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XADM: Directory Service Stops Responding with Event ID 1186


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This article was previously published under Q240385
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/EN-US/ ) Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

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Symptoms

The Directory service stops responding (hangs) and logs the following error message in the event log:
Event ID: 1186
Source: MSExchangeDS
Type: Error
Category: Replication
Description: The internal directory replication agent (DRA) Dispatcher thread is waiting in a remote procedure call (RPC) to directory XXXX. The directory has attempted to cancel the call and recover the thread, with status 0x0. If this condition persists, stop and restart that Microsoft Exchange Server computer.

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Cause

This behavior occurs if the directory replication agent (DRA) waits for more than 35 minutes for directory replication to complete within a site. This default timeout is normally sufficient and is exceeded only if a very large distribution list is being replicated or if there is limited usable bandwidth between the servers within the Exchange Server site.

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Workaround

To work around this behavior, restart the server that is experiencing the error, as well as the server that is specified in the text of the event. This works only if you find and resolve the underlying cause of the behavior (for example, saturated network links). The client may also need to look into breaking up large distribution lists.

If the problem persists after you restart both servers, you can change the behavior of the DRA by modifying the following registry values:
  • Directory Replication Timeout
  • Max Threads
WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Directory Replication Timeout

You can change the default directory replication timeout value by adding the following key into the registry:
  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
  2. Locate the following registry key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeDs\Parameters
  3. On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following registry value:
    Value Name: Replicator async thread check (minutes)
    Data Type: REG_DWORD
    Value: 35 (Dec,default)
  4. Quit Registry Editor.
NOTE: Increase this value in increments of 30 until you no longer receive the error message.

Max Threads

To increase the number of threads available for directory replication, adjust the following parameter:
  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
  2. Locate the Max Threads value under the following key in the registry:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ MSExchangeDS\Parameters\Max Threads (EXDS+NSP+DRA)
  3. Click the Max Threads value.
  4. On the Edit menu, click DWORD.
  5. In the Data field, type 200 (Dec), and then click OK.
  6. Quit Registry Editor.
This action increases the number of threads available from the default of 50 to 200. You may need to adjust this value for best results.

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Keywords: KB240385, kbprb, kbenv

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Article Info
Article ID : 240385
Revision : 5
Created on : 10/27/2006
Published on : 10/27/2006
Exists online : False
Views : 390