XCON: Mtacheck.log

ID: Q163323

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5

SUMMARY

Mtacheck.log files are text files that show the results of running the Mtacheck.exe utility. The Mtacheck utility scans the internal database of the message transfer agent (MTA) and looks for objects that are damaged and may interfere with the queue processing. It places defective objects from the queues in files for you to examine later. In addition, the Mtacheck utility rebuilds the queues so the MTA can be restarted and return to processing.

MORE INFORMATION

You can run the Mtacheck utility manually, but it also runs automatically when the Microsoft Exchange Message Transfer Agent service determines that the MTA was not shut down correctly. If the Mtacheck utility is run automatically, events are logged to the application event log and an Mtacheck.log file is generated in the Mtacheck.out directory from the Exchsrvr\Mtadata directory that contains the Db*.dat files that are used by the MTA (If you have used Performance Optimizer to move Mtadata files, there may be more than one Mtadata directory.)

If you run the Mtacheck utility manually, no logging is performed unless you specify that it be performed on the command line. In addition, logs can be created in any location and with any name. In terms of logging, the automatic Mtacheck utility is the equivalent of running following at the command line (but an automatic run also logs events to the event logs):

mtacheck /v /f \exchsrvr\mtadata\mtacheck.out\mtacheck.log

Interpreting Mtacheck Utility Output

The Mtacheck utility examines each queue in the database. If it finds an error message, it reports the name of the queue, the type of error message, and the number of messages that are returned to the rebuilt queue. For example:


   Queue 'xxxxxxx' required reconstruction
    - corrupted queue file
   23 messages recovered to the queue

The Mtacheck utility examines the objects in the queues. If an object is in error, it removes the object from the queue and places it in a file in the Exchsrvr\Mtadata\Mtacheck.out directory. It reports the object ID, error type, queue name, and the MTS-ID of the corrupted message, if known.

An MTS-ID is assigned to each message by its transport service and remains with the message to its destination, although gateways may assign additional identifiers. It consists of the originating server, the date and time the message was sent, and a unique hexadecimal identifier for the message. A sample Mtacheck log can include:


   Object 300596 invalid
    - missing object file
   Object removed from queue 'xxxxxxx'
   MTS-ID: c=US;a= ;p=Owen;l=Washington0196012020010800000CDE

When the MTA finishes processing, one of following messages is displayed to describe the results:

Database clean, no errors detected

Database repaired, some data may have been lost

<number> queue(s) required repair out of <percent> detected
<number> object(s) damaged out of <percent> detected

Database has serious errors and cannot be reconstructed.

Some objects missing from the Boot Environment. Please reload the files from the BOOTENV directory on the install CD.

The boot environment message indicates that report templates and other objects that the MTA needs are missing and the MTA cannot generate them. These objects are included in the files in the Bootenv folder. After you install them, rerun the Mtacheck utility. When the process is complete, restart the MTA.

WARNING: Copy only objects that are missing to the boot environment. If you replace existing objects, all of the messages in the MTA queues are deleted.

Searching Message Logs by Message ID

The Mtacheck utility also reports the message IDs of removed objects in its log if they can be determined. If message tracking is enabled, you can search the tracking log for the object by its message ID. If you determine the path of the bad message, it can lead you to the cause of the problem. You may need to search the logs of more than one site to find the complete path of the message.

Additional query words: whitepaper logging section

Keywords : kbusage XCON exc4 exc5 exc55
Version : winnt:4.0,5.0,5.5
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbinfo