Knowledge Base

The number of connections in the Connections Current counter sometimes reaches 4 billion in Exchange Server 2003

Article ID: 911577

Article Last Modified on 10/25/2007

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you use Performance Monitor to monitor the MSExchangePOP3 object or the MSExchangeIMAP4 object on a server that is running Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, you may notice that the number of connections in the Connections Current counter sometimes reaches 4 billion.

Note Although the Connections Current counter reports many connections, you do not experience a deterioration of service or of performance levels on the Exchange server. You can continue to use the Exchange services without any disruption.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if the Connections Current counter reports a negative number of connections. This situation may occur if a client computer cannot make an SSL connection to the Exchange server.

RESOLUTION

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Prerequisites

You must install Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) before you install the hotfix.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

836993 How to obtain the latest service packs for Exchange Server 2003

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart the computer after you install the hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

File name	File version	File size	Date	Time	Platform
Imap4svc.dll	6.5.7650.27	119,808	26-Jan-2006	04:24	x86
Pop3svc.dll	6.5.7650.27	69,632	26-Jan-2006	04:21	x86

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, restart the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

Information about changes to the Send As user right in post-Exchange Server 2003 SP2 hotfixes

After Exchange Server 2003 SP2 was released, a change was made to the security behavior of the Exchange Server information store. This change concerns how users assign the Send As user right. This change is included in all post-Exchange Server 2003 SP2 hotfixes.

Before this change was made, if you assigned Full Mailbox Access user rights to a service account, the service was able to send messages as the owner of the mailbox in some circumstances. After this change was made, mailbox security granularity now requires that you explicitly assign the Send As user right.

Many third-party add-in programs and services send messages for Exchange Server users. These programs and services include mobile device synchronization services. These programs and services may not have been granted Send As user rights. Instead, they may rely on Full Mailbox Access user rights. After you apply this hotfix, a program or a service may no longer function correctly because the program or service account can no longer send messages for other users.

For more information about how to assign the Send As user right to an account, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

912918 Error message when an application tries to send a message as another user by using Exchange Server 2003:"Access denied"

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates