Article ID: 178204
Article Last Modified on 10/28/2006
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0 Standard Edition
This article was previously published under Q178204
SYMPTOMS
Performance Monitor shows a constant 100 percent CPU utilization caused by the message transfer agent (MTA). The computer running Microsoft Exchange Server still responds to user input, but does so slowly. The service MSExchangeMTA cannot be stopped using either Control-Panel Services or the "Net Stop" command.
CAUSE
The MTA may cause 100 percent CPU usage when receiving a specific message. The message must originate from Microsoft Mail and be sent via its X.400 Gateway. It can either be sent directly to the Exchange Server MTA or routed through an intermediate third-party X.400 system, such as MAIL.X, to Exchange Server. Additionally, the message has to contain an attachment. On processing the attachment, the MTA enters an infinite loop, thus causing 100 percent CPU usage.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, obtain the fix described below or wait for the next Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0 service pack.
The fix installs the following files in the following folders:
File Location(s)
--------------------------
Address.dll Exchsrvr\Bin (See note below)
Dbserver.sch Exchsrvr\Mtadata
Dcprods.cat Exchsrvr\Bin
Exchsrvr\Mtadata
Ems_rid.dll Exchsrvr\Bin
Emsmta.exe Exchsrvr\Bin
Infotlog.cfg Exchsrvr\Mtadata
Infoxlog.cfg Exchsrvr\Mtadata
Mapi32.dll Winnt\System32
Mmiext.dll Exchsrvr\Bin (See note below)
Mtacheck.exe Exchsrvr\Bin
Mtamsg.dll Exchsrvr\Res
P2.xv2 Exchsrvr\Bin
Exchsrvr\Mtadata
P3.tpl Exchsrvr\Mtadata
P772.tpl Exchsrvr\Mtadata
X400om.dll Exchsrvr\Bin
X400omv1.dll Exchsrvr\Bin (See note below)
Notes
- If the Microsoft Mail Connector is installed on the server, you should manually copy the Address.dll and X400omv1.dll files to the Exchsrvr\Connect\Msmcon\Bin folder after applying the fix.
- If the Internet Mail Service is installed on the server, you should manually copy the Address.dll and X400omv1.dll files to the Exchsrvr\Connect\Msexcimc\Bin folder after applying the fix.
- If the Admin.exe utility is installed in a folder on the server other than the Exchsrvr\Bin folder, you should manually copy the Mmiext.dll file to the folder in which Admin.exe is installed after applying the fix.
STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.0.
This problem has been corrected in the latest U.S. Service Pack for Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.0. For information on obtaining the Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):
S E R V P A C K
MORE INFORMATION
The problem described in this article was introduced with an Exchange Server 5.0 post SP1 hotfix. Only MTA versions with build numbers 1459.17 and higher will show the above-described behavior.
Keywords: kbbug kbfix KB178204
