Understanding Hybrid Management in Exchange 2010 Hybrid Deployments

Applies to: Exchange Server 2010 SP3, Exchange Server 2010 SP2

Both your on-premises organization and the Exchange Online organization are based on Exchange. In particular, hybrid servers in your on-premises organization are based on Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 and the Exchange Online organization Exchange servers are based on Exchange Server 2013. Service Pack 3 (SP3) for Exchange 2010 enables hybrid features to function correctly between these two types of hybrid deployment servers.

When you install a hybrid server, Exchange 2010 management tools are automatically installed on the server. You’ll use the management tools to configure and manage both the hybrid server(s) and some recipient management features for the Exchange Online organization. These tools include the Exchange Management Console (EMC), a graphical administrative interface, and the Exchange Management Shell, a Windows PowerShell-based command-line interface. You’ll also use the Exchange Administration Center (EAC) in the Exchange Online section of the Office 365 management portal to manage most of the properties of the Exchange Online recipients and organization.

Exchange Management Console

The EMC enables you to perform many deployment tasks and most common day-to-day administrative tasks. Additionally, the EMC allows you to administer both the on-premises hybrid servers and some recipient management features for mailboxes in the Exchange Online organization. It's installed by default on every Exchange 2010 server, but you can also install it on a computer running any of the following 64-bit operating systems:

• Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard and Enterprise

• Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard and Enterprise

• Windows 8

• Windows 7

• Windows Vista Service Pack (SP) 2

Adding the Exchange Online organization to the EMC is similar to adding another Exchange 2010 forest to the EMC. When the Exchange Online organization is added to the EMC, it appears as another node in the navigation tree. From there you can select the Exchange Online organization and configure some properties of Exchange Online recipient objects. To fully manage organization-level features and objects for the Exchange Online organization, you’ll be redirected by the EMC and provided a link to connect to the EAC in the Office 365 management portal.

The following screenshot shows the on-premises organization and Exchange Online organization in the same console.

Exchange on-premises and Exchange Online organizations in the Exchange Management Console

Learn more at: Exchange Management Console

Exchange Management Shell

The Shell enables you to perform any task that the EMC does and some additional tasks that can only be performed in the Shell. The Shell is a collection of Windows PowerShell scripts and cmdlets that are installed on a computer when the Exchange 2010 management tools are installed. These scripts and cmdlets are only loaded when you open the Shell using the Exchange Management Shell icon. If you open Windows PowerShell directly, the Exchange scripts and cmdlets aren't loaded and you won't be able to manage your on-premises organization.

When you open the Shell using the Exchange Management Shell icon on a computer that has the management tools installed, you can manage your on-premises organization. However, you can't manage the Exchange Online organization when you open the Shell using this icon. This is because opening the Shell using the Exchange Management Shell icon automatically connects you to a local Exchange server.

If you want to manage the Exchange Online organization using Windows PowerShell, you must open Windows PowerShell directly and not via the Exchange Management Shell icon. When you open Windows PowerShell, you can then manually specify where you want to connect. When you create a manual connection, you specify an administrator account in the Office 365 tenant organization, and then you run a command to create a connection. When the connection is established, the Exchange cmdlets you have permissions to run are made available to you.

Learn more at: Use Windows PowerShell

If you're new to the Shell, check out the following topic to learn the basics about how the Shell works, command syntax, and more.

Learn more at: Exchange Management Shell

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