Category Archives: Exchange ActiveSync

Getting an overview of all ActiveSync devices in the Exchange-organization

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In Exchange 2007, we can get use the Get-ActiveSyncDeviceStatistics to retrieve statistics for a specific ActiveSync-device. We must supply either a device identity or a mailbox name. In Exchange 2010, the same cmdlet exists, but we also got a new useful cmdlet; Get-ActiveSyncDevice. This cmdlet lists all devices in the organization that have active Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync partnerships.

To provide a way to list all ActiveSync devices in the Exchange organization that works against both Exchange 2007 and Exchange 2010, I`ve created a script named Get-ActiveSyncDeviceInfo.ps1. The script outputs each device as an object, making it easy to work with the results. You might i.e. export all devices to a CSV-file by piping the results to Export-Csv.

You might also create graphs based on the results, like I demonstrated in a previous blog-post.

I`m aware that the script could be more effective, using Get-CASMailbox and a server-side filter to sort out only mailboxes that got the property HasActiveSyncDevicePartnership set to “true”. However, I`ve experienced that this property isn`t reliable. Several mailboxes that does have the HasActiveSyncDevicePartnership set to true doesn`t have an ActiveSync devices associated. You might want to use this approach anyway in larger organizations, although I chose to skip it and rather loop through all mailboxes.

Exchange ActiveSync relationships and server migrations

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Ever wondered what happens with ActiveSync relationships on mobile devices when you replace the Exchange server published to the internet?

1. If you move a mailbox from Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2003 or to Exchange 2007 RTM, you have to recreate the partnership manually.

2. If you move mailbox to Exchange 2007 SP1, there is no need to re-create the partnership manually.

3. Please note the certificate should be the same. Otherwise, you will encounter issues with certificate in Exchange ActiveSync.

For more information on how to re-create the partnership manually, see this article on the Exchange Team`s blog.

In previous versions of Microsoft Exchange Server, if you moved your mailbox to an upgraded server (such as Exchange Server 2003 to Exchange Server 2007 RTM) re-creating the partnership was required. However, if you move your mailbox to an Exchange Server 2007 with Service Pack 1, the new Sync State Upgrade feature is built into Move Mailbox and will allow you to continue synchronizing your device without resetting your partnership.

For more information on the Move-Mailbox cmdlet, see this article on TechNet.

In Exchange 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1), if you move a mailbox to which a mobile device is synchronized using Exchange ActiveSync, the sync state of the mailbox is updated automatically during the move. You do not need to perform any additional steps, and the user does not need to again sync the device after a mailbox move.

Although you don’t move mailboxes, if you add a CAS server and users use the CAS server to maintain their Exchange ActiveSync access, you need to note the following:

In order for your users to continue to synchronize their mobile devices via Exchange ActiveSync with their mailboxes hosted on Exchange 2003 mailbox servers, you will need to ensure that Integrated Windows Authentication is enabled on all of the Exchange ActiveSync virtual directories (Microsoft-Server-ActiveSync) on Exchange 2003 mailbox servers.

For more information on how Exchange 2003 mailboxes are maintained after the Exchange 2007 CAS role are introduced in the environment, please see this article on the Exchange Team`s blog.