Exchange ActiveSync Devices Test

In environments where ActiveSync is enabled, it is normal for users wielding different types of devices to synchronize their mailbox with their device. In such environments, administrators should pay close attention to the device types that are connected to the Exchange server mailboxes at any given point in time, so that unsupported device types can be detected and the users using such types of devices identified and advised accordingly. It is also essential that administrators study how frequently each of these device types are accessing the Exchange server and monitor the level of activity generated by these device types on the server and on the network. If a device users complains of delays in accessing his/her mailbox, then this visibility will enable administrators to identify those device types to which the slowdown can be attributed.  In addition, administrators will also need to know from time-to-time how much load ActiveSync imposes on the Exchange server and the network, across all device types! This aggregated measure will enable administrators to figure out whether/not the Exchange server is sized right to handle the load. To receive such in-depth insights into ActiveSync performance – both at the per-device type level and across all device types – administrators can use the Exchange ActiveSync Devices test.

This test auto-discovers the device types currently synchronizing with the Exchange server. For each device type, the test reports the number of ActiveSync accesses made by that device type and the number and size of items transmitted and received by that device type. This way, the test leads administrators to those device types that are utilizing the available network and server resources excessively, thus degrading the experience of some or all device users. Detailed metrics provided by the test also help administrators identify all the users who are using devices of a particular type and pinpoint the exact user who is engaged in a resource-intensive interaction with the Exchange server mailbox. Additionally, the test reports metrics across all device types, thus enabling administrators to measure the current load on the server and the network and assess the ability of the server to handle that load.

Target of the test : A Microsoft Exchange 2013/2016 server

Agent deploying the test : An internal agent

Outputs of the test : One set of results for each device type that is accessing the Exchange server; an additional All descriptor is also supported, which reports a set of aggregated metrics across all device types

Configurable parameters for the test
  1. Test period - Indicates how often this test needs to be executed.
  2. Host - Indicates the IP address of the Exchange server.
  3. port - The port number of the client access server. By default, this is 443. 
  4. xchgextensionshellpath - The Exchange Management Shell is a command-line management interface, built on Windows PowerShell v2, which enables you to administer every part of the Microsoft Exchange Server. This test uses the Exchange management shell to run scripts and collect the desired performance metrics from the Exchange server. To enable the test to load the Exchange management shell snap-in (exshell.psc1) for script execution, you need to specify the full path to the Exchange management shell in the XCHGEXTENSIONSHELLPATH text box. For instance, your specification can be, c:\progra~1\micros~1\exchan~1\v14\bin\exshell.psc1.
  5. Logfile Name – The Client Access Server is an IIS web server that hosts Exchange-related web pages. This is why, like any other IIS web server, the client access server creates a daily log of its activities – including Exchange ActiveSync-related activities - in the C:\inetpub\logs\logfiles\W3SVC1\ directory by default. To report metrics on ActiveSync, this test parses the client access server’s log file, reads the ActiveSync-related errors/warnings/general information messages that were recently logged (i.e., during the last 5 minutes) from the file, and writes them to a ActiveSynchLog.log file it creates in the <eg_agent_install_dir>\agent\logs directory. Then, the test reads the metrics of interest from this log file and reports them to the eG manager. To enable the test to do the above, you need to specify the exact path to the directory that contains the client access server’s logs in the logfilename text box.
Measurements made by the test
Measurement Description Measurement Unit Interpretation

Total hits:

Indicates the number of hits/accesses made by this device type to the Exchange server mailbox.

Number

Comparing the value of this measure across device types will help administrators identify that device type which is very actively synchronizing with the Exchange mailbox.

Using the detailed diagnosis of this measure, administrators can also identify the precise user who is making the maximum number of accesses, which device that user is using, and the details of that device.

Based on this information, access policies can be defined.

Also, by observing the variations in the value of this measure for the All descriptor, administrators can effectively gauge the typical level of activity on the Exchange server and figure out if the server is sized right to handle this load. 

Total items sent:

Indicates the number of items currently sent from this device type to the Exchange server.

Number

These measures indicate how much network traffic and I/O load is generated by each of the device types. By comparing the value of these measures across device types, administrators can easily and accurately identify that device type that is engaged in resource-intensive communication with the Exchange server. In the event of a slowdown, the results of this comparative analysis will lead administrators to that device type that could be contributing to the slowdown. Once the device type is identified, you can use the detailed diagnosis of the Total hits measure to know which user of that device type is actually choking the network/server and what device he/she is currently using.

 

Total items received:

Indicates the number of items currently received by this device type from the Exchange server.

Number

Data sent:

Indicates the amount of data currently sent from this device type to the Exchange server.

KB

Data received:

Indicates the amount of data currently received by this device type from the Exchange server.

KB