Applies to: Exchange Server 2013
Topic Last Modified: 2013-02-20
You may receive the following error when you attempt to remove an arbitration mailbox:
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Can't remove the arbitration mailbox <mailbox> because it's being used for the approval workflow for existing recipients that have either membership restrictions or moderation enabled. You should either disable the approval features on those recipients or specify a different arbitration mailbox for those recipients before removing this arbitration mailbox. |
An arbitration mailbox can be used to handle the approval workflow for moderated recipients and distribution group membership approvals. You use PowerShell to find all the recipients that are configured to use the arbitration mailbox. After you identify the recipients, you can either configure them to use a different arbitration mailbox, or you can disable moderation for them.
What do you need to know before you begin?
- Estimated time to complete: 15 minutes
- You need to be assigned permissions before you can perform this
procedure or procedures. To see what permissions you need, see the
"Aribtration" entry in the Recipients
Permissions topic.
- For information about keyboard shortcuts that may apply to the
procedures in this topic, see Keyboard Shortcuts in
the Exchange Admin Center.
Step 1: Use the Shell to find all the recipients that use the arbitration mailbox you are trying to delete
Run the following commands:
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$AM = Get-Mailbox "<arbitration mailbox>" -Arbitration
$AMDN = $AM.DistinguishedName
Get-Recipient -RecipientPreviewFilter {ArbitrationMailbox -eq $AMDN}
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For example, to find all the recipients that use the arbitration mailbox named Arbitration Mailbox01, run the following commands:
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$AM = Get-Mailbox "Arbitration Mailbox01" -Arbitration
$AMDN = $AM.DistinguishedName
Get-Recipient -RecipientPreviewFilter {ArbitrationMailbox -eq $AMDN}
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 Note: |
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The arbitration mailbox is specified using the distinguished
name (DN). If you know the DN of the arbitration mailbox, you can
run the single command: Get-Recipient -RecipientPreviewFilter
{ArbitrationMailbox -eq <DN>}. |
Step 2: Use the Shell to specify a different arbitration mailbox or disable moderation for the recipients
To stop moderated recipients from using the arbitration mailbox you are trying to delete, you can either specify a different arbitration mailbox, or you can disable moderation for the recipients.
If you choose to specify a different arbitration mailbox for the recipients, run the following command:
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Set-<RecipientType> <Identity> -ArbitrationMailbox <different arbitration mailbox> |
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For example, to reconfigure the distribution group named All Employees to use the arbitration mailbox named Arbitration Mailbox02 for membership approval, run the following command:
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Set-DistributionGroup "All Employees" -ArbitrationMailbox "Arbitration Mailbox02" |
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If you choose to disable moderation for the recipients, run the following command:
| Copy Code |
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Set-<RecipientType> <Identity> -ModerationEanbled $false |
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For example, to disable moderation for the mailbox named Human Resources, run the following command:
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Set-Mailbox "Human Resources" -ModerationEanbled $false |
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How do you know this worked?
The procedure was successful if you can delete the arbitration mailbox without receiving the error that it's being used.
Having problems? Ask for help in the Exchange forums. Visit the forums at: Exchange Server, Exchange Online, or Exchange Online Protection