You cannot mount Exchange stores after you use a configuration update to restore multiple DFS link names from the registry (839212)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003

SYMPTOMS

After you use a configuration update to restore multiple Distributed File System (DFS) link names from the registry, you cannot mount Microsoft Exchange Server stores.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because the Exchange database and the Exchange log files are inconsistent.

When you use a configuration update, the Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003 Feature Pack automatically generates the names of the DFS links. Exchange uses these link names to access the Exchange database and the Exchange log files when it writes the log files. When you repair lost registry entries, the configuration update process may use different DFS link names. Therefore, the log files contain information that is different from the information in the database. For example, the log files may contain different paths. This inconsistency may prevent the Exchange store from mounting.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:
  1. Dismount all Exchange databases on the Windows Storage Server computer.
  2. Verify that all databases shut down cleanly. To verify the state of each database, follow these steps:
    1. On the Exchange server, open the following folder:

      %ProgramFiles%\Exchsrvr\Bin

    2. At a command prompt, type the following command to view the first 4 kilobytes (KB) of the database file:

      eseutil /mh filename.edb

    3. In the State field, verify the state of the database.

      The state of the database may be Clean Shutdown or Dirty Shutdown.
  3. If the Exchange databases did not shut down cleanly, you must fix the problems with the databases. If all remotely stored databases were shut down cleanly, keep all the stores on the Exchange server dismounted. On a clustered Exchange server, all databases on the virtual server must be dismounted.
  4. Perform a configuration update for each storage group that the server hosts.

    Important Do this for all databases, not just the ones that were corrupted.
  5. Remount the stores in Exchange.
  6. After you remount each store, back up the Exchange database immediately.

MORE INFORMATION

The Windows Storage Server 2003 Feature Pack uses the registry to store configuration information, including the names of the DFS links. If multiple registry entries that are used to store the names of the DFS links are deleted, using a configuration update may not be able to correctly repair the registry entries. The DFS link names that are generated during the configuration update may not match the original names. This problem leads to inconsistencies between the Exchange databases and the log files and prevents the Exchange store from mounting.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/8/2004
Keywords:kbprb KB839212 kbAudITPRO
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