XCON: MTA Error 2194, Usually After Recovery

• Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, and 5.5

SUMMARY =======

The Microsoft Exchange Server Message Transfer Agent (MTA) may generate the following error:

   2194 An MTA database server error was encountered while getting the next 
   entry from a queue. Called from MTA. Procedure 162. 
   Database error code: ODXOINIU - Object does not exist. 
   Queue: 00000000. [DB Server OPERATOR 19 66] (14)

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

This error logged by itself usually occurs after a change to an exisiting connector or a Microsoft Exchange Server Directory or Information Store recovery process. The MTA queue in the Microsoft Exchange Administrator program will indicate there are messages waiting to be delivered, however, this is not the case. The MTA can become overburdened with processing to be done after a connector change or disaster recovery. Errors that would normally be considered fatal are actually normal and expected under severe stress. To verify that mail is indeed flowing; use the Windows NT Performance Monitor (PerfMon) to view the MTA WorkQ. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Start the PerfMon program.

If the queue is 0 or there are items in the queue but the number is descreasing, the MTA is processing messages. If the MTA is functioning, give the Microsoft Exchange Server 24 to 48 hours to clear out the rogue messages in the MTA queues.