Since Exchange 2007, its management tasks have been done via PowerShell, (yes even the GUI Management). Which is fine, however it runs all that PowerShell from a virtual directory that lives in the servers' IIS webserver. When that fails or there is a problem, Exchange runs quite happily, but you can't run the management tools.
There are a number of reasons for this to fail and a number of different error messages, I will list them as I come across them.
Error 1 (Seen 16/10/12)
Error:
Connecting to the remote server failed with the following error message: The client cannot connect to the destination specified in the request. Verify that the service on the destination is running and is accepting requests. Consult the logs and documentation for the WS-Management service running on the destination, most commonly IIS or WinRM. If the destination is the WinRM service, run the following command on the destination to analyze and configure the WinRM service: "winrm quickconfig". For more information, see the about_Remote_Troubleshooting Help topic. It was running the command 'Discover-exchangeserver- useWIA $true - suppressError $true' -CurrentVersion 'Version 14.1(Build 218.15).
I got the same when trying to access the Exchange Management Shell as well.
Update 16/10/12: I got this problem today again! It seems AVG 2012 causes this problem as well, if you have AVG installed remove it and try again.
Solution (Error 1)
1. Firstly drop to command line > then (as asked) run "WinRM QuickConfig". Carry out any changes that it asks by simply pressing "y".
2. Run the same command again untill it returns two positive results.
3. Start > Run > Services.msc {enter} Locate the following three services, make sure that they are set to "automatic startup" and are running.
IIS Admin Service
Windows Remote Management (WS-Management)
World Wide Web Publishing Service
4. Start > Administrative Tools > Expand Sites > Default Web Site > Make sure the default web site IS STARTED.
THIS WAS MY PROBLEM! If you can see the green start arrow then itsNOT started.
5. When I attempted to start the default web site I got the following error:
Error:
The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80070020).
Essentiallyone or both of the two common ports thatIIS uses (Port 80HTTP and Port 443HTTPS) have been taken by another process or program. Have a common sense check, what's been installed on this server that might have a "web portal"?UPS software,AV software, another web server like Apache for example?
To find out what process is using the port
6. Close down any open windows that you have on the server. At command line issue the following two commands:
netstat -aon | find ":443"
The fist checks for programs using port 80, In my case there were none, the second command checks port 443, heres my culpritt. All I know at this point is it'sPID (in the example below 4852).
7. To find out what that PID is, right click your Task bar > Launch Task Manager > Processes Tab > View > Select Columns.
8. Turn on thePID column.
9. Sort the PID column (by clicking on the column title) locate the PID in question, find out what it is. Once you know that stopping it will not harm the server, then simply right click and "End Process Tree".
Note: Some legitimate important Windows processes might be using these ports like "lsass" and "system".
10. Now you should be able to start the default website, and the Exchange Management Console should open correctly.
WARNING: You have not fixed the problem! (Just identified it), the software that hijacked theIIS ports needs uninstalling, or changing so that it uses a different port.
Error 2 (Seen 02/05/13)
Connecting to the remote server failed with the following error message: The WinRM client... cannot determine the content type of the HTTP response from the destination computer. The content type is absent or invalid. For more information, see the about_Remote_Troubleshooting Help topic. It was running the command 'Discover-exchangeserver- useWIA $true - suppressError $true' -CurrentVersion 'Version 14.1(Build 218.15).
And from the Exchange Managent Shell;
Other Symtoms;
Attempting to openOWA gives a 500 - Internal server error. (If that's the only problem and it's SBS 2011, make sure the 'Microsft Exchange Form Based Authentication' service is running).
Solution (Error 2)
I spent an entire afternoon fighting with this error on anSBS 2011 server! Every post I found on the internet didNOT fix it. Not eventhis one (which was so close) but my envirnment variables were correct
The EMTShooter did not help either, I checked it's recommendations. and they were all correct.
The bottom line is: This is anIIS problem not an Exchange one, the site I was at had done a lot of work on this server and just installed some third party software, (that may or may not have changed someIIS configuration settings). So I connected to another workingSBS 2011 Server and copied the contents of the c:\inetpub\wwwroot folder to the affected machine (back it's contents up first!). Then run the following command;
If you don't have access to a workingSBS 2011 server,here you go, (you owe me a vodka!)