Exchange 2000 / 2003 – Exporting Mail to .pst files with ExMerge

Posted on 17/11/2021 by Migrated

KB ID 0000091

Problem

ExMerge has been around for a long time, its used (as the name implies) to merge pst files into existing mailbox’s. However its also a great tool to export/backup users mail box’s if you’re doing a migration, or if you have got your “Disaster Recovery” hat on.

The following is a run through of how to export from a mail store to pst files – Note on a live system this can take some time, the example below was done in VMware on a test Exchange box that had 1000 users (as it was a test server the mailbox’s were tiny) If you need to do this on a production server plan in a LOT of time if your moving a large amount of data.

Solution

Note: I’ve mentioned it in the video, but just to reiterate, your mailbox’s need to be smaller than 2GB, if that can not be achieved, you can either;

1. Use ExMerge and export particular “date ranges” and produce multiple .pst files for the same mailbox (hopefully less than 2GB).

2. Use Outlook 2007 (or greater) to export the mailbox to .pst files individually.

AAD Contains Another Object With The Same DN

Posted on 18/01/2020 by PeteLong

KB ID 0001638

Problem

I’ve seen this a few times now, I’ve had users that will not sync from Active Directory to Azure Active Directory (Office 365). When you look to see why, you will see something like;

The Connector {Your-Domain}.onmicrosoft.com – AAD contains another object with the same DN which is already connected to the MV.

Note: For the uninitiated, DN is Distinguished Name, and MV is MetaVerse.

If you attempt to troubleshoot the sync, you may also see something like this;

Object {Distinguished-Name} is not found in AAD Connector Space.

Solution

First we need to temporarily halt the sync;

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Set-ADSyncScheduler -SyncCycleEnabled $False

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Then launch Sycronization Service Manager > Connectors > Select your AAD Connector > Delete > Delete connector space only > Yes.

Note: Whoa! it says I’m going to lose data, what are we doing?

Well we are essentially removing all the ‘cached objects associated with this connector, I think about it like ‘flushing the cache’. I’ve never seen this operation break anything, and I’ve certainly never ‘lost’ anything.

While it’s still running, do the same with your local AD connector.

Start the sync scheduler again.

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Set-ADSyncScheduler -SyncCycleEnabled $True

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Perform a Full Import on your AAD connector..

With the above still running you can repeat a Full Import on your AD Connector

Providing the full import has finished (i.e the connector says ‘idle’) perform an Export on the AAD Connector.

Providing the full import has finished (i.e, the connector says ‘idle’) perform an Export on the Local AD Connector.

You can then force an AAD sync, and go have a coffee.

Exchange – Display Mailbox’s by size

Posted on 02/01/2020 by Migrated

KB ID 0000469

Problem

Yesterday a client asked me how he could find out, which of his users were the “worst offenders” for mailbox size. Normally a simple Get-MailboxStatistics command would be fine, and we would sort the results in descending order.

Solution

On one of the Exchange servers, launch the Exchange Management Shell.

Issue the following command:

Note: That’s all one command, replace the name PNL-MAIL-2019 with your Exchange server name.

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Get-MailboxStatistics -Server PNL-MAIL-2019  | Select DisplayName, ItemCount, TotalItemSize | Sort-Object TotalItemSize -Descending

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And here’s your nicely formatted list (Note: this is my test environment so there’s not much mail in it).

Fo Exchange 2010 use the following syntax;

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Get-MailboxStatistics -Server DC2A | where {$_.ObjectClass –eq “Mailbox”} | Sort-Object TotalItemSize –Descending | ft @{label=”User”;expression={$_.DisplayName}},@{label=”Total Size (MB)”;expression={$_.TotalItemSize.Value.ToMB()}},@{label=”Items”;expression={$_.ItemCount}},@{label=”Storage Limit”;expression={$_.StorageLimitStatus}} -auto

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Note: To see the sizes of the individual Folders in users mailboxes see the following article;

Exchange – Display/Export Users Mailbox Folder Sizes

Outlook: Import and Export Data (.pst)

Posted on 17/11/2019 by Migrated

Backup and restore from .pst file

KB ID 0000154

Problem

You want to import your mail from an older version of Outlook into your new Outlook mailbox, or you simply want to backup your mail.

Solution

Thankfully the process is the same for modern Outlook as it was for previous versions of Outlook.

1. In Outlook > Select the “File” Tab > Open > Open & Export > Import/Export

Note: On older versions of Outlook its simply Open > Import (you select Import even if your going to Export!)

2. Export to a file.

3. Outlook Data File (.pst).

4. Select your mailbox, select the ailbox – {username} > To back up everything (calendar contacts the lot), tick “Include sub folders” > Next.

Note: If using a POP mail account, here it may say Personal Folders.

5. Choose a location to save the .pst file.

6. If you want to password protect this (remember someone can import your .pst and read all your mail). I usually leave this option blank > OK.

7. After a few seconds the mailbox will export. (Note: if the mailbox is very small this might happen so quickly nothing is displayed on the screen). And there it is.

To “Import” your mailbox,

1. Launch thewWizard as above (Step 1) > Select “Import from another program or file” > Next.

2. Outlook Data File (.pst) >Next.

3. Browse to, and select your .pst file > Next.

4. Stop and think! where do you want to import the files to? Select as appropriate > Finish (Note at this point if the .pst is password protected you will be prompted for a password).

VMware vSphere – How to Import and Export OVF and OVA Files

Posted on 17/09/2019 by Migrated

KB ID 0000562

Problem

I prefer to think of OVF Templates as “Zip” files for Virtual Machines and Virtual Appliances. Where as the OVA file is the complete appliance pre packaged. There are two things you will want to do with an OVF Template;

1. Export a VM to an OVF Template

2. Import an OVF Template (Note: VMware call this “Deploy an OVF Template”)

Note: There are tools for OVF templates for other VMware virtualisation products, this is just for vSphere / ESX.

Tech Note: I find it a lot simpler to do this from PowerCLI now, see the article below;

VMware: Export a VM to OVA With PowerCLI

Solution

Export a Virtual Machine to OVF (vSphere v6)

Note: Machine must be Powered Off and have No Snapshots!

Select the VM > Templates > Export OVF Template.

Change the name, annotation as required > OK.

Your files will be downloaded, (the location will depend on your browser settings!)

Export a Virtual Machine to OVF (vSphere v3, v4 and v5)

Note: Machine must be Powered Off and have No Snapshots!

1. Connect to your host with the VI client > With your virtual machine powered off > Select it > File > Export > Export to OVF Template.

2. Select a location to save the files to > OK.

3. Depending on the size of the VM this can take a while.

4. It will give you the following message when it’s finished.

5. Here are the files that it has created.

Import / Deploy an OVF Template to a Virtual Machine

HTML5 Web Client: You can select Deploy OVF Template from either the Cluster or Host Level.

Flash Web Client: If importing OVA or OVF files into vSphere via the vSphere Web client, you can import them at the vCenter, Host, or Cluster Level.

From this point forward: The procedure is the same for both Flash and HTML5 clients, Ill show the process using the HTML5 client.

Choose Files > Navigate to and select ALL the applicable files > Next.

Give the new VM a name, and, (if applicable) select a folder to put it into > Next > Select a host to deploy to > Next.

Review details > Next > Choose the storage, (and optionally disk format) > Next.

Select the Port Group you want to connect the new VM to > Next > Again review the details > Finish.

Import / Deploy an OVF Template to a Virtual Machine (vSphere v3, v4 and v5)

1. To create a VM from an OVF template, connect to your host with the VI client > File > Deploy OVF Template.

2. Browse to the location that the .ovf file is stored > Next.

3. Read the details > Next.

4. Give the new VM a name > Next.

5. Select the disk format (Thick or Thin) you want the new VM to use.

What does Lazy Zeroed and Eager Zeroed Mean?

Data on disks is stored as a 1 (one) or a 0 (zero), so if all the blocks on the disk are set to zero, when you put data on the disk, it only has half the work to do (i.e. write the ones). Eager Zeroed, puts zeros on all the blocks on the disks straight away, Lazy Zeroed puts all zeroes in a block the first time the block is read.

6. Read the summary, and if you want to power on the VM on completion, tick the box > Finish.

7. Depending upon the amount of data this can take a while.

8. It will give you the following message when it’s finished.

9. And here is your VM, imported, powered up, and working.

PowerShell: Finding Stale User and Computer Accounts

Posted on 15/05/2018 by PeteLong

KB ID 0001438

Problem

I do this a lot, (usually prior to big migrations), most organisations have no mechanism for removing old users and computers from Active Directory, some don’t even disable the accounts.

Find Users Who Have Never Logged On

Use the following PowerShell Command;

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Get-ADUser -Filter { LastLogonDate -notlike "*" -and Enabled -eq $true } -Properties LastLogonDate | Select-Object @{ Name="Username"; Expression={$_.SamAccountName} }, Name, LastLogonDate, DistinguishedName | Export-Csv C:\temp\Users-Never-Logged-On.csv

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Note: This will output the users to a csv file, and requires you to have a C:\Temp directory.

Find Users Who Have Not Logged On In ‘x‘ Days

I’m going to use the value of 90 days (remember some staff might be on long term sick/maternity so check with HR!) Execute the following three commands;

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$DaysInactive = 90
$TrueInactiveDate = (Get-Date).Adddays(-($DaysInactive))
Get-ADUser -Filter { LastLogonDate -lt $TrueInactiveDate -and Enabled -eq $true } -Properties LastLogonDate | Select-Object @{ Name="Username"; Expression={$_.SamAccountName} }, Name, LastLogonDate, DistinguishedName | Export-Csv C:\temp\Users-Inactive-90-days.csv

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Note: This will output the users to a csv file, and requires you to have a C:\Temp directory.

Find Computers Who Have Not Logged On In ‘x‘ Days

Again I’m using 90 days. Execute the following three commands;

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$DaysInactive = 90
$TrueInactiveDate = (Get-Date).Adddays(-($DaysInactive))
Get-ADComputer -Filter { PasswordLastSet -lt $TrueInactiveDate} -properties PasswordLastSet | Select-Object Name, PasswordLastSet, DistinguishedName | Export-Csv C:\temp\Computers-Inactive-90-days.csv

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Note: This will output the users to a csv file, and requires you to have a C:\Temp directory.

Exchange Bulk Export / Import Mail Contacts

Posted on 22/09/2017 by PeteLong

KB ID 0001349

Problem

I had to do this today and realised, it’s been so long since I did it last, I’d forgotten how to do it. Before we go forward, please be clear, I’m talking about MAIL CONTACTS, these are Active Directory Objects that have an Email address, but DO NOT have a mailbox in your Exchange Organisation, and DO NOT have an Active Directory User. I point this out because you can have MAIL USERS that have an Active Directory User Object and have an External Email address (i.e. a Gmail or Hotmail address) associated with the MAIL USER object.

Traditionally mail contacts are used for listing outside mail addresses in your global address list, (like mail users do) but are also used to forward mail to as well.

Solution

I was exporting from Exchange 2010, from the EMC run the following command;

[box]Get-MailContact -ResultSize unlimited | Select DisplayName,Name,PrimarySMTPAddress | Export-Csv “c:\Contacts-Exported.csv“[/box]

And there’s my file.

You can see my exported CSV list in, DisplayName, Name, PrimarySmtpAddress format. You will need to do some work with it in Excel to get it in > Name, Firstname, Lastname, ExternalEmailAddress format.

Once you have you CSV file ready, import it into the Target Exchange Server with the following command;

[box]Import-Csv “C:\Contacts-Exported.csv” | ForEach {New-MailContact -Name $_.Name -Firstname $_.FirstName -LastName $_.LastName -ExternalEmailAddress $_.ExternalEmailAddress -OrganizationalUnit “OU=IMPORT,DC=PNL,DC=COM”}[/box]

There’s my new contacts 🙂

Windows Server – Change a DHCP Scopes Subnet Mask

Posted on 17/04/2016 by PeteLong

KB ID 0001177

Problem

You have probably tried to do this and found he option ‘greyed out’ because in the DHCP management console you can’t change the subnet mask of a scope.

I needed to change a clients DHCP scope because I was changing their subnet from /24 to /16. I could have simply deleted and recreated the scope, but they has a lot of custom settings for their phone system, and hundreds of reservations (which I know is unusual).

Solution

I wrote an article a long time ago about migrating DHCP scopes, this process uses the same method to take a backup of the scope, then you can edit the subnet mask, and ‘re-import’ the scope again.

First take a backup of the scope, open an administrative command window, and run the following command;

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netsh dhcp server \\”Server name” scope “scope subnet” dump>c\:dhcp.txt

i.e.
netsh dhcp server \\Server-DC01 scope 10.0.0.0 dump >c:\temp\dhcp.txt

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Then open the C:\dhcp.txt file, and locate the subnet mask;

Edit it accordingly, and save the changes.

You can now DELETE the live scope, then reimport the one you just edited with the following command;

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netsh exec c:\temp\dhcp.txt

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Note: As you can see even when is has successfully import dyou will still see a “The following command was not found d error“

On older, (pre Windows Server 2012 machines) use the following syntax instead;

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netsh dhcp server import c:\temp\dhcp.txt all

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Convert a Virtualbox VM to a VMware Fusion VM

Posted on 24/03/2016 by PeteLong

KB ID 0001169

Problem

I have a bunch of VM’s that I use with GNS3 that are in Virtualbox. I also run VMware Fusion, and since my upgrade to version 1.4.4 I need to run the GNS3 VM in VMware, (I could not get the Virtualbox version to work). So I decided to copy over the remainder of my VMs as well.

Solution

Within Virtualbox > File > Export Appliance.

Select the VM in question > Continue.

Important: Ensure you have selected OVF Version 1.0 (if you use version 2.0 it wont work) > Take a note of where the OVA file is going to be saved > Continue.

There’s no need to add anything else unless you want to > Export.

The VM will export (depending on the size this can take a few minutes).

When complete, open VMware Fusion > File Import.

Browse to, and select the OVA file you just exported > Continue.

Choose a name of the new VM > Save.

Don’t panic! This is normal, simply click retry.

The VM will import.

Finish.

When you first boot the VM it may be a little sluggish (it’s just had its underlying hardware changed after all). If it wants to try and install drivers, cancel the procedure and install the VMware tools.

Now you can remove the original VM from Virtualbox.

Delete all files.

Certificate Services – Create a ‘Wildcard Certificate’

Posted on 11/01/2016 by PeteLong

KB ID 0001128

Problem

Now you may be thinking, “If you have your own CA/PKI solution why would you need to create a Wildcard Certificate”? If you can generate as many certificates as you want whats the point? Well today I need to setup ADFS, WAG (Web Application Gateway), and Remote Desktop Services Gateway Server. To make the whole thing wok on my test bench would be a lot less hassle if I could just use one certificate for everything!

Solution

Process carried out on Windows Server 2012 R2

Windows Key +R > MMC > {Enter} > File > Add/Remove Snap-in.

Certificates > Add.

Computer account > Next.

Local Computer > Finish.

OK.

Certificates > Personal > Right Click > All Tasks > Advanced Operations > Create Custom Request.

Proceed without enrolment policy > Next.

In nearly every case you can accept the default of ‘(No template) CNG Key’ However some applications (Particularly Active Directory Federation Services), need to user an older set of Cryptographic Service Providers (CSP’s). If that is the case change the option to ‘(No Template) Legacy Key’. > Next.

Details > Properties.

General Tab: Friendly Name > *.{your domain}.

Subject Tab: Ensure the Common Name (CN) is set to *.{your domain} > Enter the rest of your details as shown.

Extensions Tab: Add in Digital Signature and Key Encipherment.

Private Key: Key Size=4098 > Make private key exportable > Apply > OK.

Save the certificate request > Finish >Leave the Certificate console open, (you will need it later).

Locate the certificate request you just saved > Open it with Notepad > Select ALL the text and copy it to the clipboard.

Open the web enrolment portal of your certificate services server (https://server.domain.com/certsrv) > Request a certificate.

Advanced Certificate Request.

Submit a certificate request by using a base-64-encoded CMC or PKCS #10 file, or submit a renewal request by using a base-64-encoded PKCS #7 file.

Paste in the Text > Certificate Template = Web Server > Submit.

Base 64 encoded > Download certificate.

Save the certificate, and change its name from certnew > Save.

Back in the certificate console > Right Click ‘Persona’l > All Tasks > Import.

Next.

Navigate to the certificate you have just saved.

Next.

Finish.

Hopefully.

Now this may seem a little odd, but having just imported the certificate, to get it in PFX format you need to export it again. Right click the cert > All Tasks > Export.

Yes, export the private key > Next.

Personal Information Exchange > Next.

Enter and re-type a password (You will need this to import the certificate so remember it) > Next.

Save it somewhere you can find it > Next.

Finish > OK.

Problem

Solution

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

Problem

Solution

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

Problem

Solution

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

Problem

Solution

To “Import” your mailbox,

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

Problem

Solution

Export a Virtual Machine to OVF (vSphere v6)

Export a Virtual Machine to OVF (vSphere v3, v4 and v5)

Import / Deploy an OVF Template to a Virtual Machine

Import / Deploy an OVF Template to a Virtual Machine (vSphere v3, v4 and v5)

What does Lazy Zeroed and Eager Zeroed Mean?

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

Problem

Find Users Who Have Never Logged On

Find Users Who Have Not Logged On In ‘x‘ Days

Find Computers Who Have Not Logged On In ‘x‘ Days

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

Problem

Solution

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

Problem

Solution

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

Problem

Solution

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

Problem

Solution

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links