Exchange Server 2010 Search

By default, Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 stores a number of filters for indexing. We can also install filters to index more file attachments.

Below is the list of default search filters installed in Exchange Server 2010 mailbox server. This list can be obtained from this registry path:-

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ExchangeServer\v14\MSSearch\Filters

ascx .asm .asp .aspx .bat .c .cmd .cpp .cxx .def .dic .doc

.docx .dot .h .hhc .hpp .htm .html .htw .htx .hxx .ibq .idl

.inc .inf .ini .inx .js .log .m3u .mht .odc .one .pl .pot

.ppt .pptx .rc .reg .rtf .stm .txt .url .vbs .wtx .xlc .xls

.xlsb .xlsx .xlt .xml .zip

This path also contains the list file types, known as, Safe List Filters that Exchange does not index.

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ExchangeServer\v14\MSSearch\NullFilters

.aif .aifc .aiff .asx .au .bmp .dib .emf .gif .ico

.IVF .jfif .jpe .jpeg .jpg .mlv .mid .midi .mp2 .mp2v

.mp3 .mpa .mpe .mpeg .mpg .mpv2 .png .rle .rmi .snd .

wav .wax .wdp .wm .wma .wmf .wmx .wvx

By default, indexing is enabled for all new mailbox databases. We can disable indexing on individual mailbox or for an entire Mailbox server.

How to Disable or Enable Mailbox Search on Mailbox

Set-MailboxDatabase "Mailbox Database (EXCH01)" -IndexEnabled $false

Set-MailboxDatabase "Mailbox Database (EXCH01)" -IndexEnabled $true

How to Enable or Disable Exchange Search for a Mailbox Server

To enable or disable the Exchange Search for a Mailbox server requires stopping or starting the Microsoft Exchange Search Indexer service. This can be done by stopping or starting the Microsoft Exchange Search Index service from the Services console.

How to manage Exchange Search service from the Shell

Stop-Service MSExchangeSearch

(To stop the Exchange Search Service)

Set-Service MSExchangeSearch -StartupType Disabled

(Set the Exchange Search service start-type as Disabled)

Set-Service MSExchangeSearch -StartupType Automatic

(Set the Exchange Search service start-type as Automatic)

Start-Service MSExchangeSearch

(To start the Exchange Search Service)