PC DirSync: Requestor Inactive for Longer Than Update Window

  - Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.2, and 3.5

SYMPTOMS

The following error messages can be logged to the DIRSYNC.LOG file.

For Mail versions 3.0 and 3.0b, the errors are:

   Warning [   4] Error reading file: MSTTRANS
   Error   [ 129] Could not find the specified sync number PCM:Net/PO

   Error [      ] PCM:Net/PO
   Error [138] Server sync does not exist anymore (0)
   Error [139] Number of missing transactions = 1300 (0->1299)

CAUSE

These errors occur when a requestor postoffice does not participate in directory synchronization (Dir-Sync) for a period greater than the Keep Updates time (in Admin, Config Dir-Sync, Server Updates). Global updates that are older than the number of update window days will likely be purged, and when the inactive requestor becomes active again, these warning messages are logged.

For Mail 3.2 and 3.5, the numbers at the end of the messages report the number and location of the missing transactions in the MSTTRANS.GLB file (the master list of all transactions to the server). This file is routinely purged of transactions that are older than the Keep Updates window. If the requestor does not participate in Dir-Sync for a time greater than the Keep Updates time, transactions may be purged and the errors reported when the requestor resumes Dir-Sync.

In the error messages, Net and PO indicate the requestor that is missing the transactions. If the type is a gateway, PCM will be changed to the type of gateway involved (for example, SNADS, PROFS, or SMTP).

RESOLUTION

The requestor postoffice must send its complete address list to the server (via the Mail Administrator program Config, Dir-Sync, Requestor, Export command) and request the full list from the server (via the Mail Administrator program Config, Dir-Sync, Requestor, Import command) in order to re-synchronize with the server and have its updated list sent to all other requestor postoffices.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in versions 3.0, 3.0b, 3.2, and 3.5 of Microsoft Mail for PC Networks. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.