Auto Update your IMFv2 definitions

rated by 0 users
This post has 0 verified answers | 0 Replies | 0 Followers

Suggest an Answer

Exchange Architect

Points 3,290

Joel Stidley posted on 01-31-2006 12:42 AM

rated by 0 users

IMFv2 (the version with Exchange 2003 SP2) can now update itself using Windows Update, it just needs to be configured to do so. To turn on the IMF Update feature create the ContentFilterState registry key with the DWORD value 1 must be created under:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Exchange.

More information (excepts quoted below):

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=907747

Automatic Updates

When you select the Automatic option in Automatic Updates, Intelligent Message Filter updates, together with other updates, are downloaded and installed on the computer without user intervention. However, you should not enable Automatic Updates to automate installation of Intelligent Message Filter updates.

When you use Automatic Updates, the following options are available:

1.	Automatic download and installation of an update
2.	Automatic download of an update
3.	Notification of an update

These options are per computer and cannot be applied to an individual update. Because an automatic download and installation of the Intelligent Message Filter update will cause a restart of the IIS Admin Service, make sure that this setting is set for option 2 on servers that are running the Intelligent Message Filter. This will prevent any unplanned downtime. Also, we recommend, that you apply Intelligent Message Filter updates when there is a reduced load on the server to minimize disruption of services.

The update process

By default, when the Intelligent Message Filter is installed together with Exchange Server 2003 SP2, a new folder that is named MSCFV2 is created. The Intelligent Message Filter engine and the .dat file are stored in the following location:

Drive_Letter:\Program Files\Exchsvr\Bin\MSCFV2

Subsequent updates are stored in subfolders under the MSCFV2 folder. The subfolders are named according to the version number of the updates. For example, after you install several updates, the folder structure may appear as follows:

Drive_Letter:\Program Files\Exchsvr\Bin\MSCFV2
Drive_Letter:\Program Files\Exchsvr\Bin\MSCFV2\6.5.7612.0
Drive_Letter:\Program Files\Exchsvr\Bin\MSCFV2\6.5.7615.0
Drive_Letter:\Program Files\Exchsvr\Bin\MSCFV2\6.5.7620.0

The registry entry that is described in the "Enable updates" section reflects the state of the Intelligent Message Filter. This registry entry also serves as a reference point for the Intelligent Message Filter update package installer and for the Microsoft Update detection logic. This registry entry enables the update package installer to know whether the Intelligent Message Filter update functionality has been enabled on the server. If the registry entry does not exist, Intelligent Message Filter update packages are not offered. If the registry entry exists, Intelligent Message Filter update packages are offered.

The existing active version of the .dat file that is currently installed on the computer is recorded under the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Updates\Exchange Server 2003\SP3

For example, after you install the IMF-KB907747-2005.12.14-x86.exe update, the registry entry is similar to the following:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Updates\Exchange Server 2003\SP3\KB907747

This registry entry is verified every time that an update is offered for installation. If an update is successfully installed, the registry entry is updated. The update package installer knows which update is currently being installed. The update package installer compares that value to the current registry entry value. If the value is earlier than the update that is currently being offered, the update package installer performs the following actions, in this order:

1.	Verifies that Exchange Server 2003 SP2 or a later version is installed on the server.
2.	Records the existing active version number from the following registry entry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Updates\Exchange Server 2003\SP3
3.	Creates a subfolder that is named the same as the build number. This subfolder is created in the MSCFV2 folder. The path of the folder is similar to the following: Drive_Letter:\Program Files\ExchSrvr\Bin\ MSCFV2\BuildNumber
4.	Copies the Intelligent Message Filter .dll file and the Intelligent Message Filter .dat file to the newly created subfolder.
5.	Registers the Intelligent Message Filter .dll file.
6.	Updates the registry key based on the update version number.
7.	Deletes all updates that exist on the system except for the current update that has been installed by the update package installer and the last two updates. Therefore, after the first three updates, the next update removes the oldest update. This always leaves the latest three updates on the computer. Updates are installed in a sequential order. For example, if updates U1, U2, U4 are installed, the next update that can be installed is U5 or a later update. When U5 is installed, U1 is removed.
8.	During the update process, the update package installer restarts the IIS Admin Service for the package to take effect.