NOTE: This article is ONLY applicable for Exchange 2003

Email often carries more than just a message. It can also other types of data embedded within the body or as an attachment to the email. To protect mailbox databases from uncontrolled growth due to massive use of mail attachments, Microsoft Exchange incorporates a special set of message size limits in its configuration. This article describes the limits that can be set on message size in a Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server along with how to set these limits.


Problem Overview

During a DigiScope restoration you receive the error "Message being sent exceeds the message size established.....".  As the error suggest the message could not be restored because the item(s) in question exceed the current set limits.  This usually happens when a new server is setup and the defaults are not changed to match the corporate policies OR if historical data being restored exceeds the current policy in place.  Please review and keep in mind the following:

  •  MESSAGE SIZE
    • The size of a message includes the entire content of the message, i.e. not only any attachments but also the information within all fields of the message as well, i.e. if you have embedded objects directly within the email such as showing pictures. spreadsheet cells etc., that information along with any attachments make up the actual size.
    • As a message routes from mail system to mail system it can get larger than when it started. This happens because as a message traverses different mail systems, transcoding (or Base64/MIME conversion) may occur. On average this results in a 33 percent larger message than when it left your outbox. Therefore take this into consideration and consider increasing the setting by 33%. For example if I want to ensure that a 50MB message can get through if transcoding occurs I would want to set my Exchange 2003 message size limit to 67MB.


  • AFTER MAKING ADJUSTMENTS

    • Once you make changes for message size, even though the changes appear to be updated it may take up to 2hrs or more for changes to actually take effect

    • To make changes take effect immediately: Restart the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service.


NOTE: Be aware that restarting the Information Store service will dismount and remount all exchange databases on the server which will interrupt mail flow temporarily.


Problem Resolution Overview

DigiScope displays information onscreen about any items it cannot restore and also logs information about the message location, title and reason each item cannot be restored.  This information is located within the DigiScope/Logs/Restore folder. For each restore job there will be a "Date/time - NotRestored" folder and within each folder there will be a separate CSV file for any mailbox where items were not restored. Depending on your situation you have two options to resolve the "message exceeds size limit error" as outlined below.


NOTE: When using the default settings DigiScope will not restore duplicates of an item, therefore if you decide to stop and restart the restoration process it will not duplicate items previously restored.


LET THE RESTORE FINISH AND THEN TAKE ACTION  

Should you be well into the restoration process and only have a few incidents of messages not being restored due to a message exceeds the size limit error, you may want to let the current restore finish and then, once completed, do the following;

  1. Close DigiScope
  2. Review the CSV files for each mailbox which as stated above will be located within the DigiScope/Logs/Restore folder
  3. Check & Modify the limits to allow for restoration of items exceeding the Exchange 2003 message size limits
  4. Open DigiScope
  5. Use the appropriate CSV file to identify items within a mailbox that failed to restore because of size limits and restore each item via Drag-N-Drop or the Restore Wizard 


STOP, ADJUST AND RESTART THE RESTORE 

If  you just started your restore and are getting the error regarding message size restrictions OR your getting a large # of errors its probably wise to stop the restoration, adjust the settings and then restart the restoration.  Restarting could be much more efficient since manually reviewing and restoring a large # of items that didn't restore could take substantial effort. 

  1. Stop the DigiScope restoration
  2. Disconnect DigiScope from the Production Databases
  3. Check & Modify the limits to allow for restoration of items exceeding the message size limits
  4. Connect DigiScope to the Production Databases containing the mailboxes for restoration
  5. Restart the restoration


CHECK & MODIFY MESSAGE SIZE RESTRICTION SETTINGS


GLOBAL SETTINGS

This setting determines the maximum size incoming, outgoing, or internal messages can be within the Exchange organization

To configure the global setting, follow these steps:

  1. Start Exchange System Manager.
  2. Expand Global Settings.
  3. Right-click Message Delivery, and then click Properties.
  4. Click the Default tab to configure the global settings.
  5. Make the desired changes and click OK.


CONNECTOR SETTINGS

The settings for each connector control the maximum size of outgoing messages that users can send through the connector. To configure the connector settings, follow these steps:

  1. Start Exchange System Manager. 
  2. Expand Administrative Groups, and then expand Administrative Group Name, i.e. the actual name of your administrative group.
  3. Expand Routing Groups, and then expand Routing Group Name, i.e.the actual name of your routing group.
  4. Expand Connectors, right-click the connector that you want to configure, and then click Properties.
  5. On the Content Restrictions tab, under Allowed sizes, click to select the "Only messages less than (KB)" check box, and then type the size (in KB) that you want to permit.


SIMPLE MAIL TRANSFER PROTOCOL (SMTP) VIRTUAL SERVER SETTING
To configure the SMTP virtual server setting, take the following steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Exchange, and then click System Manager.
  2. Expand Administrative Groups, and then expand Your Administrative Group Name, i.e. the actual name of your administrative group.
  3. Expand Servers, and then expand Your Server Name, i.e. the actual name of your server.
  4. Expand Protocols, and then expand the SMTP node.
  5. Right-click SMTP Virtual Server Name, i.e. the actual name of your SMTP virtual server, and then click Properties.
  6. Click the Messages tab to set the maximum size that you want to permit


USER MAILBOX SETTINGS

This setting determines the maximum size of a message that users can send or receive through their mailboxes. To configure an individual user's mailbox settings, follow these steps:

  1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in, and locate the user account that you want to configure.
  2. Right-click the user's account, and then click Properties.
  3. Click the Exchange General tab, and then click Delivery Restrictions to set the maximum size that you want to permit.


AFTER MAKING ADJUSTMENTS

  • Once you make changes for message size, even though the changes appear to be updated it may take up to 2hrs or more for changes to actually take effect

  • To make changes take effect immediately: Restart the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service.


NOTE: Be aware that restarting the Information Store service will dismount and remount all exchange databases on the server which will interrupt mail flow temporarily.


SUPPORT: If you experience issues, have questions or need assistance after following these instructions please Open a New Support Ticket or if you already have a ticket open reply with details and we will be happy to assist.  That said, Lucid8 is providing the information herein as a courtesy. This article is not intended to be nor imply a service contract to resolve Microsoft related issues and providing you with this information does not commit Lucid8 to support or assist with any Microsoft related features, capabilities or responsibilities. To say it another way, this article is here to help resolve the message size issue as quickly as possible.  However if your Exchange environment does not respond to the adjusted settings or if you have other Exchange related issues we are not obligated to asssist unless you engage Lucid8 under a "Paid Professional Services Agreement"