How Trend ScanMail Extensible Storage Engine software interacts with Exchange Server 5.5 (320400)

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Trend has released ScanMail for Exchange Server 5.5, Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server, and Microsoft Exchange 2000 Enterprise Server. The ScanMail Extensible Storage Engine (ESE) versions (3.6x, 3.7x, and 3.8x) are unique virus-scanning programs. Therefore, Microsoft Support Professionals must understand the way that the ScanMail ESE application programming interface (API) software works, and the Microsoft position is on this product.

How the ScanMail ESE Versions Work

Trend uses unsupported interfaces between the information store and the ESE. At the time of this article's publication, no instances of corruption have been reported. However, customers who use ScanMail (the ESE version) run the risk of database corruption and potential data loss if Trend's implementation contains errors.

ScanMail for Exchange uses the Microsoft Windows NT kernel hook method to direct all of the Store.exe traffic to the ScanMail for Exchange ESE. ScanMail for Exchange does not use the renaming method, which may affect other software that uses the ESE API on the Exchange Server computer. When the ScanMail services are stopped, the ScanMail for Exchange Windows NT kernel hook redirects the Store.exe traffic to the original Microsoft ESE API. This does not require you to stop and restart the Exchange Server services.

Additionally, when you implement the ScanMail ESE solution, make sure that the Exchange Server services do not depend on a functioning antivirus solution to conduct typical activities. If ScanMail encounters any obstruction, users can still perform their daily Exchange Server activities without the virus protection.

The Microsoft Position on Trend ScanMail (the ESE Version)

Based upon research on Trend ScanMail 3.6x, 3.7x, and 3.8x (the ESE versions) and the proven track record of the product, Microsoft acknowledges that this product is an innovative solution to meet the antivirus needs of customers. Customers who contact Microsoft PSS may be asked to turn off the Trend ScanMail service to help identify issues, but customers are free to turn on the software after the root cause of the issue is properly diagnosed. Microsoft and Trend agree that this is a valid troubleshooting step to determine the cause of issues.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.