XCLN: Move Server Wizard Does not Properly Reset Free/Busy Information on Mailboxes

• Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 5.5, 5.5 SP1, 5.5 SP2
• Microsoft Outlook Windows 95/98 client, versions 8.0, 8.01, 8.02, 8.03, 8.04, 8.5
• Microsoft Outlook Windows NT client, versions 8.0, 8.01, 8.02, 8.03, 8.04, 8.5

SYMPTOMS

After you use the Move Server wizard to move a Microsoft Exchange Server computer from one site to another within the same Exchange Server organization, the Free/Busy information for mailboxes on the server may be incorrect or unavailable to other users.

CAUSE

Every mailbox has a MAPI property indicating the Schedule+ Free/Busy Information site folder to which Free/Busy data should be published. This property is not being updated by the Move Server wizard to point to the new site's Schedule+ Free/Busy Information folder. Therefore, the client incorrectly publishes data to the original site's Schedule+ Free/Busy Information folder.

Both of the following conditions must also be met for this behavior to exist:

• The user accesses his or her mailbox with Microsoft Outlook 97 or Microsoft Outlook 98.


-and-


• The old site's Schedule+ Free/Busy Information folder is replicated to the new site, or the new site has been configured to have Public Folder affinity to the old site.

RESOLUTION

A supported fix that corrects this problem is now available from Microsoft, but it has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. If you are not severely affected by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.5 service pack that contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

WORKAROUND

As an alternative to the hotfix provided above, users can upgrade to Microsoft Outlook 2000. This version has a corrected algorithm for determining the appropriate Schedule+ Free/Busy Information site folder to which data should be published. When an affected mailbox on the moved server is accessed by a Microsoft Outlook 2000 client, the Free/Busy folder property is updated on the mailbox.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.5.

MORE INFORMATION

Every site within an Exchange Server organization has its own Schedule+ Free/Busy Information folder, which is a hidden system folder. When a user modifies his or her Calendar or schedule data, the resulting Free and Busy times are published as messages to this folder.

The Entry ID of a user's message in the Free/Busy folder is cached in a MAPI property in the mailbox root folder and in the Inbox. Because this property is not being updated during a server move, the client continues to publish data to the old site's folder.

NOTE: If the client is unable to find a replica of the old site's folder in the new site or through Public Folder affinity to the old site, then it publishes the correct Free/Busy data to the new site's Free/Busy folder.

Additional query words: f/b ol97 ol98

Keywords : MoveSvr exc55 exc55sp1 exc55sp2
Version : WINDOWS:8.0,8.01,8.02,8.03,8.04,8.5; winnt:5.5,5.5 SP1,5.5 SP2
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbbug