Just can't get enough of IT

You want to know about the right on-premises Exchange Server architecture? A blog post about this topic has been published on the ESE blog yesterday.

Read the full blog post at ENow's ESE blog.

Enjoy reading.

The PowerShell script to purge Exchange Server and IIS log files has been updated to version 2.1.

The function Copy-LogFiles has been slightly rewritten and there has been a change in the cmdlet parameters.

When using ArchiveMode CopyAndZip or CopyZipAndDelete all copied log files in the EXCHANGESERVER\LOGS folder are added to a compressed archive. The script creates a separate archive for IIS and Exchange logs.

 Code updated

function Copy-LogFiles {
  [CmdletBinding()]
  param(
    [string]$SourceServer,
    [string]$SourcePath,
    $FilesToMove,
    [string]$ArchivePrefix = ''
  )

  if($SourceServer -ne '') { 

    # path per SERVER for zipped archives
    $ServerRepositoryPath = Join-Path -Path $RepositoryRootPath -ChildPath $SourceServer

    # subfolder used as target for copying source folders and files
    $ServerRepositoryLogsPath = Join-Path -Path $ServerRepositoryPath -ChildPath $LogSubfolderName

    $ServerRepositoryPath = Join-Path -Path $RepositoryRootPath -ChildPath $SourceServer

    if(!(Test-Path -Path $ServerRepositoryPath)) {

      # Create new target directory for server, if does not exist
      $null = New-Item -Path $ServerRepositoryPath -ItemType Directory -Force -Confirm:$false

    }

    foreach ($File in $FilesToMove) {
      # target directory
      $targetDir = $File.DirectoryName.Replace($TargetServerFolder, $ServerRepositoryLogsPath)

      # target file path
      $targetFile = $File.FullName.Replace($TargetServerFolder, $ServerRepositoryLogsPath)
      
      # create target directory, if not exists
      if(!(Test-Path -Path $targetDir)) {$null = mkdir -Path $targetDir}

      # copy file to target
      $null = Copy-Item -Path $File.FullName -Destination $targetFile -Recurse -Force -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

    }    
    
    if($ZipArchive) {
      # zip copied log files
      
      $Archive = Join-Path -Path $ServerRepositoryPath -ChildPath ('{0}-{1}' -f $ArchivePrefix, $ArchiveFileName)
      $logger.Write(('Zip copied files to {0}' -f $ArchiveFileName))
      
      # delete archive file, if already exists
      if(Test-Path -Path $Archive) {Remove-Item -Path $Archive -Force -Confirm:$false}

      try {
        # create zipped asrchive
        Add-Type -AssemblyName 'System.IO.Compression.FileSystem'
        [IO.Compression.ZipFile]::CreateFromDirectory($ServerRepositoryLogsPath,$Archive)
      }
      catch {
        $logger.Write(('Error compressing files from {0} to {1}' -f $ServerRepositoryLogsPath, $Archive),3)      
      }
      finally {

        # cleanup, if compression was successful
        if($DeleteZippedFiles) {

          $logger.Write(('Deleting folder {0}' -f $ServerRepositoryLogsPath))
          $null = Remove-Item -Path $ServerRepositoryLogsPath -Recurse -Force -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

        }
      }
    } 
  }  
}

Note

• The script utilizes the GlobalFunctions PowerShell module which needs to be installed first.

Links

• Release 2.1 at Github: https://github.com/Apoc70/Purge-LogFiles/releases/tag/v2.1
• Original blog post: https://www.granikos.eu/en/justcantgetenough/PostId/208/purge-exchange-server-and-iis-log-files

Social

• Twitter @stensitzki
• LinkedIn
• Xing

When you run the following cmdlet to prepare Active Directory for the installation of an Exchange Server Cumulative Update (in this case CU17) you might encounter a System.UnauthorizedAccessException. 

D:\tmp\Cu17>setup.exe /PrepareAD /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 17 Unattended Setup


Unhandled Exception: System.UnauthorizedAccessException: Access to the path 'C:\
Windows\Temp\ExchangeSetup\ExSetup.exe' is denied.
   at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath)
   at System.IO.File.SetAttributes(String path, FileAttributes fileAttributes)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Setup.CommonBase.SetupHelper.DeleteDirectory(String pat
h)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Bootstrapper.Setup.BootstrapperBase.CopySetupBootstrapp
erFiles()
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Bootstrapper.Setup.Setup.Run()
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Bootstrapper.Setup.BootstrapperBase.MainCore[T](String[
] args)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Bootstrapper.Setup.Setup.Main(String[] args)

There is a simple reason for the the System.UnauthorizedAccessException:

• .NET Framework Optimization Service 

The required .NET Framework 4.6.2 had been installed just minutes before executing setup.exe. Preparation of the Active Directory schema ran without any issues. But when the /PrepareSchema call finished, the temporary folder in C:\Windows\Temp\ExchangeSetup could not be fully cleaned up, as mscorsvw.exe had an open file handle on ExSetup.exe.

Additionally, when you run Setup.exe and the folder C:\Windows\Temp\ExchangeSetup exists, the setup will not try to copy required installation files. Regardless if the folder files exists in the folder or not.

Solution

• End both mscorsw.exe processes or wait until both process have finished optimizing your .NET Framework applications
• Manully delete the folder C:\Windows\Temp\ExchangeSetup
• Run the required Exchange setup step again

D:\tmp\Cu17>setup.exe /PrepareAD /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 17 Unattended Setup

Copying Files...
File copy complete. Setup will now collect additional information needed for
installation.

Performing Microsoft Exchange Server Prerequisite Check

    Prerequisite Analysis                                     COMPLETED

Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server

    Organization Preparation                                  COMPLETED

The Exchange Server setup operation completed successfully.

Enjoy Exchange!

At Microsoft Ignite, the major IT conference regarding Microsoft technologies, you will have a chance to award yourself with a scheduled maintenance sponsored by ENow.

Have you ever been to one of the legendary Scheduled Maintenance parties in the past? No? Then get your pass now. 

• Where: 180 Skytop Lounge - Orlando, FL
  https://www.180downtown.com/
   
• When: Wednesday September 27, 2017 from 9pm to 12am

Vist the Scheduled Maintenance web site to request your pass now.

This is a quick post on how to obtain the license key for your on-premises Exchange Hybrid Server.

Even though that there is no such role like a Hybrid Server, you can get a dedicated license key to license your Exchange server used for Office 365 hybrid connectivity.

While using your Office 365 Global Administrator login, you can access your hybrid product key using the follow link:

• http://aka.ms/hybridkey

The web site will check if your Office 365 tenant is eligible for an hybrid key first. Then you have to select the approriate Exchange Server version.

Links

• Exchange Server Hybrid Deployments, https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj200581(v=exchg.150).aspx
• Exchange Hybrid Key, http://aka.ms/hybridkey

Enjoy your Exchange hybrid setup wth Office 365.