Microsoft KB Archive/152231

= XFOR: How to Reset Exchange Server Dirsync Numbers =

Article ID: 152231

Article Last Modified on 10/28/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q152231



SUMMARY
Sometimes it is necessary to reset the Directory Synchronization (dirsync) sequence numbers when troubleshooting Microsoft Mail Directory Synchronization problems with an Exchange Server computer participating as a requestor or as the dirsync server.

Resetting dirsync numbers should be only performed as part of a systematic approach to troubleshooting dirsync problems as documented in the application note, "WA0725, Microsoft Mail for PC Networks Directory Synchronization."



MORE INFORMATION
Dirsync numbers are stored in different places depending on what role the Exchange Server computer plays in the process:
 * Exchange Server as a dirsync server: All remote dirsync requesters appear on the right side of the Microsoft Exchange Administrator program when viewing the dirsync server object on the left. Dirsync numbers for each requestor appear in raw-mode for each remote dirsync requestor object.


 * Exchange Server as a dirsync requestor: There is only one dirsync requestor object defined in this case. Exchange Server keeps all dirsync numbers in this one object. Also viewable only while in raw- mode.

Exchange Server uses the following synchronization numbers:
 * DXA-Conf-Seq (Confirmation sequence number) - On the remote dirsync requestor object, this number keeps track of what has been acknowledged by each requestor. When all transactions have been confirmed, this number should match the DXA-Svr-Seq. The DXA-Conf-Seq number can be less than the DXA-Svr-Seq if the server has sent updates to the requestor and no acknowledgment has been received from the requestor (this usually happens after the next T1 time).


 * DXA-Imp-Seq (Import sequence number) - Amount of full import requests sent by the requestor.


 * DXA-Req-Seq (Requestor sequence number) - Cumulative total of number of transactions sent by the requestor to the server.


 * DXA-Svr-Seq (Server sequence number) - Cumulative total of number of transactions sent by the server to the one requestor.

WARNING: If you use the raw mode of the Exchange Server Administrator program (admin /r) incorrectly, serious problems may occur that may require you to reinstall Microsoft Windows NT Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, or both. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems that result from using raw mode incorrectly can be solved. Use raw mode at your own risk.

Resetting dirsync numbers requires that you run the Exchange Administrator program in raw mode. To do so, quit the Administrator program, and type the following at a command prompt: admin /r.

If Exchange Server is acting as the dirsync server, you can reset numbers for individual remote dirsync requesters as follows:
 * 1) Start the Exchange Administrator program in raw mode.
 * 2) Click the dirsync server object that you created under the site Connections object.
 * 3) On the right side, click the remote dirsync requestor that you want to reset the synchronization numbers for.
 * 4) Click Raw Properties from the File menu.
 * 5) On the bottom of the Remote DirSync Requester dialog box, change List Attributes of Type to ALL.
 * 6) Set the following attributes to 0: DXA-Conf-Seq, DXA-Imp-Seq, DXA-Req-Seq, and DXA-Svr-Seq.
 * 7) Stop and restart the Microsoft Directory Synchronization Service.
 * 8) You must now run Listds.exe on the requestor to reset the dirsync numbers.

If Exchange Server is acting as a requestor:
 * 1) Start the Exchange Server Administrator program in raw mode.
 * 2) Click the dirsync requestor object that you created under the site Connections object.
 * 3) Click Raw Properties from the File menu.
 * 4) Set the following attributes to 0: DXA-Conf-Seq, DXA-Imp-Seq, DXA-Req- Seq, and DXA-Svr-Seq.
 * 5) Stop and restart the Microsoft Directory Synchronization Service.
 * 6) You must remove and reconfigure the Exchange Server postoffice through the Microsoft Mail Administrator program on the Microsoft Mail dirsync server as well.

Keywords: kbhowto kbusage KB152231

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