XCON: MTA: Text Event Log (Evo.log)

ID: Q163325

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 5.5, 4.0, 5.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information on how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" online Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" online Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SUMMARY

The Evo.log file is a non-localized, textual copy of the MSExchangeMTA events that are logged to the Windows NT Application Event Log. The categories and levels of events written are controlled as for the standard binary Application Event logs.

MORE INFORMATION

Setting the Text Event Log registry value to 1 will generate Ev*.log files in the Exchsrvr\Mtadata directory. The current log is always named Evo.log. Prior logs are named Ev<number>.log with the number increasing with the age of the log. When a log reaches 5 MB in size it is renamed and a new log is begun. If, after the MTA is stopped, it is then restarted the current Evo.log file will be overwritten with a new zero-byte file. Any logged data will be lost unless the file was saved or renamed.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" online Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

To edit the registry so that Text Event Logging is turned on:

Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe or Regedit.exe, as appropriate for your version of Windows NT).

Go to the following key in the registry:


   HKEY_LOCAL_ SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeMTA
   \Parameters\

On the Edit menu, click Add Value and use the following entry:


      Value Name: Text Event Log
      Data Type: REG_DWORD
      Value:      1

Exit Registry Editor.

Evo.log files are often easier to read, search, and clip from when troubleshooting Exchange Server message transfer agent (MTA) issues than the corresponding Application Event Log. Evo.log files do use more technical vocabulary, though, than the Application Event Log.

Additional query words: whitepaper

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