Failed to Mount Database: An Active Manager Operation Failed Exchange 2010/2013

Bharat BhushanSolution Manager
Experts in data recovery from corrupt Exchange mailboxes, SQL database, and Outlook emails.
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Steps to fix error: “Couldn’t mount the database that you specified. Specified database: HU-DB; Error code: An Active Manager operation fail”

Exchange 2007 was outdated and hence posing a problem. As an Exchange Administrator, you own the responsibility of Exchange setup, resolution of problems and also Exchange migration. Installation steps for Exchange 2013 differ from Exchange 2007, however, once started; the installation of Exchange 2013 server is relatively easy but the next process of mounting a new mailbox database on the server proved to be futile effort. The most common error encountered by Administrators is “Mailbox role Failed” and following message displays on screen:

“Couldn’t mount the database that you specified. Specified database: HU-DB; Error code: An Active Manager operation fail”

Error message is listed in detail in the box below:


DBNAME
Failed
Error:

Couldn’t mount the database that you specified. Specified database:  DBNAME; Error code: An Active Manager operation failed. Error: The database action failed. Error: Operation failed with message: MapiExceptionNotFound: Unable to mount database. (hr=0x8004010f, ec=-2147221233)
. [Database:  DBNAME, Server: SERVERNAME.DOMAIN.COM].

An Active Manager operation failed. Error: The database action failed. Error: Operation failed with message: MapiExceptionNotFound: Unable to mount database. (hr=0x8004010f, ec=-2147221233)
. [ Database:  DBNAME, Server: SERVERNAME.DOMAIN.COM]

An Active Manager operation failed. Error: Operation failed with message: MapiExceptionNotFound: Unable to mount database. (hr=0x8004010f, ec=-2147221233)
. [ Server: SERVERNAME.DOMAIN.COM]


How the problem arises?

The process of mounting the database has changed for Exchange 2010 and Exchange 2013. Earlier versions like Exchange 2007 consisted of “The Information Store” process was solely responsible for creating New Mailbox Databases and performing “mount and dismount” operations.

The evolution to Exchange 2010 and higher witnessed a new entity “Active Manager Process”. Every server whether standalone or a member of DAG (Database availability Group) have an Active Manager Process. Active Manager Process is assigned the role of creation of mailbox databases and perform mount/dismount operations. Active Manager works with Information store to execute these requests. This process runs within the Exchange Replication Service.
Note: Exchange 2007 and earlier versions used Information store Process for creation and mount/dismount.

The process of creation of new mailbox database entry is as follows: When Administrators create a new mailbox database, it also creates an entry in the Database Configuration Container within the Active directory and this replicates to all domain controllers. The issue arises when a new mailbox database is created and mounted immediately.

What causes this issue?

Exchange Administrators issues a mount command which is immediately referred to the Active Manager Process on the server.


In case of DAG, the issued command route is as follows:


  • Command >> goes to Primary Active Manager >> passed to Replication Service of the node which owns the active mailbox database copy
  • Replication Service notifies the Information store Process to perform the mount.
  • As we check the flow, Replication service recognizes the presence of database but Information Store Process is not aware. Information store process returns with an error from Information store Process to Replication Service and subsequently to Administrative endpoint- the point at which the mount was issued.


This issue can be resolved after waiting for some time but how long an Exchange Administrator has to wait is not specified. Waiting time is dependent upon the amount of time Domain controllers take to replicate the database object.


Following steps are performed at Exchange level:
[PS] C:\>Mount-Database Test
[PS] C:\>Get-MailboxDatabase Test -Status | fl name,*mounted*
Name            : Test
MountedOnServer: MBX-1.domain.com
Mounted         : True


And same problem persists even after using the ECP utility.

Verification Steps performed on Exchange server to verify that the process is flawless:


Verify Global server catalog settings on Exchange server. Verification steps are as follows:


  1. Open Exchange Management console or EMC and right click to open “Organization configuration”. Select the option “Modify configuration domain controller”
  2. Specify the domain and the Domain Controller (DC)
  3. Again open EMC, and right click on recipient configuration, select the option “Modify recipient Scope”
  4. Specify the global catalog server and confirm that it is the same as selected DC.


To resolve the error, used the following PowerShell command:


1. Set-ADServerSettings –PreferredServer
But the problem persisted and the message failed to budge.

2. Posted the problem on forum and following resolution method was suggested:
a. Check that you are able to mount blank database
b. Run Eseutil/mh to check the consistency of old database and that you are not getting dirty shutdown error.


But even after running the PowerShell and Eseutil commands, the problem persists. We are not aware of the time-lag for database mount.


It is better to turn to a third-party software which is equipped to create new mailboxes and migrate the database from old server to new machine. Software data recovery tool enables Exchange Administrators to mount the database thus keeping the tensions at bay.


One such software is Stellar Phoenix Mailbox Exchange Recovery that helps you to resolve “failed to mount database” related error and come out of the complex situation with ease. With this tool, you can easily mount mailboxes databases to the new server.

Since the data is to be migrated from old Exchange 2007 version to latest 2013 version, you should sanitize the data on the old server.

Steps to repair corrupt Exchange Database File on Old server:


  1. Select EDB file from the old server.
  2. Find EDB file if the location is not known.
  3. Click on Scan Now button. Scan now button initiates file scanning to recover deleted files, repair corrupt files and perform data sanitization.
  4. A preview of the recovered and repaired files is shown when the scanning process is completed.
  5. Validate data and select an option to export to Exchange mailbox.
  6. Mailbox data can be directly migrated to Live Exchange server.

Précis


“Mailbox role failed” error is displayed when mailbox is corrupt and fails to mount database. Error can be rectified with Eseutil Hard Recovery. If these utilities are not performing up-to-the-mark, opt for recovery tools which help resolve the problem and enable easy database mount. Amongst the numerous options, Stellar Phoenix Mailbox Exchange Recovery is one of the enduring selection which resolves the issue:  “Couldn’t mount the database that you specified. Specified database: HU-DB; Error code: An Active Manager operation fail”

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Bharat BhushanSolution Manager
Experts in data recovery from corrupt Exchange mailboxes, SQL database, and Outlook emails.

Comments (1)

Sandeep KumarAssociate Consultant

Commented:
To resolve the Exchange 2010 mounting issue, refer to https://www.nucleustechnologies.com/how-to/resolve-exchange-error-unable-to-mount-database.html and find manual soft repair method to overcome the Exchange server mounting issue. Alternately, you can use Kernel for Exchange Server recovery software, an automated solution.

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