XCON: NDRs Can Be Lost if a More Restrictive Size Limit is Set on Remote MTA

• Microsoft Exchange Server, version 5.0

SYMPTOMS

Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0 will, in certain circumstances, fail to return a non-delivery report (NDR) if a message encounters a message size limit on the remote server's message transfer agent (MTA). The end result is that the user will be unaware that their message has failed to be delivered.

The following events will be seen in the Windows NT Application Event log and Exchange Server EV0.log:

   Event ID: 141
   Source: MSExchangeMTA
   Type: Warning
   Category: X.400 Service
   Description: The MTA is unable to route a report for message MTA object
   at fault: 0600004F. Check the routing table for a possible incorrect
   routing configuration. [MTA DISP:RESULT 22 136] (12)

   Event ID: 62
   Source: MSExchangeMTA
   Type: Warning
   Category: X.400 Service
   Description: A delivery failure occurred for the message with message
   transfer service identifier C=;A=;P=;L=. X.400 reason code
   unable-to-transfer. Diagnostic content-too-long. Contact Microsoft
   Product Support Services. [0 MTA DISP:RESULT 22 136] (12)

   Event ID: 290
   Source: MSExchangeMTA
   Type: Warning
   Category: X.400 Service
   Description: A non-delivery report (reason code unable-to-transfer and
   diagnostic code content-too-long) is being generated for message
   C=;A=;P=;L=. It was originally destined for DN:/o=/ou=/cn=/cn=
   recipient number 1), and was to be redirected to . [MTA DISP:RESULT 22
   136] (12) 

CAUSE

If an administrator places differing size restrictions on Exchange Server MTAs, then messages with a size between the limits will be lost when sent to the more restrictive server. The messages do not get delivered and although an NDR is generated it also does not get delivered.

RESOLUTION

A supported fix that corrects this problem is now available from Microsoft, but has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. If you are not severely affected by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.0 service pack that contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

Component: Message Transfer Agent (MTA)

   File Name      Version
   --------------------------
   Address.dll    5.0.1461.76
   Dbserver.sch   N/A
   Dcprods.cat    N/A
   Ems_rid.dll    5.0.1461.76
   Emsmta.exe     5.0.1461.76
   Infoblog.cfg   N/A
   Infoplog.cfg   N/A
   Infotlog.cfg   N/A
   Infoxlog.cfg   N/A
   Mmiext.dll     5.0.1461.76
   Mtacheck.exe   5.0.1461.76
   Mtamsg.dll     5.0.1461.76
   P2.xv2         N/A
   P3.tpl         N/A
   P772.tpl       N/A
   X400om.dll     5.0.1461.76
   X400omv1.dll   5.0.1461.76 

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.0.

Keywords :
Version : WinNT:5.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug