Cannot Activate Database Copy: Content Index Catalog Files in Failed State

When activating a database copy in an Exchange Server 2010 Database Availability Group it may fail with an error message that catalog index files are in a failed state.

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Microsoft Exchange Error
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Cannot activate database copy ‘Activate Database Copy…’.

Activate Database Copy…
Failed
Error:
An Active Manager operation failed. Error The database action failed. Error: An error occurred while trying to validate the specified database copy for possible activation. Error: Database copy ‘MB-HO-03′ on server ‘HO-EX2010-MB2.exchangeserverpro.net’ has content index catalog files in the following state: ‘Failed’.. [Database: MB-HO-03, Server: HO-EX2010-MB1.exchangeserverpro.net]

An Active Manager operation failed. Error An error occurred while trying to validate the specified database copy for possible activation. Error: Database copy ‘MB-HO-03′ on server ‘HO-EX2010-MB2.exchangeserverpro.net’ has content index catalog files in the following state: ‘Failed’..

When you view the copy status of the mailbox database the content index is in a failed state.

[PS] C:\>Get-MailboxDatabaseCopyStatus | fl name, contentindexstate

Name              : MB-HO-01\HO-EX2010-MB1
ContentIndexState : Healthy

Name              : MB-HO-04\HO-EX2010-MB1
ContentIndexState : Healthy

Name              : MB-HO-03\HO-EX2010-MB1
ContentIndexState : Failed

Name              : MB-HO-02\HO-EX2010-MB1
ContentIndexState : Healthy

There are two likely causes of this issue.

1. The content index has failed due some error or fault occurring
2. Indexing has been disabled for that database (a common configuration for databases hosting journal mailboxes)

Fixing Failed Content Indexes

To resolve the issue update the content index on the server on which it has failed.

[PS] C:\>Update-MailboxDatabaseCopy "MB-HO-03\HO-EX2010-MB1" -CatalogOnly

The content index should now be in a healthy state.

[PS] C:\>Get-MailboxDatabaseCopyStatus | fl name, contentindexstate

Name              : MB-HO-01\HO-EX2010-MB1
ContentIndexState : Healthy

Name              : MB-HO-04\HO-EX2010-MB1
ContentIndexState : Healthy

Name              : MB-HO-03\HO-EX2010-MB1
ContentIndexState : Healthy

Name              : MB-HO-02\HO-EX2010-MB1
ContentIndexState : Healthy

After the content index is healthy you can attempt to activate the database copy again.

Performing Database Switchovers When Indexing is Disabled

If indexing has been intentionally disabled you can still perform a database switchover using the Exchange Management Shell, by running Move-ActiveMailboxDatabase with the -SkipClientExperienceChecks switch.

[PS] C:\>Move-ActiveMailboxDatabase MB-HO-03 -ActivateOnServer HO-EX2010-MB2 -SkipClientExperienceChecks

Assuming no other issues exist with the database the move should complete successfully.

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