How to Disable Mailbox from Exchange 2010 using EMC or PowerShell

In Exchange 2010, User wants to disable/remove or delete the user mailbox in exchange 2010 then they can use two methods i.e.; EMC and PowerShell.

To Disable users Mailbox Exchange 2010

In Exchange 2010, user Mailbox can be disable by following two methods:

•        Using Exchange Management Console
•         Using PowerShell

Using Exchange Management Console to Disable Mailbox.

To Disable Users Mailbox in Exchange 2010 by using Exchange Management Console follow the given steps:

•  Navigate from Recipient Configuration to Mailboxes.
• The Result pane contains a list of Mailboxes.
• Select the user Mailbox which you want to disable.

•    Right click on the selected mailbox and then click to disable.
•    After clicking on disable, a message will display for the confirmation of disability. Select Yes for the conformation.

Using PowerShell to Disable Mailbox Exchange 2010

To disable Exchange Mailboxes using PowerShell use the command Disable-Mailbox  given below

Syntax:  Disable-Mailbox mailbox name. This command will disable the mailbox whose name has been provided in the field.

For Example: Disable-Mailbox dawsonhenry@mailtest.com will disable the mailbox of dawsonhenry@mailtest.com

The Above mentioned PowerShell command will display a confirmation command to assure disable process. Press “Y” to conform.

To Remove Users Mailbox Exchange 2010

In Exchange 2010, users Mailbox can be removed or deleted by following two methods:

(1)    Using Exchange Management Console

(2)    Using PowerShell

Using Exchange Management Console to Remove user mailbox

Remove Users Mailbox Exchange 2010 using Exchange Management Console can be done by following the given steps:

• Navigate from Recipient Configuration to Mailboxes.
• The Result pane contains a list of Mailboxes.
• Select the user Mailbox which you want to remove.

          

•  Right click on the selected mailbox and then click to remove.

•   After clicking to disable, a message will display for the confirmation of disability. Then click "Yes" to conform.

Using PowerShell to Remove Mailbox Exchange 2010

To remove mailbox from Exchange 2010 using PowerShell by using the command Remove-Mailbox as given below:

Syntax: Remove-Mailbox Identity

This command will delete the user mailbox.

Example: Remove-Mailbox mailtest\dawsonhenry

Will delete the mailbox of dawsonhenry

Above mentioned PowerShell command will display a confirmation command to assure remove or delete process. Press “Y” to conform.

Conclusion

We had concluded that it is possible to disable/remove or delete the user mailbox using Exchange Management Console and PowerShell. Both methods are applicable for Exchange 2010 it depends on user choice to opt for any of them. 

Overview on DAG (Database Availability group) for Exchange server 2010

DAG is a group of about 16+ mailbox servers that host a set of databases. Exchange server 2010 support up to 100 databases per server. The Mailbox server, which is a member of the DAG is able to host copies of active and passive database.

                                                     Fig: Exchange Server 2010 DAG  

In this fig, the Mailbox Server 1 host the active copy of Database 1 and the remaining Database 2 and 3 are Passive copy of mailbox database. The active Database 1 has its data or information stored as a replicated copy in database 2 and 3, whatever modifications made in Database 1, the same will reflect in Database 2 and 3.

But when Database 1 got corrupted or server down then it became Passive and switch over to another DAG member i.e.; Database 2 which stores its copy has become Active. And replication of files between Database 2 (Active) and Database 3 (Passive) begins.

This describes that Mailbox Server provides the ability to deploy services and enhance the availability of data from Mailbox server. Mailbox server provides the ability of data failure recovery through replication system. Whenever the active database gets corrupted due to any reason, it switches over to another database which belongs to DAG (Database Availability Group) member and become active.

Witness server

In Database Availability Group, witness server is the additional server which is not the part of DAG but plays a vital role that it reserve over failure by continuing updating in every 30 seconds to the DAG.  

•  Witness server should not be the member of a DAG.
•  The witness server must be in active directory.

Occurrence of Mailbox Database Replication

Data Replication is done in two ways:

1.  File Replication
2.  Block mode Replication

File Replication

In File Replication system, the transaction logs are created and gets closed after reaching 1 MB size and then replicate in each member of a DAG that stores in mailbox server. File Replication is done in Exchange server 2010RTM (initial release version).

Block mode Replication

In exchange server 2010 sp1, the file replication makes the database copies to sync with each other. Once the mailbox database sync to each other they switch over to ‘block mode replication’. It is a continuing mode of replication, where the chances of failure decrease. In Block mode Replication each database replication is transmitted to the log buffer and further transfer to the active and passive copies of the database. 

How to Reduce the Size of Exchange Database (.EDB) File

Exchange server stores its complete data (Email, contacts, Tasks, jonurals etc.) into the EDB file format. This cause drastic increase in the size of EDB file. We need to manage the size of EDB file, otherwise it may lead to the corruption of the EDB file. In this blog, I will explain various method to reduce the size of EDB file.

What can you do reduce the size of EDB files like priv.edb, pub.edb, mailbox database.edb, public folder database.edb: -

1. To manage EDB file you can make backup of your EDB file and use them in future if required
2.  Delete unwanted mailboxes from the EDB file.
3.  Do Offline Defragmentation

Let us discuss all one by one: -

Methods to take backup of the EDB file: -

There are several methods to take backup of the EDB file. But I will explain the method to take a backup using the Window server backup. First of all install the Window Server Backup to your system. Disable the Replication services before proceeding further

Now Login to your account by proving the credential on the Exchange Server.

Open the utility, Window Server Backup.

Then Action >> Backup Once

Now Select the Different Option and Click Next

Now you have two option to perform the Backup operation

1). Full Server: Use the option to take the Backup of the Complete Server

2). Custom Bacup: Use the method to take backup of the desired part and click next

3). Now browse the location where you want to store the file and click on the Next

4). Use the inherit option if you want to give the rights to all users to access the remote file and after it  Click on Next.

5). Now Open the Advanced Options page and select “VSS full backup” and click next

6). Now run the backup and close the dialog box after completion of the process.

Take backup of your EDB file and delete it from the server (Which is not required in the near future). With that you can reduce size of EDB file upto some extent.

Move data from database to another database and perform Offline Defragmentation of the data: -

This step might help a little to sort out the size of EDB file. For that migrate data from EDB file to another database and carry out the process of Defragmentation. Defragmentation is required because you will find that size of the Database will remains unchanged even if you have transferred the data. The data that has been transferred from the EDB file Creates the White Space and due to that it does not put any effect on the size of data. So carry out the process of defragmentation to reduce Size of EDB file.

Delete unwanted mailboxes from the EDB file: -

To reduce the size of EDB file simple thing that you can do is delete the mailboxes of the clients/users that have left the office. At first take the backup of their mailboxes if it is required in the near future and delete them to make free space.

Conclusion: -

In this blog, I have suggested different methods which willhelp you to reduce the size of EDB file. In case if you have any question regarding the topic, Please comment below, we will sort out your query as soon as possible

How to Fix 0x8004010f Error in Exchange 2007

Microsoft Exchange Server, a huge database that controls the entire functioning of an organization is sometimes getting damaged due to some error & in those circumstances accessing database becomes critical. One such type of error is ‘Error_0x800401f’.  This is a very common problem among the users of Outlook.

Easiest way to Remove SSL Certificates from Exchange Server 2013

One of the easiest way to remove the expired SSL Certificate from the Exchange server is using the Powershell command.

When any of the Certificate installed in it get expired , the Outlook starts showing the Security alert. To get rid of that Security alert we need to remove the Expired Exchange Certicate and should install the new one if required.

Just follow the steps described below to perform the operation:

Step1: Identify all the Expired Certificates from the Exchange

Get-ExchangeCertificate|FL

This command will show all the certificates that were installed in Exchange Server with the Expiry date.  Find out the Certificate whose date is expired.

Repair Exchange 2010 Database Dirty Shutdown State

There are various major changes brought in Exchange 2010 over its predecessor. One of them is ESEUTIL tool which is a so powerful tool that allows the users to overcome various errors & fix Exchange server 2010 database from dirty shutdown.

Split Exchange EDB file by Exporting it to the Outlook PST

Why you need to Export PST from EDB file

Save Space on Exchange Server: We know that entire information on the Exchange Server is stored in the EDB file with heavy attachment. If we don’t have much space remaining on the Exchange Server then we need to reduce the size of EDB file.