XADM: Offline Address Book Not Updated After Changing Server

• Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5

SYMPTOMS

When you move the offline Address Book from an Exchange Server 4.0 computer to another Exchange Server computer, using the Administrator program of a computer running Exchange Server 5.0 or 5.5, the offline Address Book (OAB) will no longer be updated.

CAUSE

Exchange 4.0 does not set any values to the raw object "Off-Line-AB- Containers". If this object does not contain any value, Exchange 4.0 takes the global address list (GAL) to create the OAB. In Exchange 5.0 and 5.5, it's possible to specify more than one address container, so the Exchange 5.0 and 5.5 Administrator program always fills the raw object "Off-Line-AB- Containers" with nonviewable characters.

WORKAROUND

Two possible workarounds are:

- Do not use the global address list to create the OAB. -or- - Use the Exchange 4.0 Administrator program to change the OAB settings.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server versions 4.0, 5.0, and 5.5. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Keywords          : XADM kbusage
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,5.5
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbnofix