Configuring the Exchange Management Pack

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To maximize the benefits of the Exchange Management Pack, you must first configure it. This section covers the following:

  • Running the Configuration Wizard

  • Upgrading from Exchange 2000 Management Pack

  • Editing the Configuration File

  • Using the Command-Line Interface

  • Mailbox Access Account Configuration

  • Configuring Monitoring Scenarios

  • Best Practices for Configuration

Running the Configuration Wizard

In addition to the graphical Configuration Wizard, the Exchange Management Pack includes a command-line interface for exporting and importing configuration files. You can use this interface for custom deployments, troubleshooting, and when upgrading from Exchange 2000 Management Pack. For in-depth troubleshooting, you can also modify the XML configuration file to specify particular settings. However, the Configuration Wizard is designed to be used in most deployments, and should be your first choice when installing and configuring the Exchange Management Pack.

If you have a version of the Exchange Management Pack installed on your network, read the "Upgrading from Exchange 2000 Management Pack" section before you start the wizard.

Configuration Wizard Requirements

Before you run the Configuration Wizard, make sure that you meet the following requirements:

  • The user running the tool must have at least Exchange full administrator rights on the administrative group or organization to be configured, in addition to local administrative rights to each Exchange server, because writing to the registry is required.

  • Each server to be configured must have Remote Registry Service running.

Configuration Wizard Options

You can run the Configuration Wizard to configure your environment with default settings, or you can customize the wizard to meet specific additional monitoring requirements for your organization. By default, the Configuration Wizard automatically:

  • Enables message tracking.

  • Enables service monitoring of the following services:

    • Microsoft Exchange Information Store

    • Microsoft Exchange Management

    • Microsoft Exchange MTA Stacks

    • Microsoft Exchange System Attendant

    • Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)

    • World Wide Web Publishing Service

  • Creates test mailboxes for MAPI logon tests.

  • Enables server availability monitoring and lets you identify the sending and receiving mail servers for the mail flow test.

You can use the custom option to select the features that you require and then to manually configure them. Use the custom option to:

  • Identify specific services to monitor.

  • Configure mailbox availability monitoring to be per-store or per-server (MAPI Logon).

  • Disable mailbox availability monitoring.

  • Create and configure the Mailbox Access account and mailbox. This account must meet the following criteria:

    • Have permissions to read and write to the directory %systemroot%\temp\exmppd.

    • Have local logon rights on each Exchange server.

    • Have a Display Name and samAccountName that are identical.

Note

For more information about these requirements, see "Monitoring Exchange Best Practices" in Monitoring Exchange Events.

  • Enable message tracking.

  • Enable and configure mail flow.

  • Enable front-end server monitoring.

  • Use the command-line interface.

  • Save current configuration to XML.

  • Modify configuration options before applying.

To run the Configuration Wizard

  1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to the Exchange Management Pack, and then click the Exchange Management Pack Configuration Wizard.

  2. After you start the wizard, you can select from the following configuration options:

    • Administrative group that contains the Exchange servers that you want to configure.

    • Each Exchange server that you want to configure.

    • The configuration type, either Default or Custom. The default option automatically enables message tracking and service monitoring, and creates a test mailbox to monitor server availability. The custom option lets you select the features that you require and then to manually configure them. Use the custom option to select specific services to monitor. By default, the following services are monitored:

    • Microsoft Exchange Information Store

    • Microsoft Exchange Management

    • Microsoft Exchange MTA Stacks

    • Microsoft Exchange System Attendant

    • Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)

    • World Wide Web Publishing Service

    When you choose the custom option, you can configure mailbox availability monitoring to be per store or per server. Alternatively, you can also disable mailbox availability monitoring.

  3. In both the custom and default options, you can configure the sending and receiving servers for testing mail flow.

  4. You can also configure the Mailbox Access Account, which provides the account information that will be used to access the test mailboxes.

  5. After the configuration options have been selected, the configuration summary is displayed so that you can verify the chosen settings. Make sure that you verify that the test mailboxes and the mailbox for the mailbox access account will be created. You also have the option to save the XML configuration file.

Upgrading from Exchange 2000 Management Pack

If you have a version of the Exchange Management Pack installed on your network, read Configuring for Monitoring Outlook Web Access, Outlook Mobile Access, and Exchange ActiveSync before you start to work with the Configuration Wizard.

Most of the configuration settings that are applied to Exchange 2000 Management Pack also work for the Exchange Management Pack. Upgrading Exchange 2000 servers that are monitored by Exchange 2000 Management Pack to Exchange 2003 and the Exchange Management Pack is straightforward.