Fix - Exchange Database Reached Maximum Size Error

Microsoft Exchange Server database is the place where all mailboxes are stored of multiple users. Exchange administrator manages user’s mailboxes consisting of emails, contacts, calendars etc. But like every other mail- server, exchange server have custom email size settings. Due to which an error is encountered while using server i.e “Exchange Database Reached Maximum Size Limit” Error. Results of this error are very painful as its affects the state of the database.

This error message is experienced in all exchange server versions like- “exchange 2003 database has reached its maximum size” or “exchange 2007 mailbox size limit reached”. This blog is all about the causes and solutions to fix “Exchange Database Size Error”

Why Exchange Database Reached Maximum Size error

As mentioned earlier, exchange server maintains a database setting in which a limit is set on sending and receiving emails for every user. These limitations can be for global or individual accounts in the database. Moreover when the logical size of exchange database is greater than the size of the configured database, then also this error message is experienced. This leads to Exchange database dismount and Messaging database will shut down instantly.

Because of MDB shutdown, the user cannot insert more content into their mailboxes to prevent it's from any type damage.

What is Logical Size of Exchange database

Exchange server consists of a number of different files, among them EDB and STM files are the basic components. The total physical size taken by both edb and stm files irrespective of white blank spaces is called as logical database files.

Blank Spaces are nothing but the empty spaces formed when a user deletes the content of the database like email, contact, attachments etc. Also, the white spaces are utilized first for a new content before increasing the physical size of the database.

Solution for Exchange Database Reached Maximum Size Error

Below are some best and tested solutions for solving the above mentioned error.

Solution 1: Generate a new database and copy the content into it.

In this method, you need to create a new database in exchange server and then move all your content into it. Copying the content into a new one will reduce the corrupted data files and increase the overall performance.

Solution 2: Change Registry Settings to increase the configured size limit of exchange database.

This method of configuring exchange database was not available in exchange 2003 prior versions. Also make sure that amendments made in Registry settings are accurate as if not, you may need to reinstall your operating system. Problems after complete registry settings are irrevocable. So make sure that you have a complete backup of Exchange database before proceeding.

• Firstly you need to open the registry settings as:
  Start >> Run >> open Regedit.exe and search the following Registry key
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\\Private-
• Search for DWORD i.e Database Size Limit in GB under subkey Private-[database GUID] and change the value to the desired size in gigabytes or terabytes accordingly. Select decimal while entering the size number.
• It is also possible that you cannot find DWORD in the subkey, in that case, create a new one and also mention the decimal value of size in gigabytes.
• Finally, after making the desired changes, you need to restart the Information Store Service to see the results.

Problems faced during Registry Setting changes

There are different problems encountered while making changed in Registry Settings.

• Firstly it is a complex procedure and improper settings will lead to overall system failure.
• It is also possible that deleting emails or database content will not resolve the size issue.
• When the Exchange server is dismounted, there is no way you can mount the database and use redegit.exe.

Conclusion

It is a possibility that the above two methods of solution fail to give you proper results. You are still getting Exchange Database Reached Maximum Size Error and are neither able to send and receive messages or add more content to your mailboxes. Then you need to check you edb files for corruption. You can either repair edb database files or can convert EDB file to PST file format. Both procedures are easily possible by using Exchange EDB to PST tool.