XFOR: Generating Unique SMTP Address During Dirsync (192023)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0

This article was previously published under Q192023
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When importing users via directory synchronization (dirsync), the custom recipient (CR) creation may fail. Those imported users have a non-unique alias or address that can create duplicate proxy addresses. For example, dirsync is attempting to import a user with the alias SOMEONE, while a user with an SMTP proxy address of someone@microsoft.com already exists. This newly introduced user's SMTP proxy should be automatically set to be someone2@microsoft.com. Instead, the attempt to create a unique proxy is not done, and the entire creation of the CR fails.

CAUSE

If the "AddressMappingFileName" and "SMTPDomain" values in the \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeDX registry key are enabled, it causes the Addr_map.cfg file to be in use. If the file is in use when dirsync reaches the duplicate proxy address, dirsync does not attempt to create a unique address, and therefore, is unable to create the custom recipient.

The whole point of having the Addr_map.cfg file is to ensure that users can retain their original SMTP address from Microsoft Mail for PC Networks. Therefore, as can be expected, when this feature is activated by the registry entries, it attempts to retain the original SMTP address.

RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

Microsoft recognizes the need for resolving the CR creation failure as mentioned in the situation above. We have modified Exchange Server version 5.5 so that a new registry key is now available.

The new code allows for the setup of a new registry value. Perform the following steps to set these values:

  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
  2. Locate the following key in the registry:
          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeDX
  3. On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following registry value:
          Value Name: Unique SMTP for AddrMap
          Data Type:  REG_DWORD
          Value:      0 (Default) or 1
  4. Quit Registry Editor.
If this value is set to 0 (default), functionality remains as is. If this value is set to 1 (True), then the Directory Exchange Agent (DXA) and the AddressMappingFileName registry setting is used to create specific SMTP proxies. The DXA will then create a unique SMTP address much in the same way it does now for the secondary MS Mail (PC) proxy.

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: The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

Component: dirsync

   File Name     Version
   -----------------------
   Dxa.exe       5.0.2358.0
				


STATUS

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

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/28/2005
Keywords:kbbug kbfix KB192023