In Exchange 2010, Microsoft introduced the Exchange Control Panel web based administrative interface. Pegged to OWA, remote Exchange administration was never this easy. We had our first look at this interface in Exchange 2010 OWA - Exchange Control Panel. As predicted the ECP was certain to become richer in functionality and SP1 duly confirmed this.

In An Overview of Exchange 2010 SP1 we skimmed through the service pack goodies. Today we take a closer look at the new Transport Rules configuration interface SP1 has introduced.

Exchange Control Panel Transport Rules

Without further ado let's logon to the Exchange Control Panel using:
https://<Exchange Client Access Server>/ecp

As in Exchange 2010 OWA - Exchange Control Panel, I will use an Administrative account member of the Exchange Organization Management Universal Security Group.

Once logged in, we make sure we are managing 'My Organization' and select the 'Mail Control' category.

Here we find sub-categories from where we can configure Transport and Journaling Rules.

Clicking New we are greeted with a simple rules interface. Don't worry all the functionality you are used to from the Exchange Management Console is available, we just have to select More Options. Before doing that, here is what the simple interface looks like:

Here we can specify one condition for identifying emails and the action to be applied. In this case I will configure a rule for emails sent by User1 to be BCCed to Administrator.

To specify multiple conditions, multiple actions and exceptions, we have to hit the More Options button and switch to the full blown rules interface. Here I will add another condition so that only emails containing the text '[DESIGN]' in the subject are BCCed to the Administrator.

And set the rule name.

Once the rule is saved, we move to the Exchange Management Console. Here we can see and edit the Rule just created.

Final Tips

In Exchange 2010 RTM the ECP functionality mostly focused on user configuration options. With the addition of transport and journaling rule configuration amongst others, the ECP scope is being broadened. Will the Exchange Management Console be replaced entirely by the ECP at some point?

References

Exchange 2010 OWA - Exchange Control Panel

An Overview of Exchange 2010 SP1