XADM: Routing Calculation Fails Across Entire Organization

ID: Q182798

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5

SYMPTOMS

If you add a new connector to an Exchange site and recalculate the routing (<org>/<site>/Configuration/Site Addressing/Routing), you may find that the routing table does not reflect the changes that you have made. This problem can affect all sites within the organization. The Windows NT event log still reports that the routing was successfully updated:


   Event ID : 5000
   Source : MSExchangeSA
   Description : Recalculation of the routing table is complete.  Result:
   The operation has completed successfully.

CAUSE

An invalid address space was entered on a connector, which caused the routing calculation to ignore subsequent connectors.

The syntax for address spaces on a connector is checked when the connector is created in the Exchange Administrator program. However, in Exchange 4.0 SP4 and Exchange 5.0, a mechanism to restrict the scope of an address space was introduced. Using a LOCAL address space bypasses the syntax checking, so therefore it is possible to add an invalid address space. The Administrator program in Exchange 5.5 has been modified so that the scope of the address space can be set without having to use the LOCAL method, although this can still be used.

For more information on LOCAL routes, please see Knowledge Base article Q161947, "XCON: MTA: Address Space Replication with LOCAL Address Spaces."

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, do the following. First, examine the address spaces for all connectors, paying particular attention to those added using the LOCAL syntax. Examples of invalid syntax entered are:


   Type : LOCAL
   Address : X400:c=XX;a=VOID

The above address is invalid, because for LOCAL address spaces the delimiter needs to be a comma instead of the usual semi-colon.


   Type : LOCAL
   Address : X400:c=MyCountry, a=*

This is invalid because "MyCountry" is not a valid country code.

Remove the invalid address spaces and then recalculate the routing. You will find that the routes for new connector will now appear in the routing table.

For more complicated Exchange configurations with many connectors, it may not be easy to examine every connector in the organization. In these cases, use the hotfix described below. This ignores the invalid address spaces and fully recalculates the routing for the Exchange site.

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 Exchange Server version 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: GWART RID routing

Keywords : kbusage XADM
Version : 4.0,5.0,5.5
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug