Description of the Exchange Server Mail Flow Analyzer tool (923892)

INTRODUCTION

This article discusses the addition of the Exchange Server Mail Flow Analyzer tool to the Analyzer tools family. The current version of the Exchange Server Mail Flow Analyzer tool is supported in Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 and in Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server. Future versions of the Exchange Server Mail Flow Analyzer tool will be supported in Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.

The Analyzer tools family currently consists of the following other tools:

Exchange Best Practices Analyzer
Exchange Disaster Recovery Analyzer
Exchange Performance Troubleshooter

MORE INFORMATION

The Exchange Server Mail Flow Analyzer tool is part of the Microsoft Exchange Troubleshooting Assistant. To download the Microsoft Exchange Troubleshooting Assistant, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4BDC1D6B-DE34-4F1C-AEBA-FED1256CAF9A&displaylang=en

The Exchange Server Mail Flow Analyzer tool conducts a series of mail flow related tests to troubleshoot mail flow and transport-related problems from sources such as the Active Directory directory service, WMI, DNS, and the metabase. The issues that are identified and the possible root causes are reported after each test. Additionally, a summary is presented when the tests are completed. The tool should be run when the problem occurs. For example, when a remote delivery queue is backing up, the mail flow troubleshooter performs the following actions, among other actions, to identify possible root causes:

Analyzes DNS for incorrect configurations
Checks network connectivity
Sends a series of SMTP commands to remote hosts
Diagnoses link state data

Similarly, different sets of troubleshooting steps are prepared to resolve each symptom.

Like the other Analyzer tools, you can run the tool from a remote computer. You do not have to install the tool on the Exchange server that has mail flow problems. There is a minimal effect on performance when you run the tool from a remote computer. We recommend that you have MOLM access to the problem server. However, MOLM access is not required.

This version of the Exchange Server Mail Flow Analyzer tool can be used to troubleshoot the following symptoms:

You receive non-delivery report (NDR) messages.
Incoming mail is slow or blocked.
Outgoing mail is slow or blocked.
Mail queues are backing up.

You must meet the following requirements before you install the Exchange Server Mail Flow Analyzer tool:

You must have the Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 installed.
You must have the appropriate credentials to access Active Directory and the Exchange server.
The Internet Information Services (IIS) Common component must allow for remote metabase access.