Topic Last Modified: 2005-11-18
The Microsoft® Exchange Server Analyzer Tool queries two Microsoft Windows® Management Instrumentation (WMI) classes to determine the amount of physical memory in the Exchange Server computer, and the amount of virtual address space allocated to user mode processes. The following table describes the classes and keys being evaluated by the Exchange Server Analyzer.
| Class | Key | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Win32_OperatingSystem |
MaxProcessMemorySize |
Maximum number of kilobytes of memory that can be allocated to a process. |
|
Win32_OperatingSystem |
OSProductSuite |
Installed and licensed system product additions to the operating system. |
|
Win32_ComputerSystem |
TotalPhysicalMemory |
Number of bytes of random access memory (RAM) installed in the computer. |
If the Exchange Server Analyzer determines that the value for the MaxProcessMemorySize key is not equal to 2097024 and that the OSProductSuite key value resolves to Windows 2000 Server, an error is displayed.
This warning indicates that the directory server is not properly configured for optimal memory usage because the /3GB startup switch has been set in the Boot.ini file. This switch should only be used on Exchange servers with 1 gigabyte (GB) or more of memory that are running any of the following operating systems:
- Microsoft Windows Server™ 2003 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
 Important: |
|---|
| The /3GB switch should not be used on Windows 2000 Server because it is unsupported and can cause application or operating system crashes. Furthermore, the /3GB switch is only supported on the operating systems listed previously when 1 GB or more of physical memory is installed. |
To correct this
error on Windows Server 2003
-
Right-click My Computer and select Properties. The System Properties dialog will appear.
-
Click the Advanced tab.
-
In the Startup and Recovery area, click the Settings button. The Startup and Recovery dialog box will appear.
-
In the System startup area, click the Edit button. This will open the Windows Boot.ini file in Notepad.
-
In the [Operating Systems] section, delete the following switches from all startup lines: /3GB.
-
Save the changes and close Notepad.
-
Click OK twice to close the open dialog boxes and then restart the directory server for the change to take effect.
To correct this
error on Windows 2000 Server
-
In Windows Explorer, navigate to the system partition.
-
If you are unable to see the Boot.ini file, it could be because the Folder Options are set to Hide protected operating system files. If this is the case, in the Windows Explorer window, click Tools, click Folder Options, and then click the View tab. Clear the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) check box. When prompted with the warning box, click Yes.
-
When the Boot.ini file is visible in Windows Explorer, right-click the file, click Open With, and choose Notepad to open the file.
-
Remove /3GB and save the file.
-
Restart the directory server for the change to take effect.
For further details regarding the use of the /3GB and /USERVA startup switches, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:
- 297812, "How to Use the 4GT RAM Tuning Feature" (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kbid=297812)
- 311901, "The effects of 4GT tuning on system Page Table
Entries" (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kbid=311901)
- 316739, "How to Use the /USERVA Switch in the Boot.ini File to
Tune /3GB Configurations" (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kbid=316739)
- 325044, "HOW TO: Troubleshoot Virtual Memory Fragmentation in
Exchange 2003 and Exchange 2000" (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=3052&kbid=325044)
- 815372, "How to Optimize Memory Usage in Exchange
Server 2003" (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=3052&kbid=815372)