Question

Symantec Anti-Virus on Exchange : Considerations on installing Symantec or Norton AntiVirus Corporate Edition on mail servers

Asked by: flyguybob

At least I think I can do this...
I wanted to post this question so that it shows up as an answer for folks who actually do a search when they ask their question related to problems with their file-level based scanner on their Exchange server.

When using a improperly configured file level scanner on Exchange, you can end up with slow performance of your mail system, a corrupted database, store.exe memory growing way to large (and it grows large by default), problems with transaction logs E#######.log, missing attachments, problems with the priv.edb (and other .edb's named differently within Exchange Enterprise, etc.

Note:  I really hate the long URLs that are created when using Domino to publish webpages.

Considerations on installing Symantec or Norton AntiVirus Corporate Edition on mail servers
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ent-security.nsf/docid/2004062508305148?OpenDocument&src=ent_hot&dtype=corp&prod=Symantec%20AntiVirus%20Corporate%20Edition&ver=9.0&tpre=

Best practices for Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 9.x Auto-Protect on a Microsoft Exchange server
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ent-security.nsf/docid/2004062508305148?OpenDocument&src=ent_hot&dtype=corp&prod=Symantec%20AntiVirus%20Corporate%20Edition&ver=9.0&tpre=

Preventing Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 9.x from scanning the Microsoft Exchange directory structure
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ent-security.nsf/docid/2004052416452048?Open&src=ent_hot&docid=2004062508305148&nsf=ent-security.nsf&view=docid&dtype=corp&prod=Symantec%20AntiVirus%20Corporate%20Edition&ver=9.0&osv=&osv_lvl=

http://support.microsoft.com/KB245822
Recommendations for troubleshooting an Exchange Server computer with antivirus software installed.

Note:  If anyone else has information on this topic, please feel free to post it.  I will split points.  Otherwise, I will ask one of the Admins to PAQ it.  HOWEVER, it would be really nice to get some additional information in the question/response.

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Asked On
2005-02-03 at 08:05:48ID21300420
Tags

exchange

,

symantec

,

antivirus

Topic

Exchange Email Server

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
6

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Answers

 

by: cjpalmerPosted on 2005-02-17 at 09:04:38ID: 13336718

Just my two cents on this one... If anyone has any experience with some other file level scanners on the exchange server, please add that. My experience as well is with Symantec. But, my personal opinion is to not put a file level scanner on your exchange server at all, and here's why:

You have a file scanner installed and properly configured to exclude files in their directories and the like. Then you go on vacation. There is an exchange problem and "Junior Exchange Admin" (who probably doesn't touch exchange when you are there) tries to fix it and moves some files around so they aren't covered by the exclusions anymore... BAMMM you have corruption in your store and the problem is all the more worse.

Or you miss something in your configuration and something isn't excluded... BAMMM again.

The way I work it, to minimize my exposure is run file scanners on all the client machines and file servers. Anytime I download it from the internet, I place it in a location where I know it will be scanned. Unless it is an emergency download, I typically leave it on disk for a few days just in case I had downloaded a corrupted file so that I can be sure that I have an updated dat to catch the "new" virus when I access it for actual install.

It has worked well for me for over 6 years doing it that way.

Charles

 

by: flyguybobPosted on 2005-02-18 at 00:06:23ID: 13343331

Fortunately, with Symantec, you can place exclusions by name.  (ex: .edb, .stm, .log, .bin).

 

by: flyguybobPosted on 2005-02-18 at 00:07:01ID: 13343332

...and I do realize that the Junior Exchange Admin is sometimes the Outlook helpdesk support and has not seen an Exchange server.  =^)

 

by: flyguybobPosted on 2005-02-21 at 01:05:59ID: 13361010

CJ - Thanks for the input.  I am closing it since no one else answered it and since it needs to be closed so that it can be a resource for the community.  Thanks for the input.

Bob

 

by: flyguybobPosted on 2005-06-16 at 12:28:43ID: 14234685

...and I wanted to add one note...it is entirely possible that the exclusions may be overridden by Symantec.  They were supposed to have corrected this in SAVCE 8.1, but this is not necessarily the case.

 

by: flyguybobPosted on 2005-09-02 at 23:27:36ID: 14815131

Just wanted to add this:
Exchange and antivirus software  
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328841

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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