After installing Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1), I experienced a problem attaching files larger than 5 MB in Outlook Web Access (OWA). Apparently, the Exchange 2007 SP1 upgrade broke the OWA virtual drives in Internet Information Services (IIS).
To fix the broken OWA virtual drives, I rebuilt them from the command line (CMD) and then applied a Microsoft hotfix. Unfortunately, Exchange 2007 SP1 resets all default settings for message size limits.
After resetting all message size limits to "Unlimited," I still could not send an OWA email attachment larger than 5 MB. A call to Microsoft confirmed that an Exchange 2007 SP1 upgrade causes OWA to no longer understand the "Unlimited" message size setting.
In this tip, I outline the steps required to change the OWA default attachment size limit in Exchange Server 2007 SP1.
Exchange Organization Level
To determine globally what the size limits are, use the command Get-TransportConfig | fl *size in the Exchange Management Shell (EMS).
To set the send or receive limit globally for the Exchange organization, use the Set-TransportConfig command per Microsoft's article on how to use the Set-TransportConfig cmdlet to modify the transport configuration settings for an Exchange Server 2007 organization.
For example, to set the send message size limit to 1000 MB: Set-transportconfig -maxsendsize 1000mb. To set to the receive message size limit to 100 MB: Set-transportconfig -maxreceivesize 1000mb.
Note: The Connector Level, by default, has a 10 MB limit. Exchange Organization Level and Mailbox Level settings default to "Unlimited."
The Get-sendconnector | fl name, *size command allows you to view the MaxSendSize on a Send connector.
Use the Set-sendconnector -maxmessagesize 1000mb command to change the MaxSendSize on the Send connector to 1000 MB from 10 MB, which is the default.
For more information on this command, read Microsoft's article on how to use the Set-SendConnector cmdlet to modify a Send connector.
Use this command to view the MaxReceiveSize on a Receive connector: Get-receiveconnector | name, fl *size.
The Set-sendconnector -maxmessagesize 1000mb command changes the MaxReceiveSize to 1000 MB on the Receive connector.
For more information on the Set-ReceiveConnector command, read Microsoft's article on how to use the Set-ReceiveConnector cmdlet to modify an existing Receive connector.
Mailbox Level
To view the maxsendsize and maxreceive size on all individual Exchange 2007 mailboxes, which (by default ) is unlimited, use this command: Get-mailbox | fl name, *size.
To view the MaxSendSize only on a mailbox with the name mailbox1, use the following command: Get-mailbox mailbox1 maxsendsize.
To change the MaxSendSize on an Exchange 2007 mailbox with the name mailbox1 to 100 MB, use the Set-mailbox mailbox1 -maxsendsize 1000mb command. To change the size for all mailboxes, use this command: Get-mailbox | Set-mailbox –Maxsendsize 1000mb.
This tip was submitted by site member Dan Sexton.
Do you have comments on this tip? Let us know.
Please let others know how useful this tip was via the rating scale below. Do you know a helpful Exchange Server, Microsoft Outlook or SharePoint tip, timesaver or workaround? Email the editors to talk about writing for SearchExchange.com.
