XFOR: Messages can be Rejected by Foreign X400 MTAs because the FreeFormName Field is too Long

ID: Q166603

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0

SYMPTOMS

If a message comes into Microsoft Exchange Server over the X.400 Connector from a foreign X.400 Message Transfer Agent (MTA), and is sent out over the Microsoft Mail Interchange (MSMI) to a Microsoft Mail for PC Networks recipient, and the message does not contain a FreeFormName field, when the recipient attempts to reply or forward the message, the new message might be rejected by the foreign X400 system. This happens because Microsoft Exchange Server will create a psuedo address like:

c=FR;a=ATLAS;p=Societe;o=Siege;s=Marceau;g=Marcel

that can be longer than 64 characters. If it is longer than 64 characters, the foreign X400 system will reject it.

CAUSE

The FreeFormName field is limited to 64 characters.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server, version 4.0. This problem has been corrected in the latest U.S. Service Pack for Microsoft Exchange Server version 4.0. 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

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.0. This problem has been corrected in the latest U.S. Service Pack for Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.0. 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

Additional query words: XCON XCLN

Keywords : kbbug4.00 kbbug5.00 kbfix5.00.sp2 XFOR
Version : 4.0 5.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug