Mail enabled public folder delivery problem.
All servers running Exchange 2010 SP2 Rollup 6 We have 2 public folder databases, (Database A and Database B). All public folders replicate between the 2 databases. The folders that are mail enabled only receive email on Database A. Once the folder in Database A receives the email, it replicates to Database B. However, this is a huge problem when Database A is offline as no email is delivered to either database. We need to be able to send all new email to public folders to be delivered to Database B when Database A is down. How do we do this?
April 17th, 2012 4:33pm

See the section - Selecting the Destination Public Folder Database http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb232193.aspx This works slightly different to normal mail-enabled users.Sukh
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April 17th, 2012 4:46pm

Thank you for the response, but how can I change the preferred order so that Database B receives the email before Database A.
April 17th, 2012 5:25pm

It's in that link, edge file.Sukh
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April 17th, 2012 5:26pm

The edge link file is on the edge server. How does changing that value on the edge server tell it which public folder database to deliver mail to that is on a Mailbox server? Thanks for your response.
April 17th, 2012 5:35pm

Did you check this one - EdgeTransport.exe.config file. This file is located in the %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V14\Bin directory on a computer running Exchange 2010. On the HUB server too.Sukh
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April 17th, 2012 5:40pm

Yes, I see that file on my hub server. The value is: <add key="PFReplicaAgeThreshold" value="2.00:00:00" /> How does changing the value of this key tell it which public folder database to use? Sorry, but I don't understand. Thanks for your response.
April 17th, 2012 5:44pm

The public folder database that has the best age rating is selected as the preferred public folder database. By default, the baseline age for public folder replicas is two days (48 hours). You can modify this value by editing the PFReplicaAgeThreshold key in the EdgeTransport.exe.config fileSukh
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April 17th, 2012 6:05pm

How do I know what the age is of the public folder? These mailbox servers and the public folders are both over a year old. How does changing the PFReplicaAgeThreshold tell it which public folder database to use?
April 17th, 2012 6:16pm

msExchOwningPFTreeBL - Check this attribute in adsiedit and see what DB is listed 1st. Always lists the most recently added public folder databases at the top of the list. You can change this too. Sukh
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April 17th, 2012 6:19pm

Ok, that's what I need to change. How do I change it?
April 17th, 2012 6:22pm

adsieditSukh
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April 17th, 2012 6:23pm

it does not give me the option to change the order of the servers. Do I just remove them all and add them back in the order I need? Thanks again for your responses.
April 17th, 2012 6:49pm

Leave the adsiedit option for now and do the above change in the edgetransport.exe.config file, change that value on the server yuo want to receive the mail for the PF to a older age, i.e 4 days and leave the server you dont want to receive to say the default.Sukh
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April 18th, 2012 6:03am

I don't think you can control the smtp transport behavior of public folders. The transport is based on serveral metrics with the msExchOwningPFTreeBL list typically being the least\lowest metric to use. Local PF, Site, least cost remote site, etc are used before the msExchOwningPFTreeBL list. Its all based primarily on routing which you can't control. Now if your HT determines a particular PF server as the best choice and that PF server is down, it will get queued. Exchange 2007 mail-enabled public folder transport http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2007/04/16/3401930.aspx James Chong MCITP | EA | EMA; MCSE | M+, S+ Security+, Project+, ITIL msexchangetips.blogspot.com
April 18th, 2012 10:56am

The mailbox servers DO NOT have the edgetransport.exe.config file, so where would I change that value?
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April 18th, 2012 1:48pm

I have to be able to change this routing. How is this possible that Microsoft would create software that is this restrictive? What if the PF database was lost, does that mean that we would never again be able to receive email to mail-enabled public folders?
April 18th, 2012 1:51pm

HUB server.Sukh
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April 18th, 2012 1:54pm

Sukh - why would changing that value on a hub server cause the hub server to redirect email to a particular mailbox server? that makes no sense.
April 18th, 2012 2:13pm

How many AD sites do you have and what's in each AD site? Do you use DAG? Are these PF dedicated on a server or share with a DAG node if being used/Or a standalone MBR role?Sukh
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April 19th, 2012 4:40am

I would say try the most basic solution, dont have a replica for that particular mail enabled pf on A. Only downside your A users will have to retrieve from B.James Chong MCITP | EA | EMA; MCSE | M+, S+ Security+, Project+, ITIL msexchangetips.blogspot.com
April 19th, 2012 11:12am

I opened a ticket with Microsoft and here is the resolution: We have determined this is a known issue, and is being worked on by our Transport Developers. I do not have an ETA on the deployment of this fix, and currently there is no IU. There is a workaround for the issue. You need to replicate your public folder database out to each transport hub server in your environment. The transport hub server will determine what public folder database to use based on proximity first, thus it will use its local database if one is available. We will close this case as a Bug so you will not be charged.
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April 19th, 2012 5:33pm

Replicate the PF DB to the HUB server or mailbox? Or are they saying install the mbx role on the HUB and create a PF DB and replicate to that?Sukh
April 20th, 2012 5:14am

Yes, they want me to add the mailbox role to my hub transports, and add a PF database there. Because when the hub receives an email for a mail enabled PF, it looks at its local database first for delivery.
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April 20th, 2012 8:34am

A bug really? The way its working is by design the way I see it. The PF will use the best routing to calculate the destination to the PF database if that PF is unavailable it will queue. Don't think it's a bug cause it's always been like that, maybe he's submitting a DCR for the default behavior.James Chong MCITP | EA | EMA; MCSE | M+, S+ Security+, Project+, ITIL msexchangetips.blogspot.com
May 2nd, 2012 2:48pm

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