XFOR: Sent Time Incorrect on Incoming SMTP Messages

• Microsoft Exchange Server, version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When the Microsoft Exchange client receives an SMTP message in which the time zone in the header is in lowercase, and the time zone in the header matches that of the client computer, the time zone is ignored and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is assumed. This causes the Sent time to be incorrect.

Example:

   Incorrect Time Stamp:

   Machine TZ is Eastern Standard Time (EST)
   Header date filed is = Mon, 10 Jun 1996 14:10:45 est
   Sent time in client shows -  Sent: Monday, June 10, 1996 10:10 AM

   Correct Time Stamp:

   Machine TZ is Eastern Standard Time (EST)
   Header date filed is = Mon, 10 Jun 1996 14:10:45 EST
   Sent time in client shows -  Sent: Monday, June 10, 1996 2:10 PM

CAUSE

The Internet Mail Connector (IMC) does not recognize the lowercase time zone value in the header as valid. The IMC then behaves as if the time zone is GMT, and converts the message on that basis.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server version 4.0. This problem was corrected in the latest Microsoft Exchange Server U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

   S E R V P A C K

MORE INFORMATION

This happens regardless of the time zone selected. Also, if the time zone of the computer is Eastern Standard Time (EST) but the date in the header is Central Standard Time, the problem does not occur. It only occurs if the time zone in the header matches that of the local computer.