Enable Intelligent Message Filter automatic update

[This topic is intended to address a specific issue called out by the Exchange Server Analyzer Tool. You should apply it only to systems that have had the Exchange Server Analyzer Tool run against them and are experiencing that specific issue. The Exchange Server Analyzer Tool, available as a free download, remotely collects configuration data from each server in the topology and automatically analyzes the data. The resulting report details important configuration issues, potential problems, and nondefault product settings. By following these recommendations, you can achieve better performance, scalability, reliability, and uptime. For more information about the tool or to download the latest versions, see "Microsoft Exchange Analyzers" at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=34707.]  

Topic Last Modified: 2006-02-13

The Microsoft® Exchange Server Analyzer Tool queries the Active Directory® directory service to determine the value of the serialNumber attribute for all Exchange Server objects in the directory. The serialNumber attribute is a string value that includes both the version of Exchange Server and the version of the service pack, if installed. A value of the serialNumber attribute equal to Version 6.5 (Build 7638: Service Pack 2) indicates that the server is running Exchange Sever 2003, Service Pack 2.

The Exchange Server Analyzer also queries the Win32_Service Microsoft Windows® Management Instrumentation (WMI) class to determine the value of the Started key for ClusSvc, the Cluster service. A value of True indicates the Cluster service is running, and a value of False indicates it is not running.

The Exchange Server Analyzer also reads the following registry entry to determine whether Microsoft Exchange Intelligent Message Filter is installed and enabled on the server:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Exchange\ContentFilter

If the Exchange Server Analyzer finds that the ContentFilterBindings entry in the ContentFilter registry key is present, but the ContentFilterBindings value is not configured, it indicates that the Intelligent Message Filter is not enabled on the server.

Finally, the Exchange Server Analyzer queries the following registry entry to determine whether the ContentFilterState subkey is present and the Intelligent Message Filter automatic update is enabled on the server:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Exchange\

A value of anything other than 1 for the ContentFilterState subkey indicates that the automatic update for the Intelligent Message Filter is not enabled.

The Exchange Server Analyzer displays a best practices message if the following conditions are true:

  • The server is running Exchange Server 2003, Service Pack 2

  • The Exchange Server is non-clustered

  • The Intelligent Message Filter is enabled

  • Automatic updates for the Intelligent Message Filter are not enabled.

By default, the Intelligent Message Filter feature is installed with Exchange Server 2003 SP2. You must manually enable the Intelligent Message Filter feature to obtain the benefits of this new message filtering technology. After you enable the Intelligent Message Filter feature, the .dat file and the .dll file must be updated regularly to keep the filter current and effective. The article referenced in the following section describes the update process that keeps the Intelligent Message Filter up-to-date.

For information about how to enable the automatic update for Intelligent Message Filter, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 907747, "How to update the Intelligent Message Filter version 2 in Exchange Server 2003 SP2" (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kbid=907747).