Exchange server errors

  • Thread starter Thread starter Terry Duran
  • Start date Start date
T

Terry Duran

I am having a difficult time. I have a w2k server that is
a domain controller, running active directory and exchange
2000. When I rebooted the server, the exchange services
would not start. I started them and they seem to work fine
for about 5 minutes. then they will not work again. I
tries to run a virus scan and tries to update my virus
defs but the live update wizard tells me that it cannot
create a temp directory. I have another domain controller
at another site that is part of the same domain. When I
use terminal services to open it up I get an error box
thay says: The domain controller for the Group Policy is
not available. Do I pick the one with the Operation Master
PDC or any available domain controller. How do I tell the
difference?

PLEASE HELP. WE NEED OUR MAIL!!!!
 
In
Terry Duran said:
I am having a difficult time. I have a w2k server that is
a domain controller, running active directory and exchange
2000. When I rebooted the server, the exchange services
would not start. I started them and they seem to work fine
for about 5 minutes. then they will not work again. I
tries to run a virus scan and tries to update my virus
defs but the live update wizard tells me that it cannot
create a temp directory. I have another domain controller
at another site that is part of the same domain. When I
use terminal services to open it up I get an error box
thay says: The domain controller for the Group Policy is
not available. Do I pick the one with the Operation Master
PDC or any available domain controller. How do I tell the
difference?

PLEASE HELP. WE NEED OUR MAIL!!!!
Click to expand...

Well, first this is the wrong group for Exchange. But I'll try to help.

ANy Event Log errors?

At first glance to me, the machine is allowing relaying. If not relaying,
then someone has hacked your admin account and is using that to authenticate
to relay (which is a default setting, leave it that way). The reason why I
say this is I have encountered the SAME problem on various client's
machines. What I did was go into DSRM and change the local administrator
account name and password and reset the local IUSR_machinename account
password. These two are notorious for being hacked, especially if your
default admin account locally is called "administrator". OI have not seen it
happen to the domain account as of yet, but suggest to rename that too and
reset the password.

One way to tell if this is happening is to check your queues in the System
Manager while you got the Exchange services up (have to do it quick). If it
has hundreds and thousands of entries, well, there you go. You got nailed.

You can also enable SMTP logging which shows up in system32\logfiles (set
in SMTP virtual server properties, general tab, on the bottom) and also
enable Diagnostic Loggin on the SMTP service which will show up in the event
viewer (setg in System Manager, Exchange server properties, Diag logging
tab). You can coorelate by looking at the time stampt between what you see
in the SMTP logs and see what account is authenticating in the Event viewer.
If you see administrator in there repeatedly, well, there you go...

Otherwise, I would also check to insure that you are ONLY using your
internal DNS server in your IP properties. DO NOT use your ISP's or your
router as a DNS address in IP poperties, or numerous other errors will
avail. Use a forwarder for efficient Internet resoltuion. If you need more
info on how to set a forwarder in DNS, post back.



--
Regards,
Ace

Please direct all replies to the newsgroup so all can benefit.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2000, MCSE+I, MCSA, MCT, MVP
Microsoft Windows MVP - Active Directory
 
In
Terry Duran said:
I am having a difficult time. I have a w2k server that is
a domain controller, running active directory and exchange
2000. When I rebooted the server, the exchange services
would not start. I started them and they seem to work fine
for about 5 minutes. then they will not work again. I
tries to run a virus scan and tries to update my virus
defs but the live update wizard tells me that it cannot
create a temp directory. I have another domain controller
at another site that is part of the same domain. When I
use terminal services to open it up I get an error box
thay says: The domain controller for the Group Policy is
not available. Do I pick the one with the Operation Master
PDC or any available domain controller. How do I tell the
difference?

PLEASE HELP. WE NEED OUR MAIL!!!!
Click to expand...

It is also highly suggested to not install Exchange on a DC due to
performance degradation due to a DC performing it's domain functions as well
as the default disabling of Write Ahead Cache on the HDD controllers. Highly
recommended to install it on a member server.

--
Regards,
Ace

Please direct all replies to the newsgroup so all can benefit.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2000, MCSE+I, MCSA, MCT, MVP
Microsoft Windows MVP - Active Directory
 
In
Terry said:
Can you help me with the iformation of forwarding? I would
appreciate it!!
Click to expand...

DNS Forwarding? Sure, just follow this article below. Keep in mind, if the
option is grayed out, you need to delete the Root zone. This article also
shows how to do that.

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=300202

Hope that helps...

--
Regards,
Ace

Please direct all replies to the newsgroup so all can benefit.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2000, MCSE+I, MCSA, MCT, MVP
Microsoft Windows MVP - Active Directory
 
In Terry Duran <[email protected]> posted a question
Then Kevin replied below:
: I am having a difficult time. I have a w2k server that is
: a domain controller, running active directory and exchange
: 2000. When I rebooted the server, the exchange services
: would not start. I started them and they seem to work fine
: for about 5 minutes. then they will not work again.

Is the DC only pointing to DNS servers for this domain? It *MUST*
Usually if Exchange does not start it is because the Global Catalog is not
available. Is this the only DC at the location with Exchange?

If it is not already, you can make this one a GC, If you go in to ADS&S
SItes - Default-First-Site-Name - Servers - servername right click on NTDS
Settings choose properties check the Global Catalog box.
It is really not recommended to have GC and Exchange on the same box. But
you need a GC on site with Exchange. Exchange will not run without GC
available.

: tries to run a virus scan and tries to update my virus
: defs but the live update wizard tells me that it cannot
: create a temp directory. I have another domain controller
: at another site that is part of the same domain. When I
: use terminal services to open it up I get an error box
: thay says: The domain controller for the Group Policy is
: not available. Do I pick the one with the Operation Master
: PDC or any available domain controller. How do I tell the
: difference?
:
: PLEASE HELP. WE NEED OUR MAIL!!!!

It sounds to me like you are having a comunications failure between the DCs
Post an ipconfig /all for Exchange and the remote DC.

I suggest you run netdiag /v /test:dns on both DCs this will verify DNS
registration. and include that with your ipconfig /all
 
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