Botched Exchange 2013 install -- recovery - Systemmailboxs and anything else??

We installed 2013, activating both the CAS and MAILBOX roles on all servers (12).

Afterwards it was decided that we wanted to separate the roles. Exchange was uninstalled on all the servers but there were issues uninstalling on the first installed mailserver. Messages indicated that the database wasn't empty and the uninstall could not continue. The installer then manually deleted the database and uninstalled Exchange.

While trouble shooting the uninstall on the initial server, the installer started installs on servers that hasa successfully performed the uninstall.

Before we could build new mailbox servers we needed to run the following powershell commands:

Set-Mailbox -arbitration "SystemMailbox{bb558c35-97f1-4cb9-8ff7-d53741dc928c}" -database "Mailbox Database 0025485816" -domaincontroller dc.root.com

Enable-Mailbox -Arbitration -DomainController dc.root.com -Identity "SystemMailbox{e0dc1c29-89c3-4034-b678-e6c29d823ed9}"


We have now successfully installed 4 CAS servers and 4 of the 8 mailbox servers. (well, it looks like we have)

I am reviewing the servers and I cannot find the system mailbox. I tried executing "get-mailbvox -arbitration", I run "get-mailboxstatistics", but I just cannot find any reference to the "SystemMailbox{bb558..." mailbox.

I also do not see any references to the systemmailboxes
 SystemMailbox{1f05a927-8f02-4520-9faa-b8f438c93240}
 SystemMailbox{e0dc1c29-89c3-4034-b678-e6c29d823ed9}

So, before I start putting users on here, how can I verify I have everytrhing I need?
Do I perform the "set-mailbox -arbitration..." on the other 2 systemmailboxes?
I also see articles referencing FederatedEmail and Migration accounts. Did I lose these? or have they not gotten created yet?

 Thanks!!

Tom

 

October 30th, 2013 6:06pm

Hi Tom,
What you should have is five Arbitration Mailboxes shown in the example below.

[PS] C:\>get-mailbox -Arbitration | ft Name,displayname

Name                                                        DisplayName
----                                                        -----------
SystemMailbox{1f05a927-c403-4250-9f07-c5e43605c1ac}         Microsoft Exchange Approval Assistant
SystemMailbox{bb558c35-97f1-4cb9-8ff7-d53741dc928c}         Microsoft Exchange
SystemMailbox{e0dc1c29-89c3-4034-b678-e6c29d823ed9}         Microsoft Exchange
FederatedEmail.4c1f4d8b-8179-4148-93bf-00a95fa1e042         Microsoft Exchange Federation Mailbox
Migration.8f3e7716-2011-43e4-96b1-aba62d229136              Microsoft Exchange Migration
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
October 30th, 2013 6:44pm

get-mailbox -arbitration | ft name,displayname
.. returns nothing

I see all five of the accounts you listed in ADUC, so, what would the process be to re-establish their mailboxes and all the correct attributes on those mailboxes?

 enable-mailbox -arbitration -domaincontroller dc.root.com -identity SystemMailbox{1f05a927-c403-4250-9f07-c5e43605c1ac} -database "Mailbox Database 0025485816"


If this is correct, would the same command be used for all five of the accounts? or are there different attributes required for each?

Thanks, Tom

October 31st, 2013 10:39am

Hi Tom,

The above five Arbitration Mailboxes Martina provided are required for Exchange 2013.

You can use the following cmdlet to Re-Create the System Mailboxes:

Enable-Mailbox -Arbitration -DomainController <FQDN of root global catalog server> -Identity "SystemMailbox{e0dc1c29-89c3-4034-b678-e6c29d823ed9}"

What's more, here is an article for your reference.

Re-Create the Discovery System Mailbox

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg588318(v=exchg.150).aspx

If there are any problems, please feel free to let me know.

Best regards,
Amy

Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
November 4th, 2013 12:23am


[PS] C:\>Enable-Mailbox -Arbitration -DomainController RootRCName.root.com -Identity "SystemMailbox{e0dc1c29-89c3-4034-b678-e6c29d823ed9}" -database "Mailbox Database 0025485816"
This task does not support recipients of this type. The specified recipient
root.com/Users/SystemMailbox{e0dc1c29-89c3-4034-b678-e6c29d823ed9} is of type UserMailbox. Please make sure that
this recipient matches the required recipient type for this task.
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidArgument: (root.com/...8-e6c29d823ed9}:RecipientIdParameter) [Enable-Mailbox], RecipientTaskException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : 62F1A8E2,Microsoft.Exchange.Management.RecipientTasks.EnableMailbox
    + PSComputerName        : mailboxserver.child.root.com

[PS] C:\>

Tom

November 4th, 2013 7:00pm

Hi Tom,

From your description, I would like to clarify the following things:

1. Please ensure that you have prepared AD and domains when you install a Mailbox Server.

2. If yes, please check the setuplogs and see if the installation is successful. The above arbitration Mailboxes are created by Exchange in the root domain of the Active Directory forest during installation.

3. If the installation is not successful, you need to uninstall it and then do a fresh installation.

What's more, here are some articles about Exchange 2013 installation for your reference.

Exchange 2013 Prerequisites

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb691354(v=exchg.150).aspx

Deploy a New Installation of Exchange 2013

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa998619(v=exchg.150).aspx

Hope it helps.

Best regards,
Amy

Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
November 5th, 2013 9:44pm

I ended up deleting users
 Systemmailbox{bb55....
 Migration.8f3e...
Rerunning Exchange 2013  "setup /preparead" to recreate these two accounts
running the appropriate powershell enable commands on these two account as described in article http://blog.hametbenoit.info/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=419

All seems well so far

Tom

  • Marked as answer by Tom_Slycke 16 hours 54 minutes ago
November 15th, 2013 2:14pm

I also want to call out that while i use "Get-Mailbox" quite regularly, and all of my users are returned, the command "get-mailbox -arbitration" repeatedly returned nothing. I found this a bit irrating and since I never found the arbitration mailboxes, this is why i felt I was in a position to delete the first database.

IN all my troubleshooting, i did discover that I needed to include the "-domaincontroller" parameter to get the arbitration mailboxes returned.

Yes, I have a forest with severl level in the heirarchy. The systemmailboxes are at teh root level, and my exchange is one level removed. But since I can get all my users, across 6 domains within my forest without specifying a DC. I was surprised the parameter was required to return the arbitration mailboxes.

SO, if your exchange servers are not at the root of your forest....

    get-mailbox -arbitration -domaincontroller DC.rootevel.com

Tom

  • Marked as answer by Tom_Slycke 16 hours 45 minutes ago
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
November 15th, 2013 2:23pm

I ended up deleting users
 Systemmailbox{bb55....
 Migration.8f3e...
Rerunning Exchange 2013  "setup /preparead" to recreate these two accounts
running the appropriate powershell enable commands on these two account as described in article http://blog.hametbenoit.info/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=419

All seems well so far

Tom

  • Marked as answer by Tom_Slycke Friday, November 15, 2013 7:08 PM
November 15th, 2013 10:07pm

I also want to call out that while i use "Get-Mailbox" quite regularly, and all of my users are returned, the command "get-mailbox -arbitration" repeatedly returned nothing. I found this a bit irrating and since I never found the arbitration mailboxes, this is why i felt I was in a position to delete the first database.

IN all my troubleshooting, i did discover that I needed to include the "-domaincontroller" parameter to get the arbitration mailboxes returned.

Yes, I have a forest with severl level in the heirarchy. The systemmailboxes are at teh root level, and my exchange is one level removed. But since I can get all my users, across 6 domains within my forest without specifying a DC. I was surprised the parameter was required to return the arbitration mailboxes.

SO, if your exchange servers are not at the root of your forest....

    get-mailbox -arbitration -domaincontroller DC.rootevel.com

Tom

  • Marked as answer by Tom_Slycke Friday, November 15, 2013 7:17 PM
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
November 15th, 2013 10:16pm

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