Applies to: Exchange Server 2007 SP3, Exchange Server 2007 SP2, Exchange Server 2007 SP1, Exchange Server 2007
Topic Last Modified: 2007-08-24

The new Exchange Management Console (formerly named Exchange System Manager) is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) 3.0-based tool that provides Exchange administrators with a graphical user interface (GUI) to manage the configuration of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 organizations. You can also add the Exchange Management Console snap-in to custom MMC-based tools.

For more information about the improvements to the Exchange Management Console, see New Administration Functionality in the Exchange Management Console.

New in Exchange 2007 Service Pack 1

In Exchange 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1), the following features have been added:

  • You can export lists from the result pane or from the work pane.

  • The Toolbox now includes the Public Folder Management Console, Details Templates Editor, and Routing Log Viewer.

Common User Interface Elements in the Exchange Management Console

This section describes the user interface elements that are common across the Exchange Management Console.


Exchange Server 2007 SP1 Exchange Mangement Consol

Console Tree

The console tree is located on the left side of the console and is organized by nodes that are based on the server roles you have installed. These server role-based nodes are described in greater detail later in this topic.

Result Pane

The result pane is located in the center of the console. This pane displays objects based on the node that is selected in the console tree. In addition, you can filter the information in the result pane. For more information, see How to Filter the Result Pane.

Work Pane

The work pane is located at the bottom of the result pane. This pane displays objects based on the server role that is selected in the Server Configuration node.

Note:
The work pane is available only when you select objects under the Server Configuration node, such as Mailbox or Client Access.

Action Pane

The action pane is located on the right side of the console. This pane lists the actions based on the object that is selected in the console tree, result pane, or work pane. The action pane is an extension of the shortcut menu, which is the menu that appears when you right-click an item. However, the shortcut menu is still available. To show or hide the action pane, click the Show/Hide Action Pane arrow.


Show or hide button on the action pane

The following table lists common action pane options.

Figure 2   Show/Hide Action Pane arrow
Action pane option Description

Export List

Click Export List in the action pane to export the list that is displayed in the result pane or the work pane. You can export lists to the following formats:

  • Text (Tab Delimited)

  • Text (Comma Delimited)

  • Unicode Text (Tab Delimited)

  • Unicode Text (Comma Delimited)

For more information about how to export lists, see How to Export Lists from the Exchange Management Console.

Note:
   The Export List feature is available only in Exchange 2007 SP1.

View

Click View in the action pane to modify how objects are displayed in the Exchange Management Console. The following options are available:

  • Add/Remove Columns

    Click Add/Remove Columns to select which columns you want to display in the result pane and to change the order. The available columns depend on the node that you select.

    The Exchange Management Console automatically saves your settings. To revert to the default column view, click Restore Defaults in the Add/Remove Columns dialog box.

  • Save Current Filter as Default

    Click Save Current Filter as Default to make the existing filter the default filter for the servers listed in the result pane.

    Note:
       Because you cannot filter Organization Configuration objects, this option is not available for any objects that appear in the Organization Configuration node.
  • Visual Effects

    Click Visual Effects to set the visual effects to be always on, never on, or automatic. Use the visual effects setting to configure the way that the Exchange wizards appear. If you notice your connection is slow when using wizards, you can turn off the visual effects for better performance. Use the Automatic setting to have the Exchange Management Console detect if your system should have visual effects on or off.

  • Customize

    Click Customize to select the MMC components and snap-ins to display or hide. These settings apply to the entire MMC.

For more information, see Customize View.

Refresh

Click Refresh to refresh the objects in the result pane and the work pane.

Help

Click Help to read the context-sensitive Help for the node or object that is selected.

Properties

Click Properties to view or edit the current configuration for the object that is selected in the result pane or work pane.

Note:
This option may not be available for all objects.

Remove

Click Remove to delete the selected object from the work pane.

Note:
This option may not be available for all objects.
Important:
When you remove a mailbox, not only the Exchange data is deleted, but the associated user account in the Active Directory directory service is deleted as well.

Enable or Disable

Click Enable or Disable to enable or disable the object that is selected in the result pane or work pane. Disabling an object does not delete it.

Note:
These options may not be available for all objects.

Server Roles

Exchange 2007 introduces role-based deployment. Role-based deployment lets you deploy specific server roles that provide the messaging functionality that you want for your organization. A server role is a unit that logically groups the required features and components that are required to perform a specific function in your messaging environment. Exchange 2007 provides the following distinct server roles that align how messaging systems are typically deployed and distributed:

  • Client Access

  • Edge Transport

  • Hub Transport

  • Mailbox

  • Unified Messaging

The Exchange Management Console is supported on all computers that have any supported combination of Exchange 2007 server roles installed. On computers that have any combination of Client Access, Hub Transport, Mailbox, and Unified Messaging server roles installed, the Exchange Management Console displays all servers in the organization and includes all console tree nodes. However, for computers that have the Edge Transport server role installed, the Exchange Management Console displays only the Edge Transport server role. 

For more information, see the following topics:

Client Access, Hub Transport, Mailbox, and Unified Messaging Console Trees

The following table lists the Exchange Management Console nodes that are available to users when any combination of the Client Access, Hub Transport, Mailbox, and Unified Messaging server roles are installed.

Client Access, Hub Transport, Mailbox, and Unified Messaging Exchange Management Console nodes Description

Microsoft Exchange

Click the Microsoft Exchange node to view the Finalize Deployment and End-to-End Scenarios tabs:

  • Finalize Deployment   Use this tab to finalize a variety of configuration options for the server roles that you installed. The tasks on this tab are required to complete your Exchange 2007 deployment. These tasks apply to features that are enabled by default, but require additional configuration. When you click the links on the Finalize Deployment tab, you are provided detailed information about completing your Exchange 2007 deployment.

  • End-to-End Scenarios   Use this tab to configure end-to-end solutions for your Exchange 2007 organization. The optional tasks listed on this tab are feature-specific and are organized by server role. For example, the Mailbox section shows you how to configure messaging records management (MRM) for your organization. When you click the links on this tab, you are provided with detailed information about configuring your Exchange 2007 organization.

Organization Configuration

Use the Organization Configuration node to configure global data for your Exchange 2007 organization. This global data applies to all servers that have a specific server role installed. These server roles are listed under the Organization Configuration node. For example, you can manage your organization's offline address book (OAB) from the Mailbox node and e-mail address policies from the Hub Transport node. 

For more information about using the Organization Configuration node, see Using the Organization Configuration Node.

Server Configuration

Use the Server Configuration node to configure your Exchange 2007 servers and their components (such as databases, protocols, and messaging records management).

For more information about using the Server Configuration node, see Using the Server Configuration Node.

Recipient Configuration

Use the Recipient Configuration node to manage the recipients in your Exchange 2007 organization. For example, you can manage your Exchange mailboxes, mail users, mail contacts, and distribution groups.

For more information about using the Recipient Configuration node, see Using the Recipient Configuration Node.

Toolbox

Use the Toolbox node to access additional tools that can help you manage your Exchange 2007 organization.

In the release to manufacturing (RTM) version of Exchange 2007, the Toolbox contains the following tools:

  • Microsoft Exchange Server Best Practices Analyzer

  • Database Recovery Management

  • Database Troubleshooter

  • Mail Flow Troubleshooterl

  • Message tracking

  • Queue Viewer

  • Performance Monitor

  • Performance Troubleshooter

In Exchange 2007 SP1, the following tools are also available:

  • Public Folder Management Console

  • Details Templates Editor

  • Routing Log Viewer

For more information about these tools, see Using the Toolbox.

Edge Transport Server Console Tree

The following table lists the Exchange Management Console nodes that are available to users when the Edge Transport server role is installed. 

Edge Transport server nodes Description

Microsoft Exchange

Click the Microsoft Exchange node to view the Finalize Deployment and End-to-End Scenarios tabs. Use these tabs to complete the Exchange 2007 installation and configuration tasks.

Edge Transport

Expand the Edge Transport node to manage your organization's perimeter network. The Edge Transport server handles all Internet-facing mail flow, providing protection against spam and viruses.

For more information about using the Edge Transport node, see Using the Edge Transport Node.

Toolbox

Use the Toolbox node to access additional tools that can help you manage your Exchange 2007 organization. The Toolbox contains the Microsoft Exchange Server Best Practices Analyzer Tool, the Exchange Server Mail Flow Analyzer, and several other analysis and diagnostic tools.

Note:
You can use the management tools to administer your Exchange organization remotely. If the computer on which you install the Exchange management tools has a 32-bit processor and 32-bit operating system, you must install the 32-bit version of the management tools. For more information about how to install the 32-bit version management tools, see How to Install the Exchange 2007 Management Tools.

For more information about using the Toolbox node, see Using the Toolbox.

For More Information

For more information about Exchange 2007 server roles, see the following topics:

For information about other Exchange management interfaces, such as the Exchange Management Shell, see Management Interfaces.

For more information about the console tree nodes in the Exchange Management Console, see the following topics:


Figure 1   Exchange Management Console