Recipient Update Service full rebuild

Topic Last Modified: 2005-11-17

The Microsoft® Exchange Server Analyzer Tool queries the Active Directory® directory service to determine the value for the msDS-ReplAttributeMetaData attribute of the Recipient Update Service object from the configuration domain controller that is used by Exchange Server. The msDS-ReplAttributeMetaData attribute contains the date and time at which the last change was made to this attribute, as well as other information. If the Exchange Server Analyzer finds that less than five days have elapsed since the date and time listed in the msDS-ReplAttributeMetaData attribute, a warning is displayed.

This warning indicates that a full rebuild of this Recipient Update Service was recently scheduled. When a full rebuild is configured, the next time that the Recipient Update Service is started by the schedule or by the Update Now command, the Recipient Update Service examines every object instead of querying for new objects only. This process can take a long time and may cause a system delay.

If a full rebuild is intended, you can safely ignore this warning. If a full rebuild is not intended, you can resolve this issue by using Active Directory Service Interfaces (ADSI) Edit (AdsiEdit.msc) and the following procedure to change the value of the msExchDoFullReplication attribute in Active Directory from True to False.

Caution:
If you incorrectly modify the attributes of Active Directory objects when you use ADSI Edit, the LDP (ldp.exe) tool, or another Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) version 3 client, you may cause serious problems. These problems may require that you reinstall Microsoft Windows Server™ 2003, Exchange Server 2003, or both. Modify Active Directory object attributes at your own risk.

To correct this warning

Use ADSI Edit or a similar tool to locate the msExchDoFullReplication attribute of the specified Recipient Update Service object. Recipient Update Service objects are located at: CN=Configuration,CN=Services,CN=Microsoft Exchange,CN=Organization,CN=Address Lists Container,CN=Recipient Update Services
Right-click the specified Recipient Update Service, and then select Properties.
On the Attribute Editor tab, scroll down and select the msExchDoFullReplication attribute.
Click Edit to edit this attribute.
In the Boolean Attribute Editor dialog box, change the selection from True to False and click OK.
Click OK again to save the changes, and close ADSI Edit.

For more information about the Recipient Update Service, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:

253770, "Tasks performed by the Recipient Update Service" (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kbid=253770)
253828, "How the Recipient Update Service Populates Address Lists" (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kbid=253828)
253838, "XADM: How the Recipient Update Service Applies System Policies" (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kbid=253838)
328738, "XADM: How the Recipient Update Service Applies Recipient Policies" (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kbid=328738)