Bi-weekly IMF updates for Microsoft Exchange 2003 a step closer

This article describes the update process for the Intelligent Message Filter version 2 feature that is included with Exchange Server 2003 SP2. By default, the Intelligent Message Filter feature is installed with Exchange Server 2003 SP2. You must manually enable the Intelligent Message Filter feature to obtain the benefits of this new message filtering technology. After you enable the Intelligent Message Filter feature, the .dat file and the .dll file must be updated regularly to keep the filter current and effective. This article describes the update process that keeps the Intelligent Message Filter up-to-date.

Intelligent Message Filter updates are available every first and third Wednesday through Microsoft Update and Automatic Updates technologies.
Organizations can also use Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and System Management Services to deliver the updates in a corporate environment.

When the Exchange Server team cannot release the update on a Wednesday, they will release the update on the following day. In case the update is unavailable on a Thursday, the update for that week will be skipped. Then, the update will be released on the next scheduled Wednesday.

The Intelligent Message Filter is language-independent. Intelligent Message Filter updates are offered for all language versions of Exchange Server 2003.

How to enable updates
After you enable the Intelligent Message Filter in Exchange System Manager, to enable Intelligent Message Filter updates, you must create the ContentFilterState registry entry. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2. Expand the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Exchange
3. In the left pane, click Exchange. Then, right-click in the right pane, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
4. Type ContentFilterState, and then press ENTER to name the new registry entry.
5. Right-click ContentFilterState, and then click Modify.
6. In the Data value box, type 1, and then click OK.
7. Quit Registry Editor.
8. In the Services snap-in, restart the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) service.

Version numbers
An Intelligent Message Filter update package includes both a .dll file and a .dat file for the filter. The version information for the Intelligent Message Filter update files MSExchange.UceContentFilter.dll and MSExchange.UceContentFilter.dat reflects the Exchange Server build versioning in the following format: MajorProductVersion.MinorProductVersion.MajorNumber.MinorNumber. The version numbers are consistent with the Exchange Server build number, such as 6.5.XXXX.X. This makes it easier to identify the version number of the Intelligent Message Filter update that you have installed on the computer.

The update package version of an Intelligent Message Filter update is based on the date of the package build. Additionally, the update package version of an Intelligent Message Filter update is identified in the package name. For example, an update package that is dated December 14, 2005 has the following title:
Update for Intelligent Message Filter on Exchange Server 2003: 2005.12.14 (KB907747)
The executable package for this update has the following file name:
IMF-KB907747-2005.12.14-x86.exe

The update process
Continue At http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=907747