XCLN: Expired Passwords, Windows 3.x Client, and ShivaRemote

• Microsoft Exchange Windows 3.x client, version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you are working remotely with the Microsoft Exchange client for Windows 3.x and Windows for Workgroups 3.x, and initiate a remote dial-up connection to a Microsoft Exchange Server from within the client by opening the Tools menu and clicking Deliver Now..., the dial-up connection fails either silently, or after repeatedly presenting a Shiva credentials dialog prompting for your User Name and Password.

CAUSE

In the case of the silent failure, additional symptoms may include that the progress bar displays Connecting to Microsoft Exchange Server... and then the modem disconnects, yet the Inbox viewer appears. Verify that your Microsoft Exchange Server is operational and that your NT domain password has not expired.

In the case of the credentials dialog box appearing and then re-appearing after filling it in and clicking OK, your NT domain password may have expired, or you may be otherwise failing domain credentials validation.

Note that, "Tools, Deliver Now...", is not the most appropriate "transfer or connection engagement" mechanism when using the Microsoft Exchange Client remotely or in offline mode (see MORE INFORMATION, below).

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft Exchange clients, version 4.0, listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Exchange Server 4.0 U.S. Service Pack 4. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

S E R V P A C K

MORE INFORMATION

There are two issues to be considered here: informing you of conditions that require corrective action and providing a mechanism to take corrective action.

Informing you:

When using the Microsoft Exchange Client remotely and/or working offline, "Tools, Deliver Now..." is not the best option for initiating a connection to a Microsoft Exchange Server and transferring mail.

"Tools, Deliver Now..." operates in a mode that minimizes dialog popup. It is the same mode used for scheduled connections. The assumption is that no one may be present to respond to error dialogs or conditions, and therefore, communication, authentication, or operational errors returned during these operations do not result in dialog popups.

When working remotely or offline, the "Remote Mail, Tools, Connect" mechanism or "Tools, Synchronize, <option>" mechanism operates in a mode that assumes the user is present and thus returns communication, authentication, and operational errors to the user. These options are the recommended mechanisms for initiating a connection to a Microsoft Exchange Server and transferring mail when working remotely or offline.

The problem documented in this article is that the error handling chain from ShivaRemote to the Microsoft Exchange Client was not returning the proper error message when using the "Remote Mail" or "Synchronize" mechanisms.

The "expired domain password" condition can be confirmed by launching a Shiva Remote dial-up connection within Windows or Windows for Workgroups, outside of Microsoft Exchange. If the domain password has expired, you will receive the following dialog:

Your authentication attempt has failed; your password has expired.

Tools.Synchronize.This Folder - a Shiva credentials dialog will appear prompting for "User Name" and "Password". Afterwards, the dialog:

This folder could not be synchronized. Your password has expired.

Tools.Remote Mail.Connect - a Shiva credentials dialog will popup prompting for "User Name" and "Password". Afterwards, the dialog:

An error occurred during the connection: Your password has expired.

- If dialing into a Shiva LanRover:

1. Start the Shiva connection outside of Microsoft Exchange and establish a connection.



2. In Control Panel, Network, Logon(\Off), log off and then Log on. This should engage the mechanism for changing an expired Windows NT domain password.



3. Start the Microsoft Exchange Client and provide the new domain credentials. If your profile has disabled the Tools, Services, Microsoft Exchange Server, Advanced, Use Network Security During Logon checkbox. You will still have to synchronize all the passwords that Windows caches in the <username>.PWL or elsewhere.

- If dialing into a Shiva LanRover from Windows 3.1 to a Novell network where Windows NT PDCs and Microsoft Exchange Servers run FPNW & GSNW:

1. Start the Shiva connection outside of Microsoft Exchange and establish a connection.



2. On the Windows 3.1 computer, run the Chngpass.exe utility included with FPNW. This should change the Windows NT domain password and FPNW password. Chngpass.exe requires an SPX connection to the PDC.



3. Start the Microsoft Exchange Client and provide the new domain credentials if your profile has disabled the Tools, Services, Microsoft Exchange Server, Advanced, Use Network Security During Logon checkbox.

- On a Windows for Workgroups computer dialing into Windows NT RAS, it is possible to also have Windows for Workgroups RAS installed, and you can attempt a RAS connection. You will be informed that the domain password has expired and the dialog to change it will be presented. Care must be taken that Shiva's updates of NETBEUI.386 and NDIS2SUP.386 are not overwritten by Windows for Workgroups RAS's earlier version. You will still have to synchronize all the passwords that Windows caches in the <username>.PWL or elsewhere.

Additional query words:

Keywords : XCLN
Version : WINDOWS:4.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug