Exchange Server 2013 and 2016 Standard Edition can’t mount databases that are larger than 1024 GB

November 3, 2018

Applies to: Exchange Server 2013 Standard EditionExchange Server 2016 Standard Edition

This issue occurs because the default database size limit for Exchange Server 2013 Standard Edition and Exchange Server 2016 Standard Edition is 1,024 gigabytes (GB). There is no default database size limit for the Enterprise Edition. The Exchange store checks database size limits periodically and dismounts a database when the size limit is reached. Therefore, this issue may occur after the database is automatically dismounted.

Additionally, when you perform a failover of the database, the failover fails, and an event that resembles the following is logged in Event Viewer:

Note The database maximum size is hard-coded as 1,024 GB in the event, even though you may have changed it to a higher value in the registry.

Resolution

In order to have the full functionality of the Exchange database availability group (DAG) again, you must buy an Enterprise Edition license and apply it to the server.

Workaround

Important
Follow the steps in this section carefully. Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Before you modify it, back up the registry for restoration in case problems occur.To mount the database again, and to prevent the database from being automatically dismounted, follow these steps:

Start Registry Editor.
Locate the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\<Server Name>\Private-<database GUID>

Note You can retrieve the GUID of a database by running the following command in the Exchange Management Shell:
```
Get-MailboxDatabase -Identity "<database name>" | Format-Table Name, GUID
```
If the Database Size Limit in GB DWORD value exists for the subkey, change it to the size that you want, in GB.
If the Database Size Limit in GB DWORD value does not exist for the subkey, create a new DWORD value with that name, and then set its value to the size that you want, in GB.
Mount the database on the server by using Exchange Management Shell and the -Force switch.

Notes

When you change this setting, the change is propagated to all servers that host a copy of this database.
This registry key may be deleted after an Exchange cumulative update is applied.
This registry setting still does not allow the automatic failover of databases within the DAG. You must use the -Force switch when you mount the database with this registry setting in place.

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Categorised as: Exchange, Microsoft, Recovery

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