XCON: 290/4284 Errors Indicate Misconfigured MTA or Connector

 Last reviewed: November 14, 1997
Article ID: Q170471
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, and 5.5

SUMMARY =======

The Microsoft Exchange Server Message Transfer Agent (MTA) may return messages back to originators with Non-Delivery Reports (NDRs) that state: 

   Unable to deliver due to MTA congestion.
These NDRs will be accompanied by the following events logged in the Windows NT Server Event Viewer Application Log: 

   4284 A error occurred during connection/disconnection. 
   Error code: 8511 [POP4 POP4 DOWN 4 179] (14)

   290 A non-delivery report (reason code unable-to-transfer and diagnostic code 
   maximum-time-expired) is being generated for message C=US;A= ;P=Organization;
   L=Server03-970224213600Z-1460. It was originally destined for
   DN:/o=organization/ou=sitename/cn=recipients/cn=recipientnameC=US;A= ;
   P=organization;O=sitename;S=user;G=joe; (recipient number 1); and was to be 
   redirected to . [MTA DISP:RESULT 20 136] (12)
MORE INFORMATION ================

This combination of errors usually indicates a misconfigured MTA and/or connector. To troubleshoot this issue follow these steps:

  1. Verify that the Windows NT Servername matches the local MTA name.
2. Verify that the naming conventions used to communicate between the two servers 
   are functioning correctly.
3. If X400 connectors are being used, make sure all the manually entered 
   information is correct on both servers.
If any of these are incorrect, this behavior is by product design.

Additional query words:
Keywords : XCON kbprb
Version : 4.0 5.0 5.5
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbinfo
Solution Type : kbworkaround

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: November 14, 1997
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.