Update to modify the OAB public folder expiration in Exchange Server 2003

An update is available to override the Offline Address Book (OAB) lifetime setting of 30 days in Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. We recommend that you adjust this value only in the Hosting environment, as per the Hosting deployment instructions.

By installing this hotfix, you can create a registry key to configure the expiration time in days for the contents of the public folder that contains the OAB.

Note By default, the OAB generator OABGen sets the age limit to 30 days on the two subfolders that the OAB generator uses. Because of this, the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service removes messages from these subfolders if the messages are more than 30 days old.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is 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 software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if 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. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required to install this hotfix.

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart your computer after you apply this hotfix. However, the following services are automatically stopped, and then restarted, when you install this hotfix:

• Microsoft Exchange MTA Stacks service (MSExchangeMTA)
• Microsoft Exchange Information Store service (MSExchangeIS)
• Microsoft Exchange System Attendant service (MSExchangeSA)

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) 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.

Hotfix installation information

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

After you install this hotfix, create the following registry entry to modify the OAB expiration time:After you create this registry value, every time that OABGen runs, OABGen reads the registry entry and stamps it on the public folders that it uses.

Note The OAL Folder Lifetime (days) registry value only affects OAB version 2 (V2) and OAB version 3 (V3) folders.

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

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