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Messages stuck in Default SMTP Virtual Server queue on OWA 2003 servers

I have two OWA 2003 front-end servers to a back-end clustered (two-node) Exchange 2003 server.

We recently replaced the hardware on one of the back-end clustered nodes, but now we are getting messages stuck in the Default SMTP Virtual Server queue for each of the OWA 2003 servers.

It's only 2 or 3 messages going from publicfolderstore@domain.com to owa1-is@domain.com and owa2-is@domain.com. The only Exchange-related services running on the OWA 2003 servers is the System Attendant, the Routing Engine, IIS and SMTP. HTTP is active in System Manager and the Default SMTP Virtual Server is disabled on both OWA 2003 servers.

I've tried deleting 1 message before, but more came back (i wouldn't normally do this of course). How can I route the messages appropriately and keep anything from getting stuck in the Default SMTP Virtual Server queue on the OWA servers. I would think anything would get stuck in there anyway.

Thanks,

DK

Use Message Tracking to find out the reason they're not routed.
http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Exchange-2003-Message-Tracking-Logging.html

ASKER

Okay, I forgot to mention that I did this, but it did not (in my opinion) provide anything conclusive.
Here's the output:

Event Time Event

2/6/2008 8:05 AM SMTP Store Driver: Message Submitted from Store
2/6/2008 8:05 AM SMTP: Message Submitted to Advanced Queuing
2/6/2008 8:05 AM SMTP: Started Message Submission to Advanced Queue
2/6/2008 8:05 AM SMTP: Message Submitted to Categorizer
2/6/2008 8:05 AM SMTP: Message Categorized and Queued for Routing
2/6/2008 8:05 AM SMTP: Message Routed and Queued for Remote Delivery

ASKER

In looking at the messages queued, they are going to OWA1-IS@domain.com and OWA2-IS@domain.com. I do not see any mailboxes by this name. When sending a test message to these accounts, I see my test messages in the Default SMTP Virtual queue of the OWA1 and OWA2 servers. Is this normal?

Matthew Millers

These are public folder replication/system messages.
Did you remove the public folder instances from the front end server before you disabled the IS?

ASKER

I did not build these servers, but it would appear that they still have pub1.edb's located there. I've tried mounting the first storage group before but it gave me yet another error: "the operation failed due to an invalid format in the HTTP request. Verify that the host header is correct for the Virtual server. ID no: c1030af0 Exchange System Manager"

Matthew Millers

Can you check the public folders to ensure that there are no replicas on the other boxes? What you will need to do is get the IS running and remove the stores.

Public folder store on the front-end stores system info. You should not remove the public folder store or dismount it. Check that it is mounted otherwise mail to mail-enabled public folder will not work (among other things)

Matthew Millers

Recommended practice is to remove these from front end servers:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa995931(EXCHG.80).aspx

The only exception is the mailbox store if you are relaying SMTP.

ASKER

Okay, so now i have Microsoft Exchange IS service started on both OWA servers. Should I dismount the mailbox store on these and just keep the Public store mounted or leave both alone.

Should these messages then be delivered properly?

Matthew Millers

Have a look at the link
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa995931(EXCHG.80).aspx

I would suggest that you remove the public store, then shutdown the IS.

Matthew Millers

Here is a better link...
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa996441(EXCHG.65).aspx

ASKER

Okay. I can do this, but what about the messages trying to be delivered? Will these continue to be stuck in the queue or what?

Does this article apply to Exchange 2003 because I only see reference to Exchange 2000.

Matthew Millers

Sorry, the last link is for 2k3.
You should be able to NDR the existing messages in the queues.

Make sure you read the artice carefully, specifically the smtp relay requirements, if you are doing this,

ASKER

Because we are running other web-based apps on these servers, we need to keep SMTP enabled on both OWA servers. When I try to follow step 2 on the last link provided to move the replica of the public stores (thanks, mattee76!), I get the following error: "the operation failed due to an invalid format in the HTTP request. Verify that the host header is correct for the Virtual server. ID no: c1030af0 Exchange System Manager"

Matthew Millers

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa996098.aspx

You really need to be careful when making these changes!

ASKER

Here's what i have in public folder instances on the OWA servers now:

Name Folder Size (KB) Folder Path Removed Old...
globalevents globalevents 0 StoreEvents{...
internal internal 0 StoreEvents{...
OWAScratc... OWAScratch.. 0 OWAScratch...
StoreEvent... StoreEvents{... 0 StoreEvents{...

Is it okay to delete the public store on the OWA servers at this point?

Matthew Millers

Have you removed the replicas?
It can take a while for these to go (a few days - seriously...)

ASKER

Okay, I've gotten past the error with the HTTP header now. How will I know when all the replica data is moved? Please see previous post as it appears everything is moved now.

Matthew Millers

Did you right click on the public folder store and select the option to "move all replicas"?

ASKER

One other question. With regard to the article: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa996441(EXCHG.65).aspx , the OWA servers are running SMTP as a service, but NOT as a Default SMTP Virtual Server. So I'm guessing I still need to go with step 2? Thanks....

Matthew Millers

Check the "public folder" folder, this is under "public folder instances". Is this empty?

Matthew Millers

If you are using exchange SMTP services on the front end server, then you need to retain the Private Store, if you are running some other thirdparty solution, then you can get away with removing the private store as well.

ASKER

On one of them, yes.

Matthew Millers

Well keep the private store.

The thing is, the problem you are having is related to the public store, so once you get rid of these, the references will be removed from the replica list and you should no longer get these messages in the queues.

Just make sure you move the instances and check/confirm that no more folders exist in the "public folders" container.

You can then remove the Public Store, and then shutdown the infromation store.

If i recall correctly, the reason the IS exists on the front end server when used with SMTP is so you can do a end to end message track.

ASKER

There is nothing in the "public folders" directory, but it will not let me delete the store because it says that it has folder replicas in it. There is this in the public folder instances though:

Name Folder Size (KB) Folder Path Removed Old...
globalevents globalevents 0 StoreEvents{...
internal internal 0 StoreEvents{...
OWAScratc... OWAScratch.. 0 OWAScratch...
StoreEvent... StoreEvents{... 0 StoreEvents{...

Matthew Millers

It can actually take a while, i have seen it take days to move all the folders.

I would suggest that you give it a day and see how it goes.

ASKER

I will check on it in a couple of days then. Thank you. You've been a great help!

ASKER

Still not able to delete the public folders on the OWA servers. It's been about 5 days now.

ASKER

Hi folks. I still have a couple of messages stuck in the "Default SMTP virtual server" on my OWA servers. I've tried moving the replicas to a back end server cluster and that seemed to work fine. However, when I try to delete the public store on the OWA servers, I am still getting the message: "You cannot delete this public folder store because it contains folder replicas."

Any ideas?

Matthew Millers

Are you still seeing instances on that server? Is SMTP between the front end / backend working at the moment, at least just for this exercise?

ASKER

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by instances?

Mail is still working both inbound and outbound from our backend server cluster and is sending mail to an external smart host just fine. OWA works just fine. Everthing seems to work great with the exception of these irritating public folder emails stuck in the SMTP queues of the OWA servers.

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ASKER

How do I know which ones belong to the front-end server(s)? The list of System Folders looks the same between the front-end and the back-end. What do you mean cross-reference the GUIDs?
Is it only the OWAScratchPad folders or all of the folders?

Thanks

SOLUTION

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ASKER

Great! I was able to delete the public stores on the front-end servers. I'll give it another day to ensure that no more messages get stuck in the queue and then close this question.

Thank you very much, optitechteam, you have been a great help.

DK

ASKER

thanks a bunch. this worked great!

DK

ASKER

Solution works finally. Thanks for your help!