XFOR: Cannot Send Message Through Microsoft Mail Connector Due to Mailbag Contention

ID: Q237695

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5

SYMPTOMS

When you send a message to a Microsoft Mail recipient through the Microsoft Mail Connector, you may receive a non-delivery report (NDR) that contains the following text:

[008] Failure delivering user mail due to mailbag contention.
Even though you receive an NDR, the message may be delivered successfully.


CAUSE

This problem most commonly occurs if more than one instance of the External program attempts to access the same mailbag file.


WORKAROUND

Verify that only one instance of the External program connects to the Microsoft Mail postoffice at a time. If the problem continues to occur, you may be able to work around the problem by following these steps:

  1. If the Microsoft Mail postoffice is located on a Novell NetWare server, verify that the files in the ATT, GLB, KEY, MAI, and MBG folders have owners and are not locked.


  2. If any files in the P1 folder are more than two days old, delete the files. The P1 folder is used by the External program to store temporary files.


  3. Verify that your computer is running version 3.2.18 or later of the External program.


  4. Verify that the Access*.glb files are not damaged. Run the Listuser.exe utility against the Microsoft Mail postoffice. If the results contain unrecognizable characters or other unusual information, the access files may be damaged.

    For additional information about determining if the Access*.glb files are damaged and for information about restoring the files if they are damaged, please click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:


    5. Q135932 PC DB: LISTUSER Version 2.1 Displays Unrecognizable Characters
  5. Rename the Admin.nme file to 00000000.nme, log on to the postoffice administrator's mailbox, and then view the administrator's personal address list (PAL). If any of the entries in the PAL appear to be damaged, rebuild the postoffice address list (POL).


  6. Verify that the mailbag files are not over the 4096 record limit. For additional information, please click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:


    7. Q163020 XFOR: MSMail Connector NDR Message with Event ID 2117

Additional query words:

Keywords : exc4 exc5 exc55
Version : winnt:4.0,5.0,5.5
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: August 16, 1999
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