DOCUMENT:Q196169 24-JUL-2001 [exchange] TITLE :XADM: Option to Zero Out Deleted Messages on Exchange Server PRODUCT :Microsoft Exchange PROD/VER::5.5,5.5 SP1 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbFEA exc55sp2fea exc55 exc55sp1 ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 5.5, 5.5 SP1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When a message is deleted on an Exchange Server computer, there is currently no provision to zero out the deleted items. This means that the deleted data could be retrieved using conventional retrieval methods. STATUS ====== MORE INFORMATION ================ Microsoft recognizes the need for an option for zeroing out deleted items. We have modified Exchange Server 5.5 so that it is now possible to zero out the deleted items on a hard disk. To obtain this feature, obtain the latest service pack for Exchange Server version 5.5. For more information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q191014 XGEN: How to Obtain the Latest Exchange Server 5.5 Service Pack This feature was first included in Exchange Server 5.5 Service Pack 2. Zeroing out of pages has been made a part of the backup procedure. The backup will be a little bit slower, but it will also do zeroing work. However, the zeroing will occur after the tape write. This means that the deleted items will be on the tape until the next backup. In order to work around the problem of the tape retaining the information of the deleted items, an option to run backup to a NULL device has been provided. This procedure will explicitly zero out pages but with no backup. To make sure that the tapes do not retain the information of the deleted items, it is suggested that the NULL option be executed before the actual tape backup. This will mean a read of every database page, but this is at the rate of approximately 60 gigabytes an hour. Thus, backup time will be increased for the time to run to a null device. The NULL option is an extension to the Exchange backup API. A particular backup application may not support this function. At this time, NT Backup does not leverage this function. Additional query words: retrieval, deleted message ====================================================================== Keywords : kbFEA exc55sp2fea exc55 exc55sp1 Technology : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange550 kbZNotKeyword2 kbExchange550SP1 Version : :5.5,5.5 SP1 Issue type : kbbug Solution Type : kbfix ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.