Exchange 2013 Invalid return from command: check_pdh

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hillhealthcenter
Posts: 174
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2012 7:45 am
Location: New Haven, CT

Exchange 2013 Invalid return from command: check_pdh

Post by hillhealthcenter »

I've configured checks for Exchange 2013 with the Exchange wizard to check the state of Remote Queue Length and Messages Pending Routing. However, both checks are returning:

Uknown - NSClient - ERROR: Invalid return from command: check_pdh
Thanks so much,
Tom
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cdienger
Support Tech
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Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2017 11:26 am

Re: Exchange 2013 Invalid return from command: check_pdh

Post by cdienger »

The checks look for the following counters:

\\SMTP Server(_Total)\\Messages Pending Routing
\\SMTP Server(_Total)\\Remote Queue Length


Running "TypePerf.exe -q > counters.txt" on a remote system will provide a list of available counters.

If the counters do not exist then they may need to be enabled or otherwise made available. The checks can also be updated to pull new counters. \MSExchangeTransport Queues(_total)\Active Remote Delivery Queue Length for example.
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ssax
Dreams In Code
Posts: 7682
Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2015 12:54 pm

Re: Exchange 2013 Invalid return from command: check_pdh

Post by ssax »

I found this here, please check to see if you have those performance counters available:

https://blog.kmsigma.com/2016/11/08/whe ... -counters/

You should be able to run a powershell console as administrator and run the command below to view the available counters:

Code: Select all

get-counter
One thing to remember is that you may not have SMTP installed on your exchange server (you may just have IMAP, etc), the exchange wizard doesn't reach out to detect what you have available and not all options will be available in your version of Exchange, you can view a list of the most important counters here and adjust your services accordingly:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/exchan ... -2013-help

Let us know if you have any questions.
hillhealthcenter
Posts: 174
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2012 7:45 am
Location: New Haven, CT

Re: Exchange 2013 Invalid return from command: check_pdh

Post by hillhealthcenter »

With your help, I figured it out. :D
Thanks so much,
Tom
ssax
Dreams In Code
Posts: 7682
Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2015 12:54 pm

Re: Exchange 2013 Invalid return from command: check_pdh

Post by ssax »

That's great to hear, can you give us specifics of what the fix was so that we can have it noted for other users?

Thank you
hillhealthcenter
Posts: 174
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2012 7:45 am
Location: New Haven, CT

Re: Exchange 2013 Invalid return from command: check_pdh

Post by hillhealthcenter »

I opted to use this command:

Code: Select all

check_xi_service_nsclient!!COUNTER!-l "\MSExchangeTransport Queues(_total)\Active Mailbox Delivery Queue Length" -w 25 -c 100
Thanks so much,
Tom
ssax
Dreams In Code
Posts: 7682
Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2015 12:54 pm

Re: Exchange 2013 Invalid return from command: check_pdh

Post by ssax »

Great thanks for the update, I'll be marking this as resolved and locking the topic.
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