Name Resolution

The name resolution process in Microsoft Exchange Server is as follows:

1. Microsoft Exchange searches for a distinguished name in the recipient's address. If it finds a distinguished name, it reads the O/R address for that distinguished name.
2. If it does not find a distinguished name, it checks whether a distinguished name has been saved within the DDA fields. If it finds a distinguished name in the DDA fields (which means an MTA previously constructed this recipient's O/R address), it reads that distinguished name.
3. If the original distinguished name is invalid or no distinguished name exists, it scans the local proxy addresses for a match with the O/R address.
4. If it finds a match, it obtains the distinguished name. If the initial scan of proxy addresses fails but a common name or surname exists, it performs a "fuzzy match" scan for a unique matching distinguished name.
5. If the current O/R address is invalid, it adds the local X.400 proxy fields to make it valid.
6. If it finds new address information for a recipient, it re-encodes the P1 recipient address into the message.