XADM: How to load Exchange Symbols for DR. Watson

• Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5

SUMMARY

Debug Symbol files (symbols) are required for both kernel and user-mode debugging in Windows NT. Symbols provide a way to reference global variables and function names in the loaded executable.

Symbols are produced by the linker. They are removed from the retail product and saved in a separate (.DBG) file. This considerably reduces file size, decreasing file load time and increasing system performance. Symbols represent Function/API names and global variables.

Load the Microsoft Exchange Symbols on the Microsoft Exchange Server to help in debugging Dr. Watson event logs on the Microsoft Exchange Server. After loading the symbols, Dr. Watson logs will now contain references to the global variables and function names which will aid you in troubleshooting.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to load Microsoft Exchange Symbols for Dr. Watson:

1. If you are running Microsoft Exchange on Windows NT 3.5x, copy the Symbols directory and subdirectories from the NT Server CD, Support\Debug\<platform>\Symbols, to the Winnt directory on the Microsoft Exchange Server. You will have Winnt\Symbols with 9 subdirectories under Symbols. Under Windows NT 4.0, run Expndsym.exe from the \Support\Debug directory.

   It may be neccessary to run the Expndsym.exe from a command line with the following syntax:

         EXPNDSYM F: C:\WINNT
   

   where \WINNT is the %SystemRoot% where Windows NT is installed. This will create a C:\%SystemRoot%\SYMBOLS directory structure and place the *.DBG files in the appropriate sub-directory (Dll, Exe, and so forth).

   a. For version 4.0, run Setup.bat from the Support\Symbols\<platform> 
      directory on the distribution compact disk as follows:

         Support\Symbols\<platform>\Setup.bat.

      to ensure that the symbols are collected the next time Dr. Watson 
      traps a fault:

      installed on the machine. For service packs 1-3:

   SP1:  Run Setup.bat from \Support\Symbols\<platform>.
   SP2:  Run Setup.bat from \Server\<language>\Support\Symbols\<platform>
   SP3:  Copy all files from \Support\Symbols directory into the
         \Winnt\Symbols directory on your hard drive.

   b. For version 5.0, run Setup.exe from the Support\Symbols directory 
      on the Microsoft Exchange Server distribution compact disk. The
      Setup program will install all necessary symbols in the correct
      locations.  
   c. For version 5.5, run Setup.exe from the Server\Support\Symbols
      directory on the Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 distribution compact
      disk. The Setup program will install all necessary symbols in the
      correct locations.  

   as the default debugger for Windows NT.

   Create Crash Dump File.

   Note that the information contained in the crash dump file may not be
   useful for the system administrator and should only be collected after
   being requested by Microsoft support personnel.