Q183956: Decreasing Directory Start Time During Off-network Recovery

Article: Q183956
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): winnt:4.0,5.0,5.5
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbusage
Last Modified: 28-JUL-2000

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

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

SUMMARY
=======

When you are running Microsoft Exchange Server and doing a recovery of data
while off the network, you can significantly decrease the startup time of the
Exchange directory by using a HOSTS file.

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

An Exchange Server computer must sometimes be taken off the network to recover
data from the directory or information store. When the Exchange directory
starts, it tries to communicate with every other servers in the site by host
name. If DNS, WINS, and LMHOSTS files are all in place, each name resolution
method must time out multiple times. If DNS, WINS, and LMHOSTS are not in place,
the server attempts to broadcast each host name for resolution. However, if a
HOSTS file is used and points every host name to the recovery server's loopback
IP address, the IP connection is established immediately and fails on the RPC
connection. This circumvents the server's attempting to contact the host in any
other fashion and significantly cut down the directory startup time.

An off-network recovery occurs when the Exchange Server computer is taken off the
regular corporate network to recover individual data in the directory, private
information store, or public information store. A couple of examples of this
would be to export required fields of the directory to a CSV file, or to extract
permissions (ACLs) from a public folder.

Additional query words: hang 127.0.0.1 restore start

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbusage 
Technology        : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange500 kbExchange550 kbExchange400 kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : winnt:4.0,5.0,5.5
Issue type        : kbinfo

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

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.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.