Reconnect Mailbox in Exchange 2016 Database using EMC or EMS

The description given below explains how the user can reconnect disconnected mailboxes to/from exchange 2016 server. It also explains how to use PowerShell commands and simple procedures to reconnect all exchange 2016 Mailbox data.

Note: Certain Recipients Permissions required to write and run this procedure using PowerShell cmdlet.

Steps to Reconnect Exchange Mailbox 2016

1. Check Recipients Permissions to connect mailbox exchange 2016
   
   The user needs to check that all Recipients Provisioning Permissions are provided to a user and all permissions are enabled. To learn more Click here...
   
   
2. Verify User Mailbox existence in Exchange Database
   
   Now, Once all permissions are provided then check whether the user mailbox exists in exchange database or not. To do so, Type Get-User cmdlet in EMC. Check that account exists and RecipientType property is User. The Active Directory user account must be disabled for an account you want to connect to. Run the Following Command to check user's mailbox and its existence in exchange database.
   
   Get-MailboxDatabase | Get-MailboxStatistics | Where { $_.DisplayName -eq "" } | fl DisplayName,Database,DisconnectReason
   
   
3. Use EAC and EMS to Connect Exchange Mailbox
   
   
   1. Connect Mailbox Exchange 2016 using Exchange Admin Center(EAC)
      
      
      1. Go to Recipients. Click on Mailbox
         
         
      2. Click on More option. Then, Click Connect a Mailbox
         
         
      3. Now, Select disconnected Mailbox you want to connect
         
         
      4. Click Yes to connect to disconnected Mailbox. All users account that is disconnected is displayed.
         
         
      5. Select user, you want to connect. The Disconnected Mailbox will be automatically connected.
         
         
   2. Connect Mailbox Exchange 2016 using Exchange Management Shell
      
      To connect a disconnected mailbox to a user account, Type Connect-Mailbox cmdlet. Refer example given below to connect mailbox.
      
      Connect-Mailbox -Identity "Paul Cannon" -Database MBXDB01 -User "Robin Wood" -Alias robinw
      
      Now follow steps given below to perform above procedure. The parameters are identified as follows:
      
      Identity parameter: disconnected mailbox on the mailbox database named MBXDB02.
      
      LinkedMasterAccount parameter: Active Directory user account in the account forest that you want to connect the mailbox.
      
      LinkedDomainController parameter: domain controller in the account forest.
      
      Connect-Mailbox -Identity "Temp User" -Database MBXDB02 -LinkedDomainController FabrikamDC01 -LinkedMasterAccount danpark@fabrikam.com -Alias dpark
      
      

   Examples to Connect Mailbox to User Account using EMS:

   
   

   For Room Mailbox:

   Connect-Mailbox -Identity "rm2121" -Database "MBXResourceDB" -User "Conference Room 2121" -Alias ConfRm2121 -Room

   
   

   For Equipment Mailbox:

   Connect-Mailbox -Identity "MotorPool01" -Database "MBXResourceDB" -User "Van01 (12 passengers)" -Alias van01 -Equipment

   
   

   For Shared Mailbox

   Connect-Mailbox -Identity "Printer Support" -Database MBXDB01 -User "Corp Printer Support" -Alias corpprint -Shared

   
   
   

   To check whether above steps worked fine or not follow steps given below:

   
   

   To verify and connect mailbox exchange 2016 EAC

   
   
   1. In EAC, Go to Recipients. Go to Mailbox that is connected and refresh it. All Emails that were disconnected will be restored.
      
      
   2. Got to Active Directory and right click on user mailbox. Then Click Properties. Go to the General tab. Email box will automatically connect and display data
      
      

   To reconnect exchange mailbox 2016 and verify using EMS

   
   

   Type following command, Get-User in above result the UserMailbox Value for RecipientType can be used to identify whether the mailbox is connected or not. Also, run following cmdlet to verify connected mailbox Get-Mailbox

   
   
   
4. New-MailboxRestoreRequest using EMS
   
   Note: EAC cannot be used to reconnect disconnected mailboxes from exchange server
   
   The disconnect mailbox can be recovered to Existing Mailbox (target Mailbox) using New-MailboxRestoreRequest cmdlet.
   
   Follow steps given below to reconnect mailbox in Exchange Server 2016
   
   Type Get-MailboxStatistics cmdlet. Note following details DisplayName, MailboxGuid and LegacyDN of a mailbox that need to connect. Follow syntax given below to find these details.
   
   Get-MailboxDatabase | Get-MailboxStatistics | Where {$_.DisconnectReason -eq "Disabled"} | fl DisplayName,MailboxGuid,LegacyDN,Database
   
   Following Examples are used with certain parameters
   
   reconnect exchange mailbox to user Example 1:
   
   SourceStoreMailbox parameter: To target Mailbox Debra Gracia AllowLegacyDNMismatch parameter: Used to reconnect source mailbox to different mailbox that doesn’t have same legacy DN value.
   
   New-MailboxRestoreRequest -SourceStoreMailbox e4890ee7-79a2-4f94-9569-91e61eac372b -SourceDatabase MBXDB01 -TargetMailbox "Debra Garcia" -AllowLegacyDNMismatch
   
   Example 2 to reconnect exchange mailbox 2016:
   
   The AllowLegacyDNMismatch parameter is not required since the primary mailbox and archive mailbox has same legacy DN.
   
   New-MailboxRestoreRequest -SourceStoreMailbox "Personal Archive - Pilar Pinilla" -SourceDatabase "MDB01" -TargetMailbox pilarp@contoso.com -TargetIsArchive
   
   
5. Verify Get-MailboxRestoreRequest of User Mailbox using Management Shell
   
   To verify, follow following procedure:
   
   
   1. Type Get-MailboxRestoreRequest cmdlet. This will display all information on reconnect request.
      
      
   2. Check Status property whether it has the value of Queued, InProgress or Completed.
      
      
   3. Once request Status is Complete. All Mailbox will display automatically
      
      

Note: After 30 days Period the Exchange automatically remove disconnected Mailbox Emails. The above procedure will able to display mailbox only if user mailbox has been disconnected within 30 days period.

Reconnect Exchange Mailbox to User Alternate Method

If you have Offline EDB file then all its Emails can be recovered and Exported to Exchange 2016 or Office 365 using Exchange Recovery Software. This software also provides an option to convert emails into other formats.