Connecting to Exchange Server

After successful installation of CodeTwo Exchange Sync the Administration Panel opens along the Exchange Server connection wizard. The wizard is used to define the initial connection to Exchange Server used within your organization. Therefore such connection is necessary for the program to work yet create and peform synchronization tasks. Within the wizard you will be able to define the type of connection to your Exchange Server for both: Synchronization Service and Administration Panel (Fig. 1.).

Fig. 1. First screen of the Exchange Server connection wizard.

Please note that the initial connection method to Exchange is associated with both components of the program: Synchronization service and Administration Panel. Furthermore, connection of each component may be changed independantly later on from their Settings tabs in the panel.

There are two ways of connection available (Fig. 2.):

• Automatic 
• Manual

Fig. 2. Choosing connection method to the Exchange Server.

We recommend using the automatic connection method while connecting to Exchange Server because such configuration allows the Attendant to monitor the server in case it goes down or its access parameters change. If such situation happens it switches connection to another active server to sustain the sync process. Therefore, the Attendant won't work with the manual connection type.

No matter which connection type you choose, the program communicates with the Exchange Autodiscover service to obtain info on the appropriate Server to connect to. The information on Exchange server that is pushed back to the program is based on a particular server's role. The table below shows which server types along their roles will be pushed to CodeTwo Exchange Sync while establishing connection to Exchange:

Automatic connection

If you choose the automatic connection type the program will automatically connect to Exchange Server pushed by the autodiscover. Once it's done, you will have to enter the currently logged user's password - the program will use this account to run under (Fig. 3.). The choice of account used to perform the initial installation and Exchange connection settings is crucial because only selected accounts will allow you to access all mailboxes in your Exchange organization. Therefore, to avoid limitations in access to Exchange mailboxes, it is recommended to install and configure the program using an account belonging to Domain Admins group. If you choose other account (having only basic rights to access Exchange database) you won't be able to access any other mailbox apart from the one currently used.

Fig. 3. Choosing the account the program will run under.

Note that during the initial setup you cannot change the Service account, therefore the currently logged in user's account will be used. However, you will be able to change the account at any point later on via the Settings tab in the Admin's Panel.

Last but not least, after entering the password move on to the summary step and wait for the program to establish connection to your Exchange Server (Fig. 4.). The wizard will check Admin's Panel connection first and then the connection of Synchronization Service.

Fig. 4. Verifying the connection to Exchange Server.

Once both, Admin's Panel and Synchronization Service establish connection to Exchange (Fig. 5.), you are ready to create the first synchronization task.

Note that unlike the service, the Admin's panel will need confirmation of admin's credentials by default every time it's started. However, you may store the credentials using the checkbox at the bottom of the wizard to prevent the Panel to reconfigure the connection at every startup.

Fig. 5. Connection to the Exchange Server verified.

Manual connection

If you choose to manually connect to the particular server in your organization (we do not recommend this type of connection as the Attendant won't be able to monitor the connection yet automatically switch to another server if the current one goes down to sustain the synchronization process) the program will list all available Exchange Servers. Next, you will have to pick one from the list or enter its domain name (FQDN) along the server's version if the server you want to choose is not present on the list (Fig. 6.).

Fig. 6. Manual connection method to the Exchange Server chosen.

Next, enter the current user's password and verify the connection of both Synchronization Service and the Admin's Panel (Fig. 4.). Once the connection is established (Fig. 5.) move on to define your synchronization tasks.

Learn more about troubleshooting Exchange connection errors
Learn more about reconfiguration of Synchronization Service and Admin's Panel
Learn more about the program's architecture
Learn more about the system requirements
Learn more about the installation process