PowerShell cmdlet such as Get-Mailbox, then pipe its output into Set-Mailbox’s input.

• Getting Started with Set-Mailbox
• Example 1: Increase the Message Size Limits
• List PowerShell’s Set-Mailbox Parameters
• Example 2: Piping Input with Get-User
• Example 3: Set-Mailbox -Type

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Getting Started with Set-Mailbox

Before unleashing the power of any ‘Set-xyz’ cmdlets, I find it safer to check with the corresponding Get-xyz first.  Another technique is to wade straight in with Set-Mailbox, but append the -WhatIf parameter until you are sure that the results are what you expected.

Example 1: Increase the Message Size Limits

The only required parameter for Set-Mailbox is -Identity.  As an alternative to the Exchange Alias, you could specify Distinguished name (DN) Domain\Account,  User principal name (UPN), GUID, or the SmtpAddress; it makes no difference to Set-Mailbox’s -Identity parameter.

Note 1a:  While -Identity is the only mandatory parameter, it’s worth researching the other switches or parameters to improve your scripts.

List PowerShell’s Set-Mailbox Parameters

Note 1b:  Other interesting parameters include the ‘Archive’ family, e.g. ArchiveQuota and the Forwarding family e.g. ForwardingSmtpAddress.

Note 1c:  Set-Mailbox -type accepts the following values:
Regular
Room
Equipment
Shared

Example 2: Piping Input with Get-User

One of the beauties of PowerShell is piping. In this case obtain a flow of ‘Managers’ using another cmdlet, and stream them into Set-Mailbox so that you can manipulate their properties.

Note 2a: An alternative source cmdlet is Get-Mailbox, the piping techique would be the same as in the above script.

Exchange Permissions

Manipulating another user’s mailbox is a responsible task.  Thus before you execute the appropriate PowerShell you must be a member of these exchange groups:

• ‘Organization Management role group’
• ‘Server Management management role group’
  (Management management is not a typo!)

Instead of the EMC try this PowerShell command:

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There are also two bonus tools in the free download, and all 3 have been approved by Microsoft:

1. Bulk-import new users and mailboxes into Active Directory.
2. Seek and zap unwanted user accounts.
3. Find inactive computers.

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Example 3: Set-Mailbox -Type

Before you use a parameter such as -Type, I strongly recommend that you test with Get-Mailbox -Type, before you unleash a command that’s actually going to change this attribute.

Compare PowerShell with the EMC

From a learning point-of-view I like a walk-through in the EMC (Exchange Management Console), the benefit is you can compare the PowerShell script with what you see in the Exchange GUI.

• Launch the EMC, navigate to the Recipient Configuration Mailbox (see screenshot right)

Other Members of the PowerShell Mailbox Family of Cmdlets

As I have alread mentioned I would start with Get-Mailbox, but there are other similar PowerShell cmdlets, research thus:

More Examples of Mailbox Cmdlets

• Disable-Mailbox
• Enable-Mailbox
• Export-Mailbox
• Get-Mailbox
• Import-Mailbox
• Move-Mailbox
• New-Mailbox
• Move-Mailbox
• Remove-Mailbox
• Restore-Mailbox
• Search-Mailbox
• Set-Mailbox

Try this: Get-Command -noun Mailbox*

You should find Get-MailboxServer and Get-MailboxDatabase.

Note 3: See more on PowerShell’s Set-Mailbox.

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Summary of PowerShell Set-Mailbox

Set-Mailbox is the best cmdlet for modifying an existing Exchange mailbox.  For changing multiple mailboxes employ a second PowerShell cmdlet such as Get-User, then pipe its output into Set-Mailbox.

See more PowerShell Cmdlets for Exchange 2010:

• Exchange 2010 Home   • Get-ExchangeServer   • Set-ExchangeServer   • New-SystemMessage   • SP1

• Get-Mailbox   • Get-MailboxStatistics   • Connect-Mailbox   • Enable-Mailbox   • Disable-Mailbox

• PowerShell Exchange Cmdlets   • Set-Contact    • New-Mailcontact   • Add-MailboxPermission -identity