Server hangup. (Full Version)

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forgiventoo -> Server hangup. (29.Dec.2008 10:51:18 AM)

I've got 3 Exchange 2003 servers. When one server became unreachable it caused issues with users logging in with accounts on all 3 servers. The only solution was to do a cold reboot on this one server. Any ideas on why this would effect users on all 3 servers?



uemurad -> RE: Server hangup. (29.Dec.2008 11:49:26 AM)

You didn't say what it's role was, nor what else it does.  Is it a DC?  A GC?  What else runs on that one server?  What issues/errors did you experience with logging in?



forgiventoo -> RE: Server hangup. (29.Dec.2008 11:56:41 AM)

It is not a DC. I'm not sure what you're referring to when you say "GC". Nothing else runs on these 3 servers. The issues were that users were being continuasly asked for passwords & unable to log in. I was unable to RDP to it. I could not console to it, nor remote manage to this server. It was completely frozen. The only thing I knew left to do was a cold reboot, which resolved all the problems. Obviously, for future prevention of such a disaster, I'm tryng isolate the problem. Please advise.
Thanks.



uemurad -> RE: Server hangup. (29.Dec.2008 12:05:16 PM)

I'd start by looking at the System and Application logs to see if anything happened around the time the symptom started happening.

GC is a Global Catalog server.

When you mentioned logging in, were you talking about domain authentication, or launching Outlook?

The fact that you were unable to RDP to the server is worrisome.  Since you have three Exchange servers, did you attempt to do anything with the System Manager from either of the other two servers?  What do the other two servers do (mailbox servers, FrontEnd servers)?



forgiventoo -> RE: Server hangup. (29.Dec.2008 12:11:57 PM)

I'll look at the logs. Thanks.
NO it's not a GC.
I was referring to the Outlook launch.
OWA is not yet been setup.
I didn't do anything with the other 2 servers except verify that I could in fact log in to them.
They are just mailbox servers.



uemurad -> RE: Server hangup. (29.Dec.2008 12:42:34 PM)

Feel free to post any log entries you are not familiar with.  I'd work backwards through both logs from the time the symptom started.  Look for any patches and/or updates for Windows, Exchange, and any 3rd-party products on that server.

Did you check the System Manager at the time?  Was it even able to report status?

I'd also suggest you look at the logs from the time of your cold restart.  There might be log entries that give you a clue about what happened.

Finally, this is probably a good time to download and run the Exchange Best Practices Analyzer to make sure there aren't any actionable items.



forgiventoo -> RE: Server hangup. (29.Dec.2008 3:02:49 PM)


SMTPSVC = SMTP server cannot create a file in the queue directory C:\Program Files\Exchsrvr\Mailroot\vsi 1\Queue\.

Application Popup =
An I/O operation initiated by the Registry failed unrecoverably. The Registry could not read in, or write out, or flush, one of the files that contain the system's image of the Registry.

VBRuntime =
The VB Application identified by the event source logged this Application EMWNTA: Thread ID: 7368 ,Logged: EMW NTA General Failure. Error 509: Share 'AelitaEMW$' does not exist. Mail Transmission Agent will now be terminated.

These are the mnain errors I have.



uemurad -> RE: Server hangup. (29.Dec.2008 3:43:19 PM)

quote:

SMTPSVC = SMTP server cannot create a file in the queue directory C:\Program Files\Exchsrvr\Mailroot\vsi 1\Queue\.
Does the folder exist?  How much space do you have available on your C: drive?  Any idea how much space was available when the mailboxes went offline?



forgiventoo -> RE: Server hangup. (29.Dec.2008 3:58:49 PM)

It does. The destination folder is empty.



jveldh -> RE: Server hangup. (29.Dec.2008 4:12:33 PM)

Hi,

Did you searched for an update for the firmware/drivers for the storage devices ? Which brand of server is it ? Most brands such as HP contain diagnostic software which let you test the servers hardware. If you have it please run it to check the servers hardware.



forgiventoo -> RE: Server hangup. (29.Dec.2008 4:23:27 PM)

Ok. All 3 Exchange machines are HP DL380's running Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition SP2.



uemurad -> RE: Server hangup. (29.Dec.2008 4:37:41 PM)

quote:

The destination folder is empty
What about the C: drive?  How much space is available on it?
quote:

update for the firmware/drivers for the storage devices
The storage devices include the built-in SCSI controller, any additional controllers (like the 6400 series RAID controllers), and any Fibre Channel cards (HBAs).



forgiventoo -> RE: Server hangup. (29.Dec.2008 4:42:28 PM)

Yes the server BWXCH1 that was having the problem has just recently had 2 FC HBA cards installed in order to connect it to our SAN environment.



uemurad -> RE: Server hangup. (29.Dec.2008 4:54:34 PM)

Check with the HBA manufacturer to see if there is updated firmware and/or updated drivers.



forgiventoo -> RE: Server hangup. (29.Dec.2008 5:18:25 PM)

Nope. They have the latest and greatest. Could they possibly need to be rolled back?



uemurad -> RE: Server hangup. (30.Dec.2008 9:36:06 AM)

quote:

Could they possibly need to be rolled back?
I'd consider that only if updating them was done right before the symptom started to appear.  If the HBA installation coincides with the symptom, I'd consider testing by removing the HBAs to see if that resolves the issue (unless you're already using the SAN for storage on the Exchange server).  I'd also look for firmware/driver updates on whatever controller is handling your C: drive (are you booting from the SAN now?).



forgiventoo -> RE: Server hangup. (30.Dec.2008 9:38:07 AM)

I think I've narrowed it down to some EMV software that's causing the problems. I'll let you know.



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