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You cannot successfully perform an online backup of the information store databases on your Exchange Server 2003 SP1 computer, and event ID 217 is logged

View products that this article applies to.

Symptoms

When you try to perform an online backup of the information store databases on your Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1) computer, the backup is not successful. The following event is logged to the Application log:

Event ID: 217
Source: ESE
Type: Error
Category: Logging/Recovery
Description:
Error -4001 During backup of a database location. The database will be unable to restore.

Note The -4001 error code corresponds to a JET_errFileIOBeyondEOF error condition.

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Cause

Under certain circumstances, the information store backups may fail because of a "beyond end of file (EOF)" condition. In Exchange Server 2003 SP1, the Extensible Storage Engine (ESE) pre-extends the information store database as an optimization feature.

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Resolution

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support
Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To install this hotfix, you must be have a computer that is running Exchange Server 2003 SP1. For more information about how to obtain Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 1, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
836993� How to obtain the latest service packs for Exchange Server 2003

Restart requirement

On a non-clustered, stand-alone Exchange Server 2003 computer, you do not have to restart the computer to install this hotfix. However, Exchange services are automatically stopped and then restarted during the hotfix installation. On clustered Exchange Server 2003 computers, you must restart the cluster nodes. For more information about how to install this hotfix, see the "Hotfix installation instructions" section.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.
   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   21-Nov-2004  00:49  6.5.7232.54     2,115,072  Ese.dll

Hotfix installation instructions for non-clustered Exchange Server 2003 computers

To install this hotfix on a non-clustered, stand-alone Exchange Server 2003 computer, use the following method.

When you use this method, you must first dismount all the information stores that are not experiencing the problem. Then, you must forcefully stop the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service before you install the hotfix. To use this method, follow these steps:
  1. Dismount all information stores that are not experiencing the problem that is described in the "Symptoms" section. For more information about how to dismount a store, see the "Dismount a Store" topic in Exchange Server 2003 Help.

    Important Do not dismount the information stores that are mentioned in event ID 217. You must kill the Store.exe process with the database mounted to force the Exchange database in the event 217 into a soft-recovery state. The soft-recovery state is needed for the following steps to work.
  2. Use the Kill.exe utility or the TaskKill.exe utility to forcefully stop the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service.
    • If you are running Exchange Server 2003 on a Microsoft Windows 2000 Server-based computer, use the Kill.exe utility to stop the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service. The Kill.exe utility is included with the Windows 2000 Support Tools on the Windows 2000 Server CD-ROM. To use the Kill.exe utility, follow these steps:
      1. Install the Windows 2000 Support Tools. For more information about how to install the Support Tools, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
        301423� How to install the Windows 2000 Support Tools to a Windows 2000 Server-based computer
      2. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
      3. Type kill -f store.exe, and then press ENTER.

        Note For more information about Kill.exe command syntax, type kill /? at the command prompt.
    • If you are running Exchange Server 2003 on a Windows Server 2003-based computer, use the TaskKill.exe utility to stop the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service. The TaskKill.exe utility is included with Windows Server 2003. The utility is located in the %windir%\System32 folder. To use the TaskKill.exe utility, follow these steps:
      1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
      2. Type taskkill /f /im store.exe, and then press ENTER.

        Note For more information about TaskKill command syntax, type taskkill /? at the command prompt, or visit the following Microsoft Web site:
        http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/c1db6dae-41c3-4c94-a038-d87baa0fee091033.mspx
  3. Apply the hotfix.
  4. The Microsoft Exchange Information Store service automatically restarts after you apply the hotfix. To make sure that the service started correctly, view the status of the service in the Services snap-in. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.
    2. Locate the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service.
    3. Make sure that the Status column indicates a status of Started.

      Note Permit time for recovery of the information store to occur.
  5. Mount the information stores that you dismounted in step 1. For more information about how to mount a store, see the "Mount a Store" topic in Exchange Server 2003 Help.

Hotfix installation instructions for clustered Exchange Server 2003 environment

To install this hotfix in a clustered Exchange Server 2003 environment, follow these steps:
  1. On the passive node, make sure the node does not own the Exchange or the Cluster Group resource groups.
  2. On the passive node, click Start, click Programs, click Administrative Tools, and then click Services.
  3. Right-click Cluster Service, and then click Stop.

    Note This will cause the Cluster Administrator to list the passive node as unavailable. The node icon will appear with a red "X" over it.
  4. Install this hotfix on the passive node.
  5. Restart the passive node.
  6. After it restarts, wait until Cluster Administrator on the active node displays the passive node as an active cluster member. The node icon will appear without a red "X" over it.
  7. On the active node, click Start , click Programs, click Administrative Tools, and then click Cluster Administrator.
  8. Expand the Groups container, click Exchange resource group, and then right-click Exchange Information Store Instance. Click Properties, click the Advanced tab, and then click Do not restart.
  9. Click OK to close the dialog box.
  10. Dismount all the information stores that are not experiencing the problem that is described in the "Symptoms" section. For more information about how to dismount a store, see the "Dismount a Store" topic in Exchange Server 2003 Help.

    Important Do not dismount the information stores that are mentioned in Event ID 217.
  11. Use the Kill.exe utility or the TaskKill.exe utility to forcefully stop the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service.
    • If you are running Exchange Server 2003 on a Microsoft Windows 2000 Server-based computer, use the Kill.exe utility to stop the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service. The Kill.exe utility is included with the Windows 2000 Support Tools on the Windows 2000 Server CD-ROM. To use the Kill.exe utility, follow these steps:
      1. Install the Windows 2000 Support Tools.

        For more information about how to install the Support Tools, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
        301423� How to install the Windows 2000 Support Tools to a Windows 2000 Server-based computer
      2. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
      3. Type kill -f store.exe, and then press ENTER.

        Note For more information about Kill.exe command syntax, type kill /? at the command prompt.
    • If you are running Exchange Server 2003 on a Windows Server 2003-based computer, use the TaskKill.exe utility to stop the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service. The TaskKill.exe utility is included with Windows Server 2003. The utility is located in the %windir%\System32 folder. To use the TaskKill.exe utility, follow these steps:
      1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
      2. Type taskkill /f /im store.exe, and then press ENTER.

        Note For more information about TaskKill command syntax, type taskkill /? at the command prompt, or visit the following Microsoft Web site:
        http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/c1db6dae-41c3-4c94-a038-d87baa0fee091033.mspx
  12. On the active node, click Cluster Administrator, expand Group container, right-click Exchange resource group, and then click Move Group to have the group moved to another passive node.

    Note This will start the Exchange databases on the already patched node and mount them.
  13. Right-click Cluster Group resource group, and then click Move Group to have the group moved to another passive node.
  14. Using the Services management console, stop the Cluster Service on the local node.
  15. Install the hotfix on this local node.
  16. Restart the local node.

    Note The Exchange Virtual Server is now running on a node other than what was previously the active node. If it is required, you can move the groups back to the previously active node.
  17. Expand the Groups container, click the Exchange resource group, right-click the Exchange Information Store Instance, click Properties, click the Advanced tab, and then click Restart.
  18. Click OK to close the dialog box.

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Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

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More information

Unfortunately, creating a new information store and moving users to the new store cannot act as a workaround for this problem. There are several reasons that a -4001 error occurs. Many reasons cause legitimate errors. An example of a legitimate error is when one or both of the following occur:
  • The information store crashes.
  • Disk problems occur.
In a scenario where the information store crashes or disk problems occur, this hotfix will not prevent those errors from occurring again. Although the errors are the same, they do not apply to the EOF problem that is described in this article. In a scenario where the information store crashes or disk problems occur, you will have to fix those issues. Then, you might have to restore the information store from a previous backup.

You must run the Kill.exe utility or the Taskkill.exe utility against the Exchange information store service to resolve this problem. After you run either of these utilities, all mounted databases will be flagged for recovery.

Note All information stores that are dismounted successfully before you run the Kill.exe utility or the Taskkill.exe utility will not be affected by these utilities.

For more information about Microsoft software updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
824684� Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates
817903� New naming schema for Exchange Server software update packages

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Keywords: KB889528, kbbug, kbfix, kbexchange2003presp2fix, kbhotfixserver, kbqfe, kbautohotfix

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Article Info
Article ID : 889528
Revision : 12
Created on : 10/30/2007
Published on : 10/30/2007
Exists online : False
Views : 409