Topic Last Modified: 2005-11-18

On a non-clustered Exchange Server computer, the Microsoft® Exchange Server Analyzer Tool reads the following registry entry to determine the value for the TEMP environment variable:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment\TEMP

When the Exchange Server Analyzer is run against an Exchange Virtual Server (EVS) in a Microsoft Windows® server cluster, the Exchange Server Analyzer does not read the HKLM registry hive. Instead, the Exchange Server Analyzer reads the following registry entry:

HKEY_USERS\< Cluster service account SID >\Environment\TEMP

If the Exchange Server Analyzer finds that the TEMP environment variable is not set to a path available on the current system, a warning is displayed. If this path is invalid, your organization may experience mail delivery failure. By default, the Exchange Server Analyzer in its default configuration will expect to find this path set to %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temp. Although this path can be modified to point to other locations, after a hotfix or update is applied and the cluster node is restarted, the system may expect to find the path set to the default.

The TEMP environment variable is used to designate the folder in the file system that should be used by applications that require temporary workspace. TEMP is typically used by applications, such as Exchange Server. The path for each variable is typically relative to the context of the application. For example, the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service processes use the TEMP folder as temporary storage during various operations, such as message conversion and mailbox move operations.

To correct this warning

  1. Log on to a node in the cluster as the Cluster service account.

  2. Right-click My Computer and select Properties.

  3. Select Advanced.

  4. Click Environment Variables.

  5. In the User variables for <account name> area, select TEMP and then click Edit.

  6. In the Variable value field, enter the default path for the TEMP environment variable and then click OK.

  7. Click OK to close the Environment Variables dialog box and then click OK again to close the System Properties dialog box.

  8. Restart the node to apply the change.

  9. Repeat steps 1 through 8 for each node in the cluster that has the non-default setting.