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Exchange Troubleshooting

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OABGen encountered error 80004005 (internal ID 50101f1) ...

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Symptom:

The following error is logged in the Application event log on the Exchange server:

OABGen encountered error 80004005 (internal ID 50101f1) accessing the public folder database while generating the offline address list '/'.
- \Default Offline Address List

Log name: Application
Source: MSExchangeSA
Event ID: 9331
Level: Error

this may be followed immediately with a second error:

OABGen encountered error 80004005 while cleaning the offline address list public folders under /o=DOMAIN/cn=addrlists/cn=oabs/cn=Default Offline Address List. Please make sure the public folder database is mounted and replicas exist of the offline address list folders. No offline address lists have been generated. Please check the event log for more information.
- \Default Offline Address List

Log name: Application
Source: MSExchangeSA
Event ID: 9335
Level: Error

Despite what it says in the logged error there be no further items logged.

As a result of this error the offline address book has not been generated, and users may notice that the address book they are using in Outlook is growing old.

Possible Causes and Remedies:

Unfortunately this error seems to be very much a catch all error. From searching the internet there do seem to be a number of possible causes. I have only recorded what worked for me:

• There are errors in the Default Global Address List.

  My Exchange server was a replacement for an Exchange 2003 server, and it seems that in the upgrade process problems were introduced into the Default address List. This could be confirmed by running the cmdlet: Update-GlobalAddressList

  [PS] C:\Windows\system32>Update-GlobalAddressList -Identity "Default Global Address List"
  WARNING: The recipient "mydomain.com/Microsoft Exchange System Objects/xxxxx" is
  invalid and couldn't be updated.
  WARNING: The recipient "mydomain.com/Microsoft Exchange System Objects/OAB Version 2" is invalid and couldn't
  be updated.
  WARNING: The recipient "mydomain.com/Microsoft Exchange System Objects/OAB Version 3a" is invalid and
  couldn't be updated.
  WARNING: The recipient "mydomain.com/Microsoft Exchange System Objects/Offline Address Book -
  \/o=DOMAIN\/cn=addrlists\/cn=oabs\/cn=Default" is invalid and couldn't be updated.
  WARNING: The recipient "mydomain.com/Microsoft Exchange System Objects/Offline Address Book - First
  Administrative Group" is invalid and couldn't be updated.
  WARNING: The recipient "mydomain.com/Microsoft Exchange System Objects/Schedule+ Free Busy Information -
  First Administrative Group" is invalid and couldn't be updated.
  [PS] C:\Windows\system32>

  In my case there are two sets of errors in there (1.) those which relate to public folders and (2.) those which relate to system folders and OAB.

  1. Dealing with the public folder errors.

     WARNING: The recipient "mydomain.com/Microsoft Exchange System Objects/some-public-folder-name" is invalid and couldn't be updated

     This error seems to be caused by a public folder alias having a character in it which Exchange doesn't like - such as a space.

     To resolve:

     1. Open Exchange Management Console, and navigate to Toolbox, and open the "Public Folder Management Console".
     2. In the "Public Folder Management Console" find the public folder named in the error.
     3. Select the parent of that public folder. With the parent selected you should see the public folder in the right hand pane. You should now be able to right click on the public folder and open its Properties.
     4. Select the "Exchange General" tab - at this point you will will be met with an error:

        The properties on this object have invalid data. If you click OK, the default values will be used instead and will be saved if you do not change them before hitting Apply or OK on the property page. If you click cancel, the object will be displayed read-only and corrupted values will be retained.

        This error is confirmation that you are looking at the right public folder.

        Click [OK] to clear the error dialog.

     5. Edit the "Alias" value, I would suggest replacing any spaces with an underscore. Once you are happy with the alias click [OK] (or [Apply]), if Exchange detects a problem it will notify you (although it might be a bit cryptic about what character it objects to).

     Re-run the cmdlet Update-GlobalAddressList you should see that the error relating to this public folder no longer appears. Repeat as necessary for any other folders.

  2. Dealing with the outlook address book errors.

     The process for correcting errors in the system folders (such as outlook address book errors) is essentially the same, except that it may not be intuitive which folder needs correcting.

     For errors relating to the OAB/Offline Address Book navigate (using the Public Folder Management Console) to Public Folders > System Public Folders > Offline Address Book. Open the properties for each child individually and check the "Exchange General" tab. If an error message appears then either remove any spaces from the "Alias" or replace those spaces with an underscore.

  When all issues have been resolved (so Update-GlobalAddressList can be run without generating any warnings or errors) try kicking off a rebuild of the offline address book. (Exchange Management Console > Organization Configuration > Mailbox > Offline Address Book > Right click on the "Default Offline Address List" and select "Update."

• Since the error relates to the generation of the "Default Offline Address List" (but check the wording of your specific error) try generating a new offline address list.

  This involves a few steps:

  1. Create a new offline address list

     Exchange Management Console > Organization Configuration > Mailbox > Offline Address Book > New Offline Address Book ... use the same settings for everything as you have with the current "Default Offline Address List".

     To make it the (new) default offline address list highlight it and then the option "Set as Default" should be available. Click "Set as Default".

  2. Update the client settings to use the new offline address list.

     Exchange Management Console > Organization Configuration > Mailbox > Database Management > Right click the Mailbox Database and open its Properties > Client Settings tab > Default public folder database click [Browse ...] and select the new offline address list that you just created. [OK] to close.

  Once you are happy that everything is working you can delete the original offline-address list. The event log error will continue to be generated until the original offline address list is removed. I would suggest waiting a few days to be sure.

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These notes have been tested with Exchange Server 2010.