XFOR: DirSync Names Disappearing

• Microsoft Exchange Server, version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

Directory synchronized names either never seem to get to Microsoft Exchange Server, or names disappear after you perform a modify. This is most commonly seen when a new user is added to the directory synchronization (dir-sync) stream and then there is a modify transaction containing template information.

If directory synchronized Custom Recipients were once in the Microsoft Exchange Directory and have disappeared or some names are received by Microsoft Exchange and seem to be discarded, you may be experiencing this problem.

CAUSE

In the Microsoft Mail dir-sync process, it is possible to send a (M)odify transaction followed only by the new template information as follows:

   A Leopard, Lady                  SNADS:NET/PO/LEOPARD
   M Leopard, Lady                  SNADS:NET/PO/LEOPARD
   Leopard, Lady                  SNADS:NET/PO/LEOPARD<----Notice this is
   duplicate of line 1
    - Internal Mail Code:/1 and is not necessary on MSMail DirSync.
    - Department:/2
    - Division:/Testing
   A Lion, Leo                      SNADS:NET/PO/LIONLEO
   M Lion, Leo                      SNADS:NET/PO/LIONLEO
    - Internal Mail Code:/1
    - Department:/2
   - Division:/Testing

Both of these (M)odify transactions are valid according to the Microsoft Mail Dir-Sync Protocol but the (M)odify transaction is not being handled properly by Exchange if it does not contain the friendly name/address information repeated on the second line of the (M)odify transaction. Note: this replication is not necessary, according to the Microsoft Mail Dir- Sync Protocol, if the friendly name or address has not changed.

All Microsoft Mail postoffices and computers running Microsoft Exchange Server will duplicate the friendly name/address information line as Lady Leopard's (M)odify illustrates above. This problem is only seen when manual Import.txt files are created and added to the dir-sync stream manually or by an automated process written by you.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem:

Ensure that all (M)odify transactions destined for Exchange has the friendly name/address information line repeated on line two of the (M)odify transaction.

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 4.0 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):