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Title
Exchange Connector Compatibility with Exchange Management Tools (No On-Prem Exchange Server) -
Description
Customers migrating from Exchange on-prem to Exchange Online often plan to decommission all on-prem Exchange servers.
After migration, they may choose to install Microsoft Exchange Management Tools to continue managing recipient attributes (eg: remote mailboxes) in a hybrid identity scenario.
Can Identity Manager - Exchange Connector continue to function and provision remote mailboxes with only Exchange Management Tools without a running Exchange server? -
Cause
The Exchange connector is designed to work with a full Microsoft Exchange server environment.
The connector communicates with Exchange using remote PowerShell against an Exchange server and expects a complete Exchange organization context.
The Exchange Hybrid (EXH) module also relies on a local Exchange organization to define and manage remote mailboxes and related attributes.
Microsoft Exchange Management Tools, while supported by Microsoft for recipient management after migration, provide only:
- A limited set of PowerShell cmdlets for managing recipients
- No full Exchange server backend, APIs, or services
- A reduced feature set intended for administrative scripting only
Because of this, the Management Tools do not replicate the behavior or capabilities of a full Exchange server, which the Identity Manager - Exchange connector depends on.
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Resolution
The Exchange connector is not designed or supported to work with Exchange Management Tools alone.
If all on-prem Exchange servers are decommissioned, the connector is not expected to function complete and supported way.
Recommended options:
#1 Keep a minimal Exchange server- Maintain a lightweight Exchange server for recipient management
- Ensures full compatibility with the Exchange connector
#2 Transition to Exchange Online based management
- Use the Exchange Online connector in One Identity Manager
- Manage users via Active Directory + Entra ID + Exchange Online
#3 Hybrid architecture
- Consider moving away from on-prem Exchange dependencies
- Align provisioning with cloud native management approaches where possible