XFOR: IMCEASMTP-swadmin+40corporate+2ecom@* in NDR Message (189492)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Exchange Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5
This article was previously published under Q189492

SYMPTOMS

When an Exchange client sends a message, it may receive the following non- delivery report (NDR): 
   Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.

      Subject:   Test Message
      Sent:   11/3/97 12:03 PM

   The following recipient(s) could not be reached:

      IMCEASMTP-swadmin+40corporate+2Ecom@* on 11/3/97 12:03 PM
         The recipient name is not recognized
         MSEXCH:IMC:Microsoft:CIRCUS:CLOWNS 3553 553 malformed address:
            IMCEASMTP-swadmin+40corporate+2Ecom@*
The e-mail was sent to [smtp:swadmin@corporate.com] Notice the "*" at the end of the address line.

CAUSE

This can happen if an incorrect routing entry of asterisk (*) exists in the Address Space property page of the Internet Mail Service (Internet Mail Connector in version 4.0).

WORKAROUND

To workaround this problem:

  1. In the Microsoft Exchange Administrator program, check for the incorrect entry by double-clicking on the Internet Mail Service and select the Address Space tab.
  2. Look for the Address Entry to which your message would have been routed. If you don't know which address entry was used to deliver the message, then check all of the Address Entries. To inspect the address entries, double-click on each entry. This will bring up the SMTP Properties dialog box with the following tabs: a General tab containing the E-mail Domain and Cost, and a Routing tab containing Type and Address.
  3. Inspect the Routing tab. If it includes an asterisk (*), then delete the Type and Address entries.
This should fix the problem.

MORE INFORMATION

The address that the client is sending to is being encapsulated by the Internet Mail Service.

In the non-delivery report returned to the client, the at symbol (@) was converted to its hexadecimal format (40) and the dot (.), to the hexadecimal (2e). Then the Internet Mail Service takes the converted address and appends an asterisk (*) that it gets from the Routing tab.

Normally, the Internet Mail Service will be configured with an Address space entry of: 
   SMTP                      *                    1.
Double-clicking this entry will reveal the General tab settings to be: 
   E-mail domain    *
   Cost                  1
The Routing tab entries will be blank: 
   Type
   Address
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/28/2005
Keywords:kbprb KB189492
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