'Messages waiting to be routed' Queue is Frozen

Topic Last Modified: 2006-05-17

The Microsoft® Exchange Server Analyzer Tool queries the ExchangeLink Windows® Management Instrumentation (WMI) class to determine the value of the StateFrozen key for the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) Messages waiting to be routed queue.

If the Exchange Server Analyzer finds that the value of the StateFrozen key for the Messages awaiting directory lookup queue on an Exchange server is set to True, the Exchange Server Analyzer displays an error.

A frozen queue means the transport sessions for that queue are stopped. A frozen queue prevents outgoing messages, although new messages can be added. You can manually change the state of a connection by using the shortcut menu on each link queue. When you use the Force Connection command to change a queue state to Active, you immediately enable a connection that sends the messages from that queue.

The Messages waiting to be routed queue holds messages until their next-destination server is determined, and then moves them to their respective link queues.

Messages accumulate in this queue if Exchange Server routing problems exist. Message routing may be backed up.

To resolve this error, increase diagnostic logging for the MSExchangeDSAccess service and for the MSExchangeTransport service to collect information about categorizer components.

For more information about how to modify logging settings, see "How to Modify Logging Settings for MSExchangeTransport" in the "Troubleshooting Mail Flow and SMTP" section of the Exchange Server Transport and Routing Guide (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=47579).

For more information about how to troubleshoot SMTP queues, see the following Exchange resources:

"Troubleshooting Mail Flow and SMTP" in the Exchange Server Transport and Routing Guide (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=47579).
Microsoft Knowledge Base article 823489, "How to use Queue Viewer to troubleshoot mail flow issues in Exchange Server 2003" (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kbid=823489).
Microsoft Knowledge Base article 821877, "Description of Fields on the SMTP and X.400 Queue Properties Tabs" (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kbid=821877).
Microsoft Knowledge Base article 264054, "XCON: Understanding Queue States in Exchange 2000 Server" (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kbid=264054).