INS:"501 Syntax Error" Returned During Replication

• Microsoft Commercial Internet System, version 1.0

SYMPTOMS

If an Internet News Server (INS) slave receives a replication request (XREPLIC) for a newsgroup that contains an illegal character at the start of a name component or an illegal word as a component of the name, you receive the following error message:

   501 Syntax error

CAUSE

The INS does not allow a newsgroup to be created with the plus sign, the minus sign, or the underscore character at the start of a name. This is also the case when trying to create newsgroup names under the INS properties page.

Additionally, INN allows the word "all," which cause INS to send the "501 syntax error" message and ultimately causes the feed to drop. The word "all" is the only specifically referenced illegal name. See the RFC (Request For Comments) at ftp://ds.internic.net/rfc/rfc1036.txt. The following is an example of an illegal group name because it contains the word "all" as a name component:

   alt.gamera.is.friend.to.all.children

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Commercial Internet System version 1.0. A supported fix is now available, but has not been fully regression-tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Service Pack that contains this fix. Contact Microsoft Technical Support for more information.