Exchange Categorizer Queue Test

This test indicates how well SMTP is processing LDAP lookups against the global catalog servers. The Exchange Categorizer queue length should be around zero unless the server is expanding distribution lists. While expanding distribution lists, this counter can occasionally go up higher. This is an excellent measure of how healthy the global catalogs are. If there are slow global catalogs, this queue length will increase.

Purpose

Indicates how well SMTP is processing LDAP lookups against the Global catalog servers

Target of the test

An Exchange server 2000/2003

Agent deploying the test

An internal agent

Configurable parameters for the test
  1. TEST PERIOD - How often should the test be executed
  2. Host - The IP address of the machine where the Exchange Server is installed.
  3. Port – The port number through which the Exchange Server communicates.
  4. ISPASSIVE – If the value chosen is yes, then the Exchange server under consideration is a passive server in an Exchange cluster. No alerts will be generated if the server is not running. Measures will be reported as “Not applicable’ by the agent if the server is not up.

Outputs of the test

One set of results for every Exchange server being monitored

Measurements made by the test

Measurement

Measurement Unit

Interpretation

Categorizer queue length:

This value indicates how well SMTP is processing LDAP lookups against the Global catalog servers.

Number

The value should be below 10 most of the time.