KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q182330: XCON: Perfmon Work Queue and MTA Queues Tab Conflict

Article: Q182330
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): winnt:4.0,5.0,5.5
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): exc4 exc5 exc55
Last Modified: 20-NOV-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you view the Performance Monitor Work queue, there may be a certain number
of items always present. At the same time, the MTA Queues tab in the Exchange
Server Administrator program may show a conflicting number of items.

CAUSE
=====

Messages with deferred delivery may appear in the Performance Monitor Work Queue
and may not be accounted for on the MTA Queues tab. Also there may be a "broken
pointer" to the Db00002b.dat file. The Performance Monitor Work Queue counter
points to this file for an accurate reading of the amount of messages to be
processed. Occasionally, this pointer or the file produces an inaccurate
reading.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this problem, perform the following steps:

1. Stop the Message Transfer Agent (MTA) service in the Control Panel Service
  icon.

2. For Exchange Server versions 4.0 and 5.0, go to the
  <drive>:\Exchsrvr\MTADATA directory, and rename the Db00002b.dat file.

  For Exchange Server version 5.5, rename the Db000027.dat file.

3. For Exchange Server 4.0, 5.0, and 5.5, run mtacheck /v at least two times.
  This is the preferred method to recreate the queue within the MTADATA
  directory.

  For Exchange Server 5.5 Service Pack 1 and later, do not run mtacheck /v if
  the work queue file has been renamed. Doing so causes an access violation
  that results in the work queue not being rebuilt. Instead, use Mtacheck.exe
  version 5.5.1960 from the Exchange Server 5.5 CD, which should rebuild the
  work queue file.

4. Restart the MTA service. The Performance Monitor should report the correct
  number of items in the MTA work queue.

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

There is no guarantee that the work queue .dat file in Exchange Server 5.5 will
always be Db000027.dat. In cases where the server was upgraded from an earlier
version, the work queue can be named Db00002b.dat.

To verify which file is the work queue, run mtacheck /v /f mtacheck.log, and
locate the work queue designation from the Mtacheck.log file.


Additional query words: perfmon length wrong

======================================================================
Keywords          : exc4 exc5 exc55 
Technology        : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange500 kbExchange550 kbExchange400 kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : winnt:4.0,5.0,5.5
Issue type        : kbprb

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.