Exchange Server 2010 Administration Overview (part 3) - Using the Graphical Administration Tools, Using the Command-Line Administration Tools

5. Using the Graphical Administration Tools

Exchange Server 2010 provides several types of tools for administration. The graphical tools are the ones you'll use most frequently. Exchange Server and Forefront Protection for Exchange Server have separate management consoles. To access the Forefront Protection tools, select Start, choose All Programs, and then use the Microsoft Forefront Server Security menu.

Exchange Server 2010 has several graphical tools that replace or combine features of the graphical tools in Exchange Server 2003 and earlier editions. The Exchange Management Console, shown in Figure 1 replaces Exchange System Manager.

Figure 1. The Exchange Management Console.

The Toolbox node in the Exchange Management Console provides access to a suite of related tools, including the following:

• Best Practices Analyzer Checks the configuration and health of your Exchange organization to ensure that it complies with current best practices recommended by Microsoft. Because best practices are periodically updated, the tool includes an update facility to ensure that the most current best practices are in place.

• Details Templates Editor Helps administrators customize client-side GUI presentation of object properties accessed through address lists. You can use this tool to customize the presentation of contacts, users, groups, public folders, and more in the client interface.

• Mail Flow Troubleshooter Helps troubleshoot problems related to mail flow and transport configuration by providing suggested resolutions for symptoms observed by administrators.

• Message Tracking Allows administrators to track messages as they are routed through the Exchange organization.

• Performance Monitor Allows administrators to graph system performance. Also allows administrators to create performance logs and alerts. Wide arrays of Exchange performance objects are available for tracking performance.

• Performance Troubleshooter Helps troubleshoot problems related to performance by identifying possible bottlenecks and providing suggested solutions.

• Public Folder Management Console Allows administrators to manage public folders using a graphical interface rather than the command line.

• Queue Viewer Allows administrators to track message queues and mail flow. Also allows administrators to manage message queuing and remove messages.

• Remote Connectivity Analyzer Allows administrators to perform connectivity tests for inbound e-mail, ActiveSync, Exchange Web Services, Outlook Anywhere, and Outlook 2003 RPC over HTTP.

• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) User Editor Allows administrators to assign users to RBAC groups and roles.

• Routing Log Viewer Helps administrators troubleshoot routing problems on transport servers by providing information about routing topology.

• Tracking Log Explorer Provides access to the message tracking logs for troubleshooting.

Other administration tools that you might want to use with Exchange Server are summarized in Table 2.

Table 2. Quick Reference Administration Tools to Use with Exchange Server 2010

Administrative Tool	Purpose
Computer Management	Starts and stops services, manages disks, and accesses other system management tools.
DNS	Manages the DNS service.
Event Viewer	Manages events and logs.
IIS Manager	Manages Web servers used by Exchange as well as the management service configuration.
Microsoft Network Monitor	Monitors network traffic, and troubleshoots networking problems.
Server Manager	Adds, removes, and configures roles, role services, and features.

You access most of the tools listed in Table 1-2 from the Administrative Tools program group. Click Start, point to All Programs, and then point to Administrative Tools.

6. Using the Command-Line Administration Tools

The graphical tools provide just about everything you need to work with Exchange Server. Still, there are many times when you might want to work from the command line, especially if you want to automate installation, administration, or maintenance with scripts. To help with all your command-line needs, Exchange Server includes the Exchange Management Shell.

The Exchange Management Shell is an extension shell for Windows PowerShell that includes a wide array of built-in commands for working with Exchange Server. Windows PowerShell commands are referred to as cmdlets (pronounced commandlets) to differentiate these commands from less powerful commands built into the command prompt and from more full-featured utility programs that can be invoked at the command prompt.

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Note:

For ease of reading and reference, I'll usually refer to command prompt commands, command shell cmdlets, and command-line invoked utilities simply as commands.

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The Exchange Management Shell, shown in Figure 2 is accessible by selecting Start, choosing All Programs, choosing Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, and then choosing Exchange Management Shell.

Figure 2. The Exchange Management Shell.

The basics of working with the Exchange Management Shell are straightforward:

• Type get-command to get a full list of all available cmdlets on the server.

• Type get-excommand to get a full list of all Exchange-specific cmdlets available.

• Type help cmdletName to get help information, where cmdletName is the name of the command you are looking up.

Like Exchange Server, Forefront Protection for Exchange Server has a management console and a management shell. You use the Forefront Server Security Administration console to manage Forefront Protection using a graphical interface. You use the Forefront Management Shell to manage Forefront Protection from the command line. This shell is accessible by selecting Start, choosing All Programs, choosing Microsoft Forefront Server Security, and then choosing Forefront Management Shell.

Forefront Management Shell loads extensions that allow you to manage the configuration of Forefront Protection for Exchange Server. The basics of working with the Forefront Management Shell are straightforward:

• Type get-command to get a full list of all available cmdlets on the server.

• Type get-command *fse* to get a full list of all Forefront Protection–specific cmdlets available.

• Type help cmdletName to get help information, where cmdletName is the name of the command you are looking up.

Because Forefront Management Shell does not load the Exchange Server cmdlets, you cannot access the Exchange-specific cmdlets from this shell by default. Because the Exchange Management Shell does not load the Forefront Protection–specific cmdlets either, you cannot access the Forefront Protection–specific cmdlets from the Exchange Management Shell by default.