XCON: Exchange Does Not Support Maximum 3-digit Country Codes

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Exchange Server versions 4.0 and 5.0

SYMPTOMS

If a route is set up on a Microsoft Exchange Server connector for type X.400 and it uses the three-digit numeric string for the country code, messages sent out that route will return a non-delivery report (NDR) to the message originator as follows:

   Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.

   Subject: Test Numeric Country Code
   Sent: 2/27/97 11:17:12 AM

   The following recipient(s) could not be reached:

      'TEST (Numeric)' on 2/27/97 11:19:13 AM
            Unable to deliver the message due to a recipient problem
            MSEXCH:MSExchangeIS:MORFSITE2:MIRALPHA1

CAUSE

According to Recommendation X.402 section 18.3.3 of the 1988 ITU Blue Book, it is valid to use the numeric country codes specified in Recommendation X.121 on the C= portion of an X.400 address.

Microsoft Exchange Server does not currently support this format. Exchange Server does fully support ISO 3166, which mandates the use of two-character printed strings for country codes.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server versions 4.0 and 5.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.