XGEN: Modifying Exchange 2000 Server File Handle Cache Parameters (267551)

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 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY

File handles are cached to improve performance because cached file handles save the server from performing redundant input/output (I/O) and CPU cycles.

Exchange 2000 Server is configured to cache an optimal number of file handles. These Exchange file handles generally take up 2 kilobytes (KB) of paged pool memory (kernel memory). On servers that are running other applications that use paged pool memory, you may want to decrease the level of file handle caching in Exchange 2000 to prevent the server from running out of paged pool memory and becoming unresponsive. This article provides steps to decrease the level of Exchange 2000 file handle caching.

MORE INFORMATION

To decrease the level of Exchange 2000 file handle caching, you need to edit the registry:

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.

Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
Set one or both of the following registry values, as applicable:

NOTE: Exchange 2000 is already optimally configured to cache file handles. Microsoft recommends that you only decrease these values from the default settings. If you increase these values from the default settings, the Exchange 2000 Server computer may become unstable.
- To set the FileCacheLifeTimeSeconds value:
  1. Locate the FileCacheLifeTimeSeconds value under the following key in the registry:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\CurrentControlSet\Services\Inetinfo\Parameters
  2. On the Edit menu, click REG_DWORD, type the new value, and then click OK. The default value is 30 (the "time to live" for each cached handle is 30 minutes, or 1800 seconds).
- To set the FileCacheMaxHandles value:
  1. Locate the FileCacheMaxHandles value under the following key in the registry:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\CurrentControlSet\Services\Inetinfo\Parameters
  2. On the Edit menu, click REG_DWORD, type the new value, and then click OK. The default value is 800 (the number of handles that is cached for each unit of memory on the computer is 800 handles for every 32 MB of RAM).
Quit Registry Editor.
Restart the server.

There is also a 50,000 handle ceiling that you cannot exceed, regardless of memory size.