XFOR: IMC Accepts SMTP Address with Space While IMS Does Not

ID: Q191262

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5

SUMMARY

In accordance with RFC 821, the SMTP address should not contain a space unless enclosed by double quotes. For example, "nate sun"@mycompany.microsoft.com is an acceptable SMTP address while nate sun@mycompany.microsoft.com is not. However, the Microsoft Exchange Server 4.0 Internet Mail Connector (IMC) accepts incoming SMTP addresses that contain a space while the Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0 Internet Mail Service rejects the incoming SMTP address that contains a space, and sends the error message:

553 malformed address: <nate sun@mycompany.microsoft.com>

MORE INFORMATION

The following is from the Microsoft Exchange Server 4.0 IMC SMTP log:


   4/26/97 12:20:46 PM : <<< helo mycompany.microsoft.com
   4/26/97 12:20:46 PM : >>> 250 OK

   4/26/97 12:20:59 PM : <<< mail from: <nate sun@mycompany.microsoft.com>
   4/26/97 12:20:59 PM : >>> 250 OK - mail from  <nate
      sun@mycompany.microsoft.com>
      .
      .
      .

The following is from the Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0 SMTP log:


   4/26/97 12:18:49 PM : <<< helo mycompany.microsoft.com
   4/26/97 12:18:49 PM : >>> 250 OK

  4/26/97 12:19:19 PM : <<< mail from: <nate sun@mycompany.microsoft.com>
  4/26/97 12:19:19 PM : >>> 553 malformed address:  <nate
      sun@mycompany.microsoft.com>
      .
      .
      .

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:4.0,5.0,5.5
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb