Exchange Server Remote Connectivity Analyzer Beta

I took note of this useful Web Site/Tool from Microsoft some months ago but wanted to see how it matured and changed over time.  Today, the folks at TechNet Edge released a Video what I am sure will provide additional traffic to this Web Site.

If you were ever looking for a 'safe' Web Site to test your Lab Environment or Production Environment Exchange 2007 Configuration settings you will find it in the Exchange Server Remote Connectivity Analyzer Web Site from Microsoft.  Using the ESRCA (my acronym, not Microsofts!) you can perform the following 'tests' of your Exchange 2007 Configuration:

1. Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync Test
2. Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync Autodiscover Test
3. Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 Autodiscover Connectivity Test
4. Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 RPC/HTTP Connectivity Test
5. Inbound SMTP E-Mail Test

Each of these tests provide detailed feedback to allow modifying or changing the configuring until proper function is achieved.  If you have ever spent time testing and re-testing configuration settings from the Internet, this Web Site will help you.  If you have ever asked any of the following questions, this Web Site will be a benefit in your Test Toolkit:

• How to determine if Inbound SMTP Email is configured correctly from the Internet?
• How to determine if a Mobile Device is configured correctly for ActiveSync?
• How to determine if Outlook Anywhere is configured correctly from the Internet for Outlook 2007 Clients?
• How to determine if Outlook Anywhere is configured correctly from the Internet for Outlook 2003 Clients?
• How to determine if I am an Open Relay for SMTP?

Here is the link to the Video that demonstrates what the Exchange Server Remote Connectivitty Analyzer does:

Exchange Server Remote Connectivity Analyzer Beta - Video on TechNet Edge

Exchange Server Remote Connectivity Analyzer - reference material on TechNet

Let me walk through navigating to the Web Site for the Exchange Server Remote Connectivity Analyzer Beta, and then invoking one of the tests titled 'Inbound SMTP Email Test' to demonstrate the output. 

1.  Navigate to 'www.testexchangeconnectivity.com'.  You should see an 'https' connection to 'https://www.exchangeconnectivity.com/'. 

2.  Select the 5th test from the top titled 'Inbound SMTP Email Test', then 'Next'.

 3.  On the next Screen input values in the 'Email Address Field' under the Section titled 'Account and Test Details'.  Here you can input a Test User Mailbox*.  Input the hologram value in the 'Verification' field as displayed upon the Screen (as with all Verification methods, the hologram changes within several seconds, so be prompt!).

* The Exchange Server Remote Connectivity Analyzer Team recommends (as do I) creation of a separate 'Test User Mailbox(es)' for purposes of these various tests.  Upon completion of these tests that Test User Mailbox would then be deleted.

4.  Upon succesful validation of an SMTP Domain available at the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN or @domain.com) associated with the Test User Mailbox, the testing begins.  You will receive feedback right away indicating 'Connectivity Test Successful' or 'Connectivity Test Failed'.  Additionally, if you select the 'plus sign' next to the 'Test Steps' listing you will see the sequential steps of testing and the response feedback for each step.

5.  If you receive a succesful 'Inbound SMTP Email Test' response and then expand the 'Test Steps' you can follow several of the 'Test Steps' to understand what is examined.  Here the testing entailed a DNS MX Record lookup followed by an SMTP 'EHLO' response to the targeted Server.

6.  Further examination of the succesful 'Inbound SMTP Email Test' indicates an attempt to send a test e-mail to the targeted Test Mailbox User.  We use each of the Test Results to validate proper DNS Configuration, SMTP Mailflow, SMTP Command Response and Pattern.

As mentioned previously, a number of Tests are available through the Exchange Server Remote Connectivity Analyzer Web Site.  Each of these Tests promotes use of a 'Temporary Test Mailbox User' account. 

The Microsoft Exchange Server Remote Connectivity Analyzer Team has done a fine job with this free Web Site to assist with configuration of Exchange Server 2007!  Well done!

Lynn Lunik
Independent Security Consultant
Windows(R) Platform
IT Pro Secure Corporation
and
exchangesummit.net
http://itprosecure.com and http://www.exchangesummit.net
blog <at> itprosecure.com