SBSC & MSP Buzz

Exchange Database Size Limit in SBS R2

So I’m running this SBS box that I had upgraded to R2 about 2 months ago.  Exchange becomes unavailable the application event log fills up with errors from other services attempting to talk to Exchange.  I’m thinking to myself that this may be bad, really bad.  Fortunately I spot Event ID 9690 from Source: MSExchangeIS Mailbox Store where it reads:  

Exchange store ‘First Storage Group\Mailbox Store (SERVER1)’: The logical size of this database (the logical size equals the physical size of the .edb file and the .stm file minus the logical free space in each) is 18 GB. This database size has exceeded the size limit of 18 GB.
This database will be dismounted immediately.

I’m not an Exchange guru but I have a suspicion that when the store dismounts, mail stops.   I look at the files and they total just over 18GB but that shouldn’t matter because I’m running R2 and R2 includes Exchange SP2 right?  Well, yes and no.  It does include SP2 but it doesn’t mean the size limit was changed.  See this EventID.net comment I found:

This error occurs after applying Exchange 2003 SP2. Microsoft increased the message store limit to 75GB in SP2. However, in the standard edition of Exchange 2003, the default limit was only increased to 18GB. You have to add a new registry key and specify 75GB if you want your stores to expand beyond 18GB.

Once click later and I’m in TechNet land looking at a quick fix by adding a registry key.  Here is the link if you feel comfortable with making this type of change to your SBS boxes. 

I’ve restarted the server and am now monitoring all SBS boxes for Event ID 9690.  Total time billed: .5 hours.  Not bad for not having to call CSS.  Community rocks!