Microsoft KB Archive/288569

= XADM: How to Prevent Tombstones from Deleting Exchange Server 5.5 Mailboxes =

Article ID: 288569

Article Last Modified on 2/27/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q288569



SUMMARY
This article describes how to prevent tombstones from deleting Exchange Server 5.5 mailboxes.



MORE INFORMATION
Tombstones are special Active Directory objects that are created when you delete a Windows account or any other Active Directory object. These hidden objects reside in Active Directory for a default lifetime of 60 days. This setting ensures that objects across all domain controllers are deleted, because it allows enough time for the deletions to be fully replicated.

To prevent tombstones from deleting Exchange Server 5.5 mailboxes, configure the Active Directory Connector (ADC) Connection Agreement to keep the deleted items and store the deletion list in the temporary .csv file.

If the tomstones in Active Directory replicate to the Exchange Server 5.5 folder, they delete Exchange Server 5.5 mailboxes that match the legacyExchangeDN attribute of the tombstone. Before you configure the ADC Connection Agreement, configure the Connection Agreement so that the deletions are not replicated from Active Directory to the Exchange Server 5.5 folder. This method prevents tombstones in Active Directory from replicating to the Exchange Server 5.5 folder.

NOTE: If the original Connection Agreement exists and the ADC service is stopped, verify that the Connection Agreement schedule is set to Never.

To prevent tombstones from deleting Exchange Server 5.5 mailboxes:
 * 1) Start the Active Directory Connector Manager.
 * 2) Right-click Connection Agreement, and then click Properties.
 * 3) Click the Deletion tab.
 * 4) In the When replication deletions from the Windows Active Directory option section, click to select Keep the Exchange deleted items and store the deletion list in the temporary .csv file.

NOTE: A dialog box may be displayed that indicates that you are replicating Exchange Server distribution lists to a mixed-mode domain. Click Yes if you agree.
 * 1) Click Apply, and then click OK.

The .csv file is located at:

%SystemRoot%\Program Files\Msadc\Msadc\ \Ex55.csv

Consider the following scenario. An administrator inadvertantly deletes Windows 2000 accounts that have been associated with Exchange Server 5.5 mailboxes. If the Connection Agreement is configured to never replicate, the ADC service is not running, or if the Connection Agreement was removed, the Exchange Server 5.5 mailboxes are not deleted.

However, if you reinstate the ADC Connection Agreement, then the tombstone that references the Exchange Server 5.5 mailbox (by means of the legacyExchangeDN attribute) replicates to the Exchange Server 5.5 folder, and then deletes the Exchange Server 5.5 mailbox.

If you follow the procedure described in this article, the deletions are not replicated to Exchange Server. Instead, they are stored in the .csv file. If you want to delete the items in the Exchange Server 5.5. folder, import the Ex55.csv file. The Exchange Server 5.5 objects that are specified in the .csv file are then deleted.

Additional query words: AD CA

Keywords: kbhowto KB288569

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