MSMQ Diagnostics "Send test messages" and "Tracking" are greyed out

So you want to test out the routing of MSMQ messages through your enterprise?

Sounds simple enough - go to the Properties of the machine to be tested and choose the Diagnostics tab.

Strange, the options to send test messages and track routing are greyed out:

 

even though I seem to have everything you would need

  • Routing services installed? ü
  • Multiple sites? ü
  • One DC per site? ü
  • Site links?  ü
  • Send test message? û 

Eventually I found after following various links in the online documentation for these diagnostics tools that they are DISABLED in the registry by default!

For instructions on enabling these features, see Enable route tracking and test messages

and set EnableReportMessages.