DOCUMENT:Q156716 05-APR-1999 [exchange] TITLE :XCON: Foreign MTA Rejects X.400 Messages PRODUCT :Microsoft Exchange PROD/VER:winnt:4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbusage ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Exchange Server, version 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== An X.400 message sent from Microsoft Exchange Server to a foreign system might be rejected by the delivering Message Transfer Agent (MTA) if that MTA attempts to perform any actions on the originator and recipient X.500 directory names (DNs) contained within the message envelope. CAUSE ===== In accordance with the 1988 X.400 standard, a field in the P1 is reserved for the X.500 DN name. This can be either Printable Character Set or Teletex. Microsoft Exchange uses a printable string but maintains non- printable characters in the DN. These non-printable characters can cause the rejection of messages at a foreign MTA. MORE INFORMATION ================ The DNs are generated by Microsoft Exchange based upon certain configuration attributes. For example: o=MyOrg ou=My_site cn=RECIPIENTS cn=xxxxxxxx In the above example, an underscore in the site name will cause the problem. The encoded DN includes information identifying the attribute type (o, ou, cn, and so forth) and syntax. Microsoft Exchange specifies that the ou name syntax is PrintableString, but an underscore is not in the PrintableString character set (The X.500 standards state that the ou [and o] names can also be Teletext [T.61], which includes the underscore character). STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server version 4.0. This problem was corrected in the latest Microsoft Exchange Service Pack. 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 Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : kbusage Technology : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange400 kbZNotKeyword2 Version : winnt:4.0 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1999.