XCON: MTA Terminates with 9404 Error

• Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5

SYMPTOMS

The message transfer agent (MTA) terminates with error 9404. The following error is observed in the application log for all versions of Microsoft Exchange Server:

9215
A sockets error 10061 on a connect() call was detected. The MTA will
attempt to recover the sockets connection. Control block index: 6. [BASE
ILTCP/IP DRVR 10 274] (12)

9404
A fatal MTA error has occurred. An illegal buffer request has been made.
The request was for 30 headers and 30 elements. [BASE TCP/IP DRVR 10]
(16)

A fatal MTA error has occurred. An illegal buffer request has been made.
The request was for 29 headers and 29 elements. [BASE TCP/IP DRVR 8]
(16)

CAUSE

The 9404 error is generated when the MTA receives an illegal TPKT request from the buffer manager.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server versions 4.0 and 5.0.

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.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.5. This problem has been corrected in the latest U.S. Service Pack for Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.5. For information about 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: 9404 illegal buffer mta terminates crash

Keywords : XCON
Version : WINDOWS:4.0,5.0,5.5
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug