Recipient Update Service is configured for full rebuild

[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: 2005-11-17

The Microsoft® Exchange Server Analyzer Tool queries the Active Directory® directory service to determine the value for the msExchDoFullReplication attribute of each Recipient Update Service object in Active Directory. If the Exchange Server Analyzer finds that the value for the msExchDoFullReplication attribute for any Recipient Update Service object is set to True, a warning is displayed.

This warning indicates that this Recipient Update Service is configured to perform a full rebuild on the next processing cycle. When the msExchDoFullReplication attribute is set to True, 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.

Warning

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

  1. 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

  2. Right-click the specified Recipient Update Service, and then select Properties.

  3. On the Attribute Editor tab, scroll down and select the msExchDoFullReplication attribute.

  4. Click Edit to edit this attribute.

  5. In the Boolean Attribute Editor dialog box, change the selection from True to False and click OK.

  6. 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: