XCON: MTA Queue for Exchange Server Computer May Not Be Displayed (297539)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5

This article was previously published under Q297539

SYMPTOMS

When you open the the properties of the Message Transfer Agent (MTA), or click the Queues tab, the MTA queue for an Exchange Server computer in the same site may not be displayed.

CAUSE

This issue can occur if the missing queue to the remote Exchange Server computer was left idle for a long period of time. In this case, the Exchange Server computer's MTA does not display the queue.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, send a message to a remote mailbox. When you do so, the MTA queue becomes active again.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

For an example of this behavior, imagine a scenario where Server A and Server B are in the same Exchange Server site. If there is no mail flow between Server A and Server B, the MTA queue becomes idle. If the queue is idle for a long period of time, the MTA on Server A or Server B does not display the queue. Eventually, both MTAs do not display the queue.

For the queue to be displayed, the queue has to be active with message flow. Because both Exchange Server computers are in the same site, there is constant directory replication traffic. The Exchange Server directory communicates directly to another Exchange Server directory when the servers are in the same Exchange Server site. Directory replication messages do not pass over MTA queues.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/25/2005
Keywords:kbprb KB297539