The Exchange toolkit

Here's a great blog post from Chad Solarz over at the Technet blog.

Even tho the post itself is last updated may 2013 it is the biggest collection of tools I've seen so far .
View the post here.

Short summary of the tools listed:

VSSTester Script – Exchange 2010
MFCMAPI – Any version
Experfwiz – Exchange 2007 & higher (soon to be 2013 as well)
PAL – Any version
EWS Editor - Exchange 2007 and up
OffCat (now ver 1.2)– outlook 2003 and higher
Network Message Analyzer – Any version
Microsoft Script Center Repository – Any version
Exchange Remote Connectivity Analyzer – All versions
Autodiscover Self Test – Exchange 2007 and up
Exchange Client Network Bandwidth Calculator – Any version
CalCheck tool – Outlook and Exchange 2003 and higer
Datacenter Switchover Troubleshooter – Exchange 2010
Log Parser Studio 2.0 – Any version
Exchange Legacy API Scanner – Exchange 2010
Exchange Pre-Deployment Analyzer
Exchange Deployment Assistant (EXDeploy)
Exchange Mailbox Server Calculator – 2010 / 2013
Exchange Processor Query Tool
Microsoft Connectivity Analyzer Tool – Any version
Exchange Server User Monitor (ExMon) – Exchange 2000 and higher
Exchange Server Profile Analyzer – Exchange 2007
Exchange get file log usage script - Exchange 2007 +
Public Folder Replication Troubleshooter – Exchange 2003
PST Capture tool – Exchange 2010 & 2013
LoadGen – Exchange 2010
JetStress – Exchange 2010 (soon to be 2013 as well)
TCPView – All versions
PortQry UI – All versions
EAS Troubleshooter script - all versions
Report CAL information script - Exchange 2010
Exchange Log Growth Collector Script -  Exchange 2007 & 2010
Process Tracking Log (PTL) tool - Exchange 2007 & 2010
ActiveSync Guided walk-through - non-version specific
Outlook connectivity guided walkthrough - Exchange on-premises
Exchange 2003 Migration Toolkit - Exchange 2003
Office365 Mailbox Migration perf analysis - Hybrid / migration to the cloud
ActiveSync log analysis - All versions of Exchange
Exchange DB growth script - Exchange 2010 & 2013
Office 365 Mailbox / Folder sharing scenarios - Office 365 AND Exchange on-prem
Exchange Online migration guided walkthrough - Any on-prem to Office 365
Exchange Client Performance Analyzer
IMAP Migration walkthrough troubleshooter

Outlook switches

Never knew this:

How to use Outlook's Command line switches

When you're having problems with Outlook you may be told to start Outlook using a specific command line switch.

To do this:

Close Outlook.

At the Start menu, Run command (or open the Run command by pressing Windows Key 

() + R type:

Outlook /switch

Then click OK to start Outlook. (There is a space between outlook and /.)

This screenshot shows how you enter it, using the /cleanreminders switch as an example.

Occasionally you'll need to use the full path to Outlook, then the command line looks like this:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe" /switch

 Notes:

Before using a command line switch, you need to close Outlook and verify it's closed in Task Manager's Processes tab.

Paths that include spaces between words must be enclosed in quotation marks (") and are case sensitive.

If you use Vista or Windows 7, you can type the command line in the Start Search field on the Start menu.

You'll need the full path if you  want to create desktop shortcuts using a switch, such as to open Outlook to a specific folder:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe" /select outlook:calendar

All Switches

/a

Creates an item with the specified file as an attachment.

Usage:

Outlook /a "C:\My Documents\labels.doc"

 If no item type is specified, IPM.Note form is assumed. This switch cannot be used with message classes that aren't based on Outlook.

/altvba otmfilename

Opens the VBA program specified in otmfilename, rather than %appdata%\Microsoft\Outlook\VbaProject.OTM. Use this switch when you need to run macros not in your VBAProject file.

/autorun macroname

Opens Outlook and immediately runs the macro specified in macroname.

/c messageclass

Creates a new item of the specified message class, works for any valid MAPI form.

Examples:

• /c ipm.activity creates a Journal entry
• /c ipm.appointment creates an appointment
• /c ipm.contact creates a contact
• /c ipm.note creates an e-mail message
• /c ipm.stickynote creates a note
• /c ipm.task creates a task

/checkclient

Prompts for the default manager of e-mail, news, and contacts.

/cleanclientrules

Starts Outlook and deletes client-based rules. Used by non-Exchange account users.

/cleandmrecords

Deletes the logging records saved when a manager or a delegate declines a meeting. Used by Exchange Server accounts.

/cleanfinders

Removes Search Folders from the Microsoft Exchange server store.

/cleanfreebusy

Clears and regenerates free/busy information. This switch can only be used when you are able to connect to your Microsoft Exchange server.

/cleanprofile

Removes invalid profile keys and recreates default registry keys where applicable.

/cleanpst

Launches Outlook with a clean Personal Folders file (.pst)

/cleanreminders

Clears and regenerates reminders.

/cleanrules

Starts Outlook and deletes client- and server-based rules.

/cleanschedplus

Deletes all Schedule+ data (free/busy, permissions, and .cal file) from the server and enables the free/busy information from the Outlook Calendar to be used and viewed by all Schedule+ 1.0 users.

/cleanserverrules

Starts Outlook and deletes server-based rules. Used only with Exchange server accounts.

/cleansniff

Overrides the programmatic lockout that determines which of your computers (when running Outlook simultaneously) processes meeting items. The lockout process helps prevent duplicate reminder messages. This switch clears the lockout on the computer it is used, enabling Outlook to process meeting items.

/cleansubscriptions

Deletes the subscription messages and properties for subscription features. Used with SharePoint alerts.

/cleanviews

Restores default views. Use with care as all custom views you created are lost.

/designer

Starts Outlook without figuring out if Outlook should be the default client in the first run.

/embedding

Opens the specified message file (.msg) as an OLE embedding. Also used without command-line parameters for standard OLE co-create.

/explorer

Opens the new window in "explorer" mode (link bar on).

/f msgfilename

Opens the specified message file (.msg) or Microsoft Office saved search (.oss).

/firstrun

Starts Outlook as if it were run for the first time.

/folder

Opens a new window in "folder" mode (Navigation Pane off).

/hol holfilename

Opens the specified .hol file.

/ical icsfilename

Opens the specified .ics file.

/importprf prffilename

Launches Outlook and opens/imports the defined MAPI profile (*.prf). If Outlook is already open, queues the profile to be imported on the next clean launch.

/l olkfilename

Opens the specified .olk file.

/launchtraininghelp assetid

Opens a Help window with the Help topic specified in assetid.

/m emailname

Provides a way for the user to add an e-mail name to the item. Use either the full address or let alias resolve. Only works in conjunction with the /c command-line parameter.

Usage:

Outlook.exe /c ipm.note /m test@poremsky.com

Outlook.exe /c ipm.note /m dianep

/nocustomize

Starts Outlook without loading outcmd.dat (customized toolbars). With older versions of Outlook the *.fav file doesn't load.

/noextensions

Starts Outlook with extensions turned off, but listed in the Add-In Manager.

/nopollmail

Starts Outlook without checking mail at startup.

/nopreview

Starts Outlook with the Reading Pane off and removes the option from the View menu.

/p msgfilename

Prints the specified message (.msg). Does not work with HTML.

/profile profilename

Loads the specified profile. If your profile name contains a space, enclose the profile name in quotation marks.

/profiles

Opens the Choose Profile dialog box regardless of the Options setting on the Tools menu.

/recycle

Starts Outlook using an existing Outlook window, if one exists. Can be used in combination with /explorer or /folder. The Outlook shortcut in the Quick Launch bar uses the /recycle switch.

/resetfoldernames

Resets default folder names (such as Inbox or Sent Items) to default names in the current Office user interface language. For example, if you first connect to your mailbox Outlook using a Russian user interface, the Russian default folder names cannot be renamed. To change the default folder names to another language such as Japanese or English, you can use this switch to reset the default folder names after changing the user interface language or installing a different language version of Outlook.

/resetfolders

Restores missing folders for the default delivery location.

/resetnavpane

Clears and regenerates the Navigation Pane for the current profile. Removes all Shortcuts and FavoriteFolders. Has the same effect as deleting profilename.xml in your user directory.

/rpcdiag

Opens Outlook and displays the remote procedure call (RPC) connection status dialog.

/s filename

Loads the specified shortcuts file (.fav). Use to load *.fav files created in older versions of Outlook.

/safeStarts Outlook without extensions, Reading Pane, or toolbar customization.

/safe:1

Starts Outlook with the Reading Pane off. New to Outlook 2003.

/safe:2

Starts Outlook without checking mail at startup. New to Outlook 2003.

/safe:3

Starts Outlook with extensions turned off, but listed in the Add-In Manager. Outlook 2003 only.

/safe:4

Starts Outlook without loading Outcmd.dat (customized toolbars) and *.fav file. Outlook 2003 only.

/select foldername

Starts Outlook and opens the specified folder in a new window.

Usage:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe" /select outlook:calendar

outlook /select "outlook:Inbox\Old Messages"

/sniff

Starts Outlook and forces a detection of new meeting requests in the Inbox, and then adds them to the calendar.

/t oftfilename

Opens the specified .oft file.

/v vcffilename

Opens the specified .vcf file.

/vcal vcsfilename

Opens the specified .vcs file.

/x xnkfilename

Opens the specified .xnk file.

Source

Get eventviewer events from multiple servers and email combined errors and warnings per server report

****UPDATED****

Check http://vanbrenk.blogspot.nl/2015/10/get-winevent-from-multiple-servers.html

for the new and improved version.

It's a bit of a mouth full, the title that is, but the script does even more.

Specify which servers you want to monitor the error and warnings events from, then write a HTML file to a specified (shared) location per server and per type of log (system log or Application log).
You can even specify how far back in time you want to see the errors and warnings, 1 day, 2 or even 7 days.

Combine those files in to a single HTML file and send that one by email.

That way you get one email that has all info you want to see every morning.

The script:

#SMTP options for sending the report email            
$smtpServer = "smtp.domain.lan"            
$smtpFrom = "Eventlogs@domain.com"            
$smtpTo = "username@domain.com"            
$messageSubject = "Latest Eventlog events"            
            
$logPath = "C:\Temp\Eventlogs\"            
$logsys = "system"            
$logapp = "application"            
            
#Specify the servers you want to report on            
$servers = "sr-xxxxx","sr-yyyyy","sr-zzzzz"            
            
$style = ""            
            
# End HTML Output file style            
            
$date = get-date -format dd-MM-yyyy            
$now = get-date            
#Specify the number of days you want to be reported on            
$subtractDays = New-Object System.TimeSpan 1,0,0,0,0            
$then = $Now.Subtract($subtractDays)            
            
# Get the servers from the list and perform the following            
Foreach ($server in $servers)            
                {            
    $systemErrors = Get-EventLog -Computername $server -LogName $logsys -After $then -Before $now -EntryType "Error","Warning" | select EventID,MachineName,Message,Source,TimeGenerated,Entrytype            
                    
    $systemErrors | ConvertTo-HTML -head $style -body "<H2>System log Report From Server $server</H2>" | Out-File "$logPath\$server-$logsys-$date.html"            
            
    $applicationErrors = Get-EventLog -Computername $server -LogName $logapp -After $then -Before $now -EntryType "Error","Warning" | select EventID,MachineName,Message,Source,TimeGenerated,Entrytype            
                
    $applicationErrors | ConvertTo-HTML -head $style -body "<H2>Application log Report From Server $server</H2>" | Out-File "$logPath\$server-$logapp-$date.html"            
    }            
#Combine all the html files in to one file               
Remove-Item C:\Temp\Eventlogs\combined.html            
Get-Content -path c:\temp\eventlogs\*.html | Add-Content -Path C:\temp\Eventlogs\combined.html            
            
#Construct email message            
send-mailmessage -to $smtpto -from $smtpfrom -smtpserver $smtpserver -subject $messagesubject -body (Get-Content $logpath\combined.html | Out-String) -bodyashtml            
# Remove all html files to prevent filling the disk            
Remove-Item $logpath\*.html

Mail tips cannot be displayed

When typing a mail message to a colleague i received the following error:

Before you start looking at your Exchange configuration and mess up everything that's working, run this: Outlook.exe /cleanmailtipcache

You don't see anything happening, but underwater your mail tips cache is being cleared.

After starting Outlook again and composing a new mail message you could get your mail tips back.

If it still doesn't work for you, check out the following:

1. Are your autodiscover url's correctly configured and working

Here is a quick way to test the autodiscover configuration:

Go to your computer start bar, right side where Date and time is showing, you will find the Outlook icon, hold Ctrl + right click on the outlook icon and click “Test Email Auto Configuration…”

After this choose the settings as shown below:

Run the test.

The output of a working Autodiscover is displayed below, compare with your results.

1. The type of mail tip that'not working for you.
2. Check the organisation config in Exchange
3.  Check the group metrics based mail tips

Source 1

Source 2

Renew Exchange 2010 certificate with internal CA and SSL offloading

Every half year this returns, and almost every time i do this something happens that i forgot from the previous one. So note to myself:

In the Exchange management console go to server configuration and select the server you wish to renew the certificate for:

These are just the basic steps, below i will continue with the strange part.

After importing the certificate and assigning the appropriate services to it something funny happens.

I think it's some kind of intelligence from Exchange it self, but after importing and assigning the services the settings in IIS are changed on the default website. The SSL setting "Require SSL" is turned on, even when it was off before.(This only applies when you have SSL offloading on your loadbalancer configured)

In my experience it's a good idea to make an excel with all off your current IIS settings.

In case something fails you will know how things where configured.