Easily Connect to Exchange Online with PowerShell

In a previous article I explained how to connect to Office 365 with PowerShell. In this article we explore how to use PowerShell to connect to Exchange Online. We will also look at the differences if you have ADFS deployed and, how to create a script to simplify the connection process. Let’s get started!

Prerequisites

Before you get started your computer needs to be running:

• Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or newer.
• Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 or newer.

You will also need to install the .NET Framework 4.5. This comes included with Windows 8 and Server 2012. For older operating systems it can be downloaded from here.

You will also need the Windows Management Framework 4.0.

Connect PowerShell to Exchange Online

I always recommend running PowerShell as an administrator. To do that, right click on the PowerShell icon and select Run As Administrator from the context menu.

First we need to set the execution policy.

 C:\> Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

Next we need to store our Office 365 credentials in a variable. Type the command below and hit enter.

 C:\> $UserCredential = Get-Credential

A dialog box will appear. Type in your Office 365 credentials and click Ok.

Now let’s connect. In the command below we put our connection info into a variable. This results in less typing later.

 C:\> $Session = New-PSSession -ConfigurationName Microsoft.Exchange -ConnectionUri https://outlook.office365.com/powershell-liveid/ -Credential $UserCredential -Authentication Basic -AllowRedirection

Finally, let’s use that variable to connect to Exchange Online and import all Exchange cmdlets into our session.

 C:\> Import-PSSession $Session

You are now connected. To test your connection try running an Exchange command like Get-Mailbox.

When you are done, be sure to end your remote session with Remove-PSSession $Session.

If you have ADFS

If you have Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) in your environment you can skip the credential prompt. To connect to Exchange Online from a domain joined computer, open PowerShell as an administrator and, issue the following commands.

 C:\> Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

Be sure to switch the -Authentication parameter to a value of Kerberos and drop the -Credential parameter.

 C:\> $Session = New-PSSession -ConfigurationName Microsoft.Exchange -ConnectionUri https://outlook.office365.com/powershell-liveid/ -Authentication Kerberos -AllowRedirection

Finally, import the session using the variable.

 C:\> Import-PSSession $Session

Connect to Exchange Online with a script

It is also possible to drop all these commands into your PowerShell profile as a function. To locate your profile open PowerShell and type $profile. This should come back with the location.

 C:\> $profile
C:\Users\SuperTekBoy\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1

Navigate to the folder and edit the profile script. If the PS1 file does not exist you can create a blank one.

In this example we create a function named Connect-EXO. You can name this function whatever you like. But shorter is sweeter. Copy the script below into your Powershell profile. When you launch PowerShell simple type the name of your function to initiate the connection process.

Function Connect-EXO {
Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
$UserCredential = Get-Credential
$session = New-PSSession -ConfigurationName Microsoft.Exchange -ConnectionUri https://ps.outlook.com/powershell -Authentication Basic -AllowRedirection -Credential $UserCredential
Import-PSSession $session
}

Provided you have all the prerequisites you can also throw in the connection command to Azure Active Directory by simply adding this extra line (or call it out in its own function).

Connect-MsolService –Credential $UserCredential

How has your experience been with connecting PowerShell to Exchange Online? Or perhaps, connecting to Azure Active Directory? Come join the conversation on Twitter @SuperTekBoy.

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