XFOR: Dr. Watson on Startup Due to Excess DNS Search Entries

• Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 5.0, 5.5

SYMPTOMS

Upon startup of Exchange, the Internet Mail Service crashes with a Dr. Watson log error message:

   Application exception occurred:
           App: MSEXCIMC.dbg (pid=167)
           When: 4/24/1998 @ 13:28:38.298
           Exception number: c0000005 (access violation) 

CAUSE

This is caused by the introduction through RegEdit, or other third-party utility, of additional Domain Name Service (DNS) entries into the TCP/IP configuration under DNS Suffix Search Order. There is a limit of six (6) entries supported under Windows NT 4.0.

The Internet Mail Service attempts to parse these entries, and when attempting to store the length of the seventh entry, triggers an access violation.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do not exceed the supported number of entries.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server versions 5.0 and 5.5.

Keywords : XFOR
Version : 5.0,5.5
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbprb