XFOR: How to Use the Internet Mail Connector in Console Mode (181950)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Exchange Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0
This article was previously published under Q181950
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SUMMARY

The Internet Mail Service (Internet Mail Connector in version 4.0) has a command line option that allows the service to run in a console window. This can be useful when you are troubleshooting the Internet Mail Service because the option provides statistics and message processing sequence, logged directly to the console window.

MORE INFORMATION

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.

WARNING: Running the IMC in console mode is for testing purposes only not for productive environments. There is a potential problem running the IMC when the registry key DisplayErrsOnConsole has been added, specifically, the IMC stops silently. If all three of the following conditions are met the IMC can silently stop:
  • The registry key DisplayErrsOnConsole exists.
  • An outbound message contains %Z in the subject.
  • If the message is submitted from a non-MAPI client the registry key RerouteViaStore is set to 1.
To resolve this behavior, remove the registry key DisplayErrsOnConsole.

To run the Internet Mail Service in a console window, do the following:
  1. Run the Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
  2. Go to the following registry key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIMC\Parameters

  3. From the Edit menu, select Add Value.
  4. In the AddValue dialog box, type the following key name:

    DisplayErrsOnConsole

  5. From the Data Type box, click REG_DWORD.
  6. In the DWORD Editor DATA field, type 100 (or any value over 10), and then in Data Type, click Hex.
  7. In Control Panel, double-click Services and confirm that the Internet Mail Service is stopped.
  8. Open a command window, and change directories to the Exchange Install Directory (usually exchsrvr)\Connect\MSExcImc\Bin.
  9. Start the Internet Mail Service with the following command and switch:

    MSEXCIMC -console

You can also increase the frequency of the statistical updates to the console by decreasing the value for this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIMC\Parameters\ConsoleStatFrequency

It is set to 14 by default; lower this to a rate that suits you.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/28/2005
Keywords:kbhowto kbusage KB181950
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