How to re-synchronize a mailbox and generate a clean set of log files. (4247915)

The MSA doesn't check that all the PRV items it creates are subsequently processed by the transmission agent & the MTA. When items are not processed then there will always be an entry in the log - the logs are very verbose - but often mailboxes have been processing over a long period of time, so the errors can be difficult to find & will often relate to historical issues which no longer exist.

If the MSA has already processed an item then it will not attempt to process it again unless told to perform a resync. 

How do I re-synchronize a mailbox and generate a clean set of log files?

If there are multiple mailboxes affected it is recommended to just pick one or two for an initial resync because the log file data will be easier to interpret.

If followed closely this procedure will at the very least create a clean set of logs which will enable any problem to be quickly identified.

- stop the agents

- disable all current mail synch collections

- create a new collection just for the affected mailboxes & move these mailboxes into this collection

- rename the files\\source_server\qmmex$source_server$\mailsource agent\emwmsa.log &\\target_server\qmmex$target_server$\mailtarget agent\emwmta.log to any name (note that if your Exchange is a CCR cluster the share name will instead be \QMMExNode$)

- use the Service File Viewer (from the Resource Kit) to identify & delete all PRV files related to these mailboxes from the source & target servers

- modify the properties of the new synch collection, selecting the option to Resynchronize 'All'

- commit changes

- start the agents

Note that if the mailbox is already switched you will need to also select the check-box to "Synchronize only new mailbox items and changes made in the already switched mailboxes" in addition to the Resynchronize 'All' option, otherwise switched mailboxes are skipped.