While working in my Exchange labs, I like being able to automate whatever I can because I don’t always have time to spend doing testing in any sort of manual way. For this quick PowerShell article, I am going to discuss a script I call the ‘RandomEmailEmulator.ps1’. This is the first iteration of a script I wrote for generating hundreds of test messages for populating mailboxes in a test environment. The script is a bit rough as I am not using functions for this iteration. I wrote it as more of a proof of concept to see if I can full automate the process as well as put in some neat randomizers for Recipients, number of messages, delivery receipts, attachments, BCC and CC’ing emails.
So the code isn’t simple, but without functions, it really isn’t that complex yet. Here is the jist of what the script does:
- Randomly determine how many regular emails to send [Lines 25 – 31]
- Randomly determine which attachment to send with attachment emails [Lines 33 – 39]
- Randomly determine which Exchange server to relay through [Lines 25 – 31]
- Randomly determine the body of the email to be sent [Lines 41 – 46]
- Store all mailboxes in a $Mailbox variable [Lines 48 – 58]
- Loop to process each mailbox as message sender
- Loop purpose 1 – send emails with no attachment [Lines 71 – 122]
- Loop purpose 1 – send emails with attachments [Lines 127- 178]
- Loop purpose 1 – send emails with a BCC recipient [Lines 184 – 239]
- Loop purpose 1 – send emails with a CC recipient [Lines 245- 300]
Here is the code below. There will be a follow-up, possibly by end of the week that will use functions, reducing the lines of code to at least in half.
Complete Script
Below is the complete code I wrote over the weekend:
#####################################################################################################################
# SCRIPT DETAILS #
# Sends random emails to and from every mailbox in Exchange #
# #
# SCRIPT VERSION HISTORY #
# Current Version : 1.1 #
# Change Log : 1.1 - First live testing version in a lab environment #
# : 1.0 - First iteration of the script #
# #
# OTHER SCRIPT INFORMATION #
# Wish list : functions #
# : #
# Rights Required : Local admin on server #
# Exchange Version : 2013 * 2016 * 2019 #
# Author : Damian Scoles #
# My Blog : http://justaucguy.wordpress.com #
# Disclaimer : You are on your own. This was not written by, supported by, or endorsed by Microsoft. #
# #
# #
# EXECUTION #
#. \RandomEmailGenerator.ps1 #
# #
#####################################################################################################################
# Randomizer 1 - Number of emails to send
$Random1 = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 5
If ($Random1 -eq 1) {$Number = 15} # 15 emails
If ($Random1 -eq 2) {$Number = 20} # 20 emails
If ($Random1 -eq 3) {$Number = 25} # 25 emails
If ($Random1 -eq 4) {$Number = 30} # 30 emails
If ($Random1 -eq 5) {$Number = 40} # 40 emails
# Randomizer 2 - Attachments to send
$Random2 = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 5
If ($Random2 -eq 1) {$File = 'c:\SMTPGenerator\FileAttachmentOne.txt'} # 1kb File
If ($Random2 -eq 2) {$File = 'c:\SMTPGenerator\FileAttachmentTwo.txt'} # 10kb File
If ($Random2 -eq 3) {$File = 'c:\SMTPGenerator\FileAttachmentThree.png'} # 100kb File
If ($Random2 -eq 4) {$File = 'c:\SMTPGenerator\FileAttachmentFour.txt'} # 1Mb File
If ($Random2 -eq 5) {$File = 'c:\SMTPGenerator\FileAttachmentFive.jpg '} # 10Mb File
# Randomizer 3 - Size of emails to send
$Random3 = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 4
If ($Random3 -eq 1) {$SMTPServer = 'EX19-EX01'} # USe EX19-EX01 to send emails
If ($Random3 -eq 2) {$SMTPServer = 'EX19-EX02'} # USe EX19-EX02 to send emails
If ($Random3 -eq 3) {$SMTPServer = 'EX19-EX03'} # USe EX19-EX03 to send emails
If ($Random3 -eq 4) {$SMTPServer = 'EX19-EX04'} # USe EX19-EX04 to send emails
# Email Bodies to be used
$Body1 = Get-Content 'c:\SMTPGenerator\Body1.txt'
$Body2 = Get-Content 'c:\SMTPGenerator\Body2.txt'
$Body3 = Get-Content 'c:\SMTPGenerator\Body3.txt'
$Body4 = Get-Content 'c:\SMTPGenerator\Body4.txt'
$Body5 = Get-Content 'c:\SMTPGenerator\Body5.txt'
$Body6 = Get-Content 'c:\SMTPGenerator\Body6.txt'
$Body7 = Get-Content 'c:\SMTPGenerator\Body7.txt'
$Body8 = Get-Content 'c:\SMTPGenerator\Body8.txt'
$Body9 = Get-Content 'c:\SMTPGenerator\Body9.txt'
$Body10 = Get-Content 'c:\SMTPGenerator\Body10.txt'
# Other Variables
$Mailboxes = Get-Mailbox | Where {$_.Alias -ne 'DiscoverySearchMailbox{D919BA05-46A6-415f-80AD-7E09334BB852}'}
$MailboxCount = (Get-Mailbox | Where {$_.Alias -ne 'DiscoverySearchMailbox{D919BA05-46A6-415f-80AD-7E09334BB852}'}).Count
#Send emails now
Foreach ($Mailbox in $Mailboxes) {
# Sender
$Sender = (($Mailbox).PrimarySMTPAddress).Address
# Send emails without attachments:
$Num = 0
Do {
# Pick Random Recipient
$RandomRecipient = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum $MailboxCount
$Recipient = (($Mailboxes[$RandomRecipient]).PrimarySMTPAddress).Address
# Pick a Subject, Any Subject - Randomly!
$Random4 = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 10
If ($Random4 -eq 1) {$Subject = 'Wanted to send you this message'} # Random subject line 1
If ($Random4 -eq 2) {$Subject = 'Office Closed'} # Random subject line 2
If ($Random4 -eq 3) {$Subject = 'Important Notice'} # Random subject line 3
If ($Random4 -eq 4) {$Subject = 'Report is Due'} # Random subject line 4
If ($Random4 -eq 5) {$Subject = 'New client to the firm'} # Random subject line 5
If ($Random4 -eq 6) {$Subject = 'Company wide survey'} # Random subject line 6
If ($Random4 -eq 7) {$Subject = 'Random email to you'} # Random subject line 7
If ($Random4 -eq 8) {$Subject = 'Lunch plans?'} # Random subject line 8
If ($Random4 -eq 9) {$Subject = 'To do list'} # Random subject line 9
If ($Random4 -eq 10) {$Subject = 'Please read this email'} # Random subject line 10
# Choose delivery notifcation
$Random5 = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 5
# Options - None – No notification (default), OnSuccess – Notify if the delivery is successful.
# OnFailure – Notify if the delivery is unsuccessful, Delay – Notify if the delivery is delayed.
# Never – Never notify.
If ($Random5 -eq 1) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'OnSuccess'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to OnSucess
If ($Random5 -eq 2) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'None'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to Non
If ($Random5 -eq 3) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'OnFailure'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to OnFailure
If ($Random5 -eq 4) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'Delay'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to Delay
If ($Random5 -eq 5) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'Never'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to Never
# Body of the email
$Random6 = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 10
If ($Random6 -eq 1) {$Body = $Body1} # Random message body 1
If ($Random6 -eq 2) {$Body = $Body2} # Random message body 2
If ($Random6 -eq 3) {$Body = $Body3} # Random message body 3
If ($Random6 -eq 4) {$Body = $Body4} # Random message body 4
If ($Random6 -eq 5) {$Body = $Body5} # Random message body 5
If ($Random6 -eq 6) {$Body = $Body6} # Random message body 6
If ($Random6 -eq 7) {$Body = $Body7} # Random message body 7
If ($Random6 -eq 8) {$Body = $Body8} # Random message body 8
If ($Random6 -eq 9) {$Body = $Body9} # Random message body 9
If ($Random6 -eq 10) {$Body = $Body10} # Random message body 10
# Send regular emails to recipients
Send-MailMessage -From $Sender -To $Recipient -DeliveryNotificationOption $DeliveryNotificationOption -Subject $Subject -SMTPServer $SMTPServer -Body $Body
# Increment Counter
$Num++
} While ($Num -lt $Number)
# Decide how many emails to send with attachments
$NumAttachEmails = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 5
# Send emails with attachments:
$Num = 0
Do {
# Pick Random Recipient
$RandomRecipient = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum $MailboxCount
$Recipient = (($Mailboxes[$RandomRecipient]).PrimarySMTPAddress).Address
# Pick a Subject, Any Subject - Randomly!
$Random4 = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 10
If ($Random4 -eq 1) {$Subject = 'Wanted to send you this message'} # Random subject line 1
If ($Random4 -eq 2) {$Subject = 'Office Closed'} # Random subject line 2
If ($Random4 -eq 3) {$Subject = 'Important Notice'} # Random subject line 3
If ($Random4 -eq 4) {$Subject = 'Report is Due'} # Random subject line 4
If ($Random4 -eq 5) {$Subject = 'New client to the firm'} # Random subject line 5
If ($Random4 -eq 6) {$Subject = 'Company wide survey'} # Random subject line 6
If ($Random4 -eq 7) {$Subject = 'Random email to you'} # Random subject line 7
If ($Random4 -eq 8) {$Subject = 'Lunch plans?'} # Random subject line 8
If ($Random4 -eq 9) {$Subject = 'To do list'} # Random subject line 9
If ($Random4 -eq 10) {$Subject = 'Please read this email'} # Random subject line 10
# Choose delivery notifcation
$Random5 = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 2
# Options - None – No notification (default), OnSuccess – Notify if the delivery is successful.
# OnFailure – Notify if the delivery is unsuccessful, Delay – Notify if the delivery is delayed.
# Never – Never notify.
If ($Random5 -eq 1) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'OnSuccess'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to OnSucess
If ($Random5 -eq 2) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'None'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to Non
If ($Random5 -eq 3) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'OnFailure'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to OnFailure
If ($Random5 -eq 4) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'Delay'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to Delay
If ($Random5 -eq 5) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'Never'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to Never
# Body of the email
$Random6 = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 10
If ($Random6 -eq 1) {$Body = $Body1} # Random message body 1
If ($Random6 -eq 2) {$Body = $Body2} # Random message body 2
If ($Random6 -eq 3) {$Body = $Body3} # Random message body 3
If ($Random6 -eq 4) {$Body = $Body4} # Random message body 4
If ($Random6 -eq 5) {$Body = $Body5} # Random message body 5
If ($Random6 -eq 6) {$Body = $Body6} # Random message body 6
If ($Random6 -eq 7) {$Body = $Body7} # Random message body 7
If ($Random6 -eq 8) {$Body = $Body8} # Random message body 8
If ($Random6 -eq 9) {$Body = $Body9} # Random message body 9
If ($Random6 -eq 10) {$Body = $Body10} # Random message body 10
# Send messages with an attachment, up to 5 times
Send-MailMessage -From $Sender -To $Recipient -DeliveryNotificationOption $DeliveryNotificationOption -Subject $Subject -SMTPServer $SMTPServer -Body $Body -Attachments $File
# Increment Counter
$Num++
} While ($Num -lt $NumAttachEmails)
# Decide how many emails to send with BCC
$NumBCCEmails = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 5
# Send emails with BCC:
$Num = 0
Do {
# Pick Random Recipient
$RandomRecipient = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum $MailboxCount
$Recipient = (($Mailboxes[$RandomRecipient]).PrimarySMTPAddress).Address
# Pick Random BCC Recipient
$RandomRecipient = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum $MailboxCount
$BCCRecipient = (($Mailboxes[$RandomRecipient]).PrimarySMTPAddress).Address
# Pick a Subject, Any Subject - Randomly!
$Random4 = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 10
If ($Random4 -eq 1) {$Subject = 'Wanted to send you this message'} # Random subject line 1
If ($Random4 -eq 2) {$Subject = 'Office Closed'} # Random subject line 2
If ($Random4 -eq 3) {$Subject = 'Important Notice'} # Random subject line 3
If ($Random4 -eq 4) {$Subject = 'Report is Due'} # Random subject line 4
If ($Random4 -eq 5) {$Subject = 'New client to the firm'} # Random subject line 5
If ($Random4 -eq 6) {$Subject = 'Company wide survey'} # Random subject line 6
If ($Random4 -eq 7) {$Subject = 'Random email to you'} # Random subject line 7
If ($Random4 -eq 8) {$Subject = 'Lunch plans?'} # Random subject line 8
If ($Random4 -eq 9) {$Subject = 'To do list'} # Random subject line 9
If ($Random4 -eq 10) {$Subject = 'Please read this email'} # Random subject line 10
# Choose delivery notifcation
$Random5 = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 2
# Options - None – No notification (default), OnSuccess – Notify if the delivery is successful.
# OnFailure – Notify if the delivery is unsuccessful, Delay – Notify if the delivery is delayed.
# Never – Never notify.
If ($Random5 -eq 1) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'OnSuccess'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to OnSucess
If ($Random5 -eq 2) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'None'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to Non
If ($Random5 -eq 3) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'OnFailure'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to OnFailure
If ($Random5 -eq 4) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'Delay'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to Delay
If ($Random5 -eq 5) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'Never'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to Never
# Body of the email
$Random6 = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 10
If ($Random6 -eq 1) {$Body = $Body1} # Random message body 1
If ($Random6 -eq 2) {$Body = $Body2} # Random message body 2
If ($Random6 -eq 3) {$Body = $Body3} # Random message body 3
If ($Random6 -eq 4) {$Body = $Body4} # Random message body 4
If ($Random6 -eq 5) {$Body = $Body5} # Random message body 5
If ($Random6 -eq 6) {$Body = $Body6} # Random message body 6
If ($Random6 -eq 7) {$Body = $Body7} # Random message body 7
If ($Random6 -eq 8) {$Body = $Body8} # Random message body 8
If ($Random6 -eq 9) {$Body = $Body9} # Random message body 9
If ($Random6 -eq 10) {$Body = $Body10} # Random message body 10
# Send messages with an attachment, up to 5 times
Send-MailMessage -From $Sender -To $Recipient -DeliveryNotificationOption $DeliveryNotificationOption -Subject $Subject -SMTPServer $SMTPServer -Body $Body -BCC $BCCRecipient
# Increment Counter
$Num++
} While ($Num -lt $NumBCCEmails)
# Decide how many emails to send with CC
$NumCCEmails = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 5
# Send emails with BCC:
$N2 = 0
Do {
# Pick Random Recipient
$RandomRecipient = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum $MailboxCount
$Recipient = (($Mailboxes[$RandomRecipient]).PrimarySMTPAddress).Address
# Pick Random CC Recipient
$RandomRecipient = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum $MailboxCount
$CCRecipient = (($Mailboxes[$RandomRecipient]).PrimarySMTPAddress).Address
# Pick a Subject, Any Subject - Randomly!
$Random4 = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 10
If ($Random4 -eq 1) {$Subject = 'Wanted to send you this message'} # Random subject line 1
If ($Random4 -eq 2) {$Subject = 'Office Closed'} # Random subject line 2
If ($Random4 -eq 3) {$Subject = 'Important Notice'} # Random subject line 3
If ($Random4 -eq 4) {$Subject = 'Report is Due'} # Random subject line 4
If ($Random4 -eq 5) {$Subject = 'New client to the firm'} # Random subject line 5
If ($Random4 -eq 6) {$Subject = 'Company wide survey'} # Random subject line 6
If ($Random4 -eq 7) {$Subject = 'Random email to you'} # Random subject line 7
If ($Random4 -eq 8) {$Subject = 'Lunch plans?'} # Random subject line 8
If ($Random4 -eq 9) {$Subject = 'To do list'} # Random subject line 9
If ($Random4 -eq 10) {$Subject = 'Please read this email'} # Random subject line 10
# Choose delivery notifcation
$Random5 = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 2
# Options - None – No notification (default), OnSuccess – Notify if the delivery is successful.
# OnFailure – Notify if the delivery is unsuccessful, Delay – Notify if the delivery is delayed.
# Never – Never notify.
If ($Random5 -eq 1) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'OnSuccess'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to OnSucess
If ($Random5 -eq 2) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'None'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to Non
If ($Random5 -eq 3) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'OnFailure'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to OnFailure
If ($Random5 -eq 4) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'Delay'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to Delay
If ($Random5 -eq 5) {$DeliveryNotificationOption = 'Never'} # Sets the Delivery Notification option to Never
# Body of the email
$Random6 = Get-Random -Minimum 1 -Maximum 10
If ($Random6 -eq 1) {$Body = $Body1} # Random message body 1
If ($Random6 -eq 2) {$Body = $Body2} # Random message body 2
If ($Random6 -eq 3) {$Body = $Body3} # Random message body 3
If ($Random6 -eq 4) {$Body = $Body4} # Random message body 4
If ($Random6 -eq 5) {$Body = $Body5} # Random message body 5
If ($Random6 -eq 6) {$Body = $Body6} # Random message body 6
If ($Random6 -eq 7) {$Body = $Body7} # Random message body 7
If ($Random6 -eq 8) {$Body = $Body8} # Random message body 8
If ($Random6 -eq 9) {$Body = $Body9} # Random message body 9
If ($Random6 -eq 10) {$Body = $Body10} # Random message body 10
# Send messages with an attachment, up to 5 times
Send-MailMessage -From $Sender -To $Recipient -DeliveryNotificationOption $DeliveryNotificationOption -Subject $Subject -SMTPServer $SMTPServer -Body $Body -CC $CCRecipient
# Increment Counter
$Num++
} While ($Num -lt $NumCCEmails)
}
Successful Runs and Their Results
Run #1
Run #2
Run #3
Running as a Scheduled Task
Since this is a lab environment and I want to generate emails, using the task scheduler to run this at night will help populate test mailboxes.
Settings
Program/Script: – C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
Arguments: -NonInteractive -WindowStyle Hidden -command “. ‘C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\bin\RemoteExchange.ps1’; Connect-ExchangeServer -auto; C:\SMTPGenerator\RandomEmailGenerator.ps1”
Run even when no logged in: Checked
Run at highest privileges: Checked
