MHS: Err Msg: Cannot Open NETDIR.TAB

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Mail Gateway to MHS, version 3.0

SYMPTOMS

The following error message may appear in the MHSGATE.LOG file:

   Cannot open netdir.tab.

CAUSE

MHS uses the NETDIR.TAB file to assign unique filenames. If the NETDIR.TAB file is not available, INPOST.EXE cannot move a message from the Microsoft Mail database to the MHS system. If a message cannot be delivered properly to MHS, the INPOST.EXE program may create enough files so that the NETDIR.TAB file cannot allocate an additional unique filename.

RESOLUTION

Deleting the hundreds of files in the MHS\SW directory should resolve this problem temporarily. Check the MHS queue list (by selecting Queue, MHS from the Mail Administrator program) to see if there is a file that is addressed to an invalid user. Also, ensure that a POSTMASTER mailbox has been created for the gateway postoffice.

MORE INFORMATION

If no POSTMASTER mailbox exists, and if a message is addressed incorrectly, a recursive loop will be created. Each attempt to deliver a message to the postmaster generates an additional nondelivery message addressed to the postmaster. This can cause the MHS\SW directory to become full and will cause the above error.