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Q169656: XCON: MTA Fails to Start and Logs Event ID 2143

Article: Q169656
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): 4.0 5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 22-OCT-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0 


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SYMPTOMS
========

The Microsoft Exchange Server Message Transfer Agent (MTA) may fail to start.
The following error will be logged in the Windows NT Application Log:

  Event ID 2143 MSExchangeMTA
  Internal Processing
  A fatal MTA database server error was encountered. Call Microsoft
  Product Support.

Running MTACHECK will produce no errors.

MORE INFORMATION
================

This problem usually occurs on high use systems that participate is Directory
Synchronization (DXA) with Microsoft Mail PO's. The issue is the DXA is serviced
by an MTA queue that is also used for handling message reports. Whenever a
report is handled by the MTA; the queue is reset. If the DXA was in the process
of reading or writing into the queue at the time of the reset, the APDU
(Application Packet Data Unit) becomes correct and this causes the problem

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server,
version 4.0. This problem has been corrected in the latest U.S. Service Pack for
Microsoft Exchange Server version 4.0. For information on obtaining the Service
Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the
spaces):

  S E R V P A C K

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server,
Version5.0. This problem has been corrected in the latest Microsoft Exchange
Server 5.0 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the service pack,
query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the
spaces):

  S E R V P A C K

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange500 kbExchange400 kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : 4.0 5.0
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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