Schedule PowerShell Exchange script

Schedule PowerShell Exchange script

Sometimes you might need to schedule PowerShell Exchange script using the Windows Task Scheduler. In this post, I will walk you through how to perform this task. You need to make sure you have Exchange PowerShell installed on the machine where the script will be run. If you are an Exchange administrator, then you should browse the internet for Exchange script, as there are many amazing scripts out there that can help you better manager and monitor your Exchange installation.

Open the Task Scheduler in Windows > Task Scheduler Library > right click and “Create Basic Task..“

Type a descriptive name for your task and click Next.
On the Trigger section, choose your schedule that fits your needs.
On the Action, choose “Start a program“, Click Next.
On the “Start a Program” subsection, Enter:
- In the Program/Script, type C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
- In the Add Arguments (Optional) ,type

 -command ". 'c:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V14\bin\RemoteExchange.ps1'; Connect-ExchangeServer -auto; D:\Myscript.PS1

In the Start in (Optional), leave it empty

Note: Replace D:\Myscript.PS1 with your script path.

Note: Make sure the machine has Exchange PowerShell Management Tools installed already.

Final Thoughts

I hope by now you know how to schedule PowerShell Exchange script using the Windows Task Manager. As you can see, it is an easy thing to do. I will also leave you with a quick top when doing so.

I have discovered in a hard way, that you will get problem, and the script will not run, if the path length to your script is too long. For example, it is not good idea to host your script under deep folder structure like D:\Path1\path2\path3\path3 management scripts for Exchange that i love to schedule\Script Directory\Cool Scripts\Myscript.PS1

This is a long path, and there is a limit for the length of commands in the Windows Task Scheduler. Keep that in mind.

About The Author

Ammar Hasayen

CISSP, CISM, Microsoft MVP, Book Author, International Speaker, Pluralsight Author. Ammar has been working in information technology for over 15 years. Ammar is a cloud architect specializing in Azure platform, Microsoft 365, and cloud security. As a Microsoft MVP, tech community founder, and international speaker. Ammar has helped big organizations digitally transform, migrate workloads to the cloud, and implement threat protection and security solutions across the globe. Ammar shares his knowledge in his professional blog and he often speaks at local community events and international conferences like Microsoft Ignite and SharePoint Saturday. His passion for technology and cloud computing makes him a reference for both cloud architecture and security best practices.

9 Comments

Omar ammar on October 3, 2013 at 9:46 am

Hi dear,

I liked this report so much ☺ unfortunately I still can’t schedule it, I have added everything as you mentioned but it’s still run on windows power shell not EMS

Your kind help will be highly appreciated

[cid:image001.png@01CEC01D.4D617420]

Omar Ammar
Senior IT Officer
Information Technology

Airport International Group
P.O. Box 3717 Amman 11821
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Tel: +962 (6) 445 3000
Fax: +962 (6) 445 3444
Mobile +962 (79) 519 4994
[Description: Description: imagesCAYRDJ9A]

[Description: untitled]
Reply
omar ammar on October 3, 2013 at 9:47 am

can you see the attached image i have sent
Reply
ammarhasayen on October 3, 2013 at 9:55 am

nope. please email me on me@ammarhasayen.com
Reply
Omar ammar on October 3, 2013 at 10:11 am

Dear Its working☺☺☺ I just changed the directory ☺ many thanks dear

Regards
Omar Ammar

From: Omar ammar
Sent: Thursday, October 3, 2013 9:46 AM
To: ‘Ammar Hasayen – Blog’
Subject: RE: [New post] How to schedule Exchange PowerShell Script using Windows Task Manager

Hi dear,

I liked this report so much ☺ unfortunately I still can’t schedule it, I have added everything as you mentioned but it’s still run on windows power shell not EMS

Your kind help will be highly appreciated

[cid:image001.png@01CEC020.C31012A0]

Omar Ammar
Senior IT Officer
Information Technology

Airport International Group
P.O. Box 3717 Amman 11821
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Tel: +962 (6) 445 3000
Fax: +962 (6) 445 3444
Mobile +962 (79) 519 4994
[Description: Description: imagesCAYRDJ9A]

[Description: untitled]
Reply
- ammarhasayen on October 3, 2013 at 10:14 am
  
  Great ! Happy it works for you
  Reply
Ian on June 26, 2014 at 11:30 pm

You are missing a quote and the quotes need to be retyped. Otherwise this works. Keep in mind the path may change, depending on the version of Exchange. I suggest you pull it from the PS shortcut. Here is what worked for me:
-command “. ‘c:Program FilesMicrosoftExchange ServerV15binRemoteExchange.ps1′; Connect-ExchangeServer -auto; ” c:myscript.ps1
Reply
Hassan Abidi on April 13, 2015 at 10:32 pm

Hello Ammar,

The script (Get-CorpEmailReport) works like a charm but i am unable to add this to run thru windows task scheduler on Win Server 2012 R2. I have tried minimizing the folder structure (for both : the path where the PS1 file is available and the ScriptLogPath directory)
this is what i am putting as an argument below:
-NonInteractive -WindowStyle Hidden -command “. ‘C:Program FilesMicrosoftExchange ServerV15binRemoteExchange.ps1’; Connect-ExchangeServer -auto; “D:scriptsGet-CorpEmailReport.ps1 -ScriptFilesPath C:tempMonthlyExchReport -SendMail:$true -MailFrom MonthlyExchReport@XXX.com -MailTo ITApps@XXX.com -MailServer XXX

and also without the -NonInteractive switch

-command”.’C:Program FilesMicrosoftExchange ServerV15binRemoteExchange.ps1′; Connect-ExchangeServer -auto; ” D:scriptsGet-CorpEmailReport.ps1 -ScriptFilesPath C:tempMonthlyExchReport -SendMail:$true -MailFrom MonthlyExchReport@XXX.com -MailTo ITApps@XXX.com -MailServer XXX

The goal is to set it to run last friday of each month and is sent to an email (shared mailbox)

Please help

Hassan Abidi
Reply
- ammar hasayen on April 13, 2015 at 10:53 pm
  
  Hi 🙂 you should put all this in batch file and then run the batch file from task schedular. I will write detailed blog about this as i got similar comments
  Reply
  - Hassan Abidi on April 14, 2015 at 4:40 pm
    
    Hello Ammar, thanks for a prompt response. I however, another issue that i am dealing with and would need your input on how it can be done:
    
    Task: There are some custom holidays that i need to be imported to all mailboxes in the organization. The custom holiday event must be set to all day events and it has to be with status “Out of Office” not “busy/Free/Tentative etc” We do not want to have any kind of user interaction, meaning no .hol file to be created and then sent it via email OR via GPO.
    Is there any way to create these events and the status via script and add these events automatically to all mailboxes (default calendar) in the organization
    
    Please advise!
    Thanks
    Reply