Exchange 2007 – Message Size Limits

Users are frequently asking, what are the ways to set the message size limits in Exchange 2007.

Let’s consider that they ask for their outlook users because for OWA we have different mechanism to limit the size.

Microsoft Reference : Managing Message Size Limits

1.   Global/Organizational Limit

2.   Connector Limit

     2.1   Send Connector

     2.2   Receive Connector

     2.3   Active Directory SiteLink Limit

     2.4   Routing Group Connector Limit

3.   Server Limits

4.   User Level Limits

Now lets discuss in detail….

1. Global / Organizational Limits

This setting applies on all the Exchange servers in your organization.

You can set this in two ways…

• If Exchange 2007 SP1 is not installed then you need to set it using the Set-TransportConfig command from the Exchange shell:

Check the configuration setting by below command.

Get-TransportConfig

      Now set the MaxReceiveSize and MaxSendSize by below command.

      Set-TransportConfig -MaxReceiveSize 40MB -MaxSendSize 40MB

Now verify the configuration by Get-TransportConfig.

• If Exchange 2007 SP1 is installed then you can set it through GUI. This setting will be configured for all Hub Transport server in the organization.

Organization Configuration -> Hub Transport -> Global Settings tab ->  Transport Settings -> Click on Properties -> set Maximum Receive Size and Maximum Send Size

2. Connectors Limit

2.1. Send Connector

Send Connectors are used for sending outbound messages to the internet or particular address spaces if you have configured.

• We can configure the message size on Send Connectors through Exchange Management Shell

You can see the current configuration of Send connector.

Get-SendConnector

Now, to set the message size on send connector to 40MB run below command.

Get-SendConnector | Set-SendConnector -MaxMessageSize 40mb

Or if you know the name then,

Set-SendConnector “Connector Name” -MaxMessageSize 40mb

Verify that it has configured correctly.

• Through GUI you can set like below.

Organization Configuration -> Hub Transport -> Send Connectors -> select appropriate connector -> Properties -> General tab -> Maximum Message Size (KB) field you need to set.

Note: if you have Edge Server in your environment then it has Send Connector configured to send mail to your Hub Transport server so make sure that it has also configured with correct size.

2.2 Receive Connector

Receive Connectors are used for receiving inbound messages.

• We can configure the message size on Receive Connectors through Exchange Management Shell

Check the configuration with below command.

Get-ReceiveConnector “Connector Name” | FL Identity, *max*

Run this command to set message size on receive connectors to 40MB.

Set-ReceiveConnector “Connector Name” -MaxMessageSize 40mb

Verify that it has configured correctly.

• Through GUI you can set like below.

Server Configuration -> Hub Transport -> select a HT server -> Receive Connectors -> select a connector -> Properties -> General tab -> Maximum Message Size (KB)

Note : By default, this is set to 10MB so you need to set as per your requirement.

2.3 Active Directory SiteLink Limit

In Exchange Server 2007 SP1, you have an option to set message size limit on AD Site Links.

By default MaxMessageSize on AD Site Links is set to unlimited.

You can see the current settings by below command.

Get-ADSiteLink | FL Name, Sites, *Max*

You can change it by using the following command:

Set-ADSiteLink “SITE LINK NAME” -MaxMessageSize 40Mb

Verify setting configured correctly.

Get-ADSiteLink | FL Name, Sites, *Max*

2.4 Routing Group Connector Limit

If your environment is in co-existence mode, means using Exchange 2003 also then on Routing Group Connectors also you can set message size limit which will take effect when message passes between Exchange 2003 & Exchange 2007 environment.

By default MaxMessageSize on Routing Group Connector is set to unlimited.

Get the information about RGC by below command.

Get-RoutingGroupConnector “Connector Name” | FL Name, *Max*

You can change it by using following command.

Set-RoutingGroupConnector “CONNECTOR NAME” -MaxMessageSize 40Mb

Verify it is configured correctly.

Get-RoutingGroupConnector “Connector Name” | FL Name, *Max*

3. Server Limits

You can set Transport Rule on Hub Transport Servers or Edge Transport Servers to set attachment size limit for some or all mails based on Transport Rule prediction “When the size of any attachment is greater than or equal to limit”.

Reference: Exchange 2007 – Transport Rules & Disclaimer

4. User Level

Individual Users / recipients can be set with their own limits.

• Check and set through Exchange Management Shell

You can see the current limit by using below command.

Get-Mailbox “User Name” | Format-Table Name, *Max*

You can set by using below command.

Set-Mailbox “User Name” -MaxSendSize 40mb -MaxReceiveSize 40mb

Verify once it is configured.

• Exchange Management Console: Go to below path to set it.

Recipients -> Mailbox -> select mailbox -> properties -> Mail Flow Settings tab -> Message Size Restrictions -> Set Sending Message Size & Receiving Message Size.

Note : If you set user level send/receive size higher than Global/Organizational level then it works for internal purpose only and while sending mail to external recipient Global Level limit takes effect.

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