Exchange 2000 SMTP connector address space must be prefixed with asterisk (*) to be used by Exchange Server 5.5 in mixed topology (262206)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server
This article was previously published under Q262206

SYMPTOMS

In a mixed Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 and Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server topology, an Exchange 2000 SMTP connector address space must be prefixed with an asterisk (*) for the connector to be used by Exchange Server 5.5 computers in the organization.

CAUSE

You must use the * prefix because the Exchange Server 5.5 message transfer agent (MTA) can't process an SMTP address space that is not prefixed with an *.

RESOLUTION

If you add an asterisk (*) to the address space on the Exchange 2000 SMTP connector, this behavior does not occur.

Exchange 2000 Service Pack 2 (SP2) does not allow the address space to be added with an @ sign. You must create an SMTP connector on the Exchange 2000 side with an address space of * for internet mail to flow through Exchange 2000 from the Exchange Server 5.5 users.

MORE INFORMATION

For example, in an existing topology that contains an Exchange Server 5.5 computer and an Exchange 2000 computer in the same site, if you have created an SMTP connector on the Exchange 2000 computer with an address space of @microsoft.com:

Type: SMTP Address: @microsoft.com Cost: 1


This address space is replicated to Exchange Server 5.5 as @microsoft.com, but this address space is not used by the Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 Message Transfer Agent (MTA). Users on the Exchange 2000 computers can send mail to anyuser@microsoft.com by using the Exchange 2000 SMTP connector with no problems.

Exchange Server 5.5 users cannot send mail to anyuser@microsoft.com by means of the SMTP connector that is homed on the Exchange 2000 server. The mail generates a non-delivery report (NDR) from the Exchange Server 5.5 MTA similar to the following:

Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.

Subject: Test message from Wsilver
Sent: 5/4/2000 1:40 PM

The following recipient(s) could not be reached:

'AnyUser@Microsoft.com' on 5/4/2000 1:41 PM
The recipient name is not recognized
The MTS-ID of the original message is:
c=US;a=;p=MixedOrg;l=Wsilver01-000504174029Z-17
MSEXCH:MSExchangeMTA:Site1:Wsilver01


To resolve this issue, create an SMTP connector with the address space of *.microsoft.com. This address space will be replicated to the Exchange Server 5.5 MTA as *.microsoft.com, and mail that is sent from an Exchange Server 5.5 mailbox will traverse to the Exchange 2000 computer and out of the SMTP connector there.

Note In Exchange 2000 Service Pack 3 and later versions, if you create a connector in a mixed environment that you want Exchange Server 5.5 to know about and to use, do not use the regular domain name style naming convention for the address space. For example, do not use microsoft.com. Instead, use *.domain-name. For example, use *.microsoft.com. When this address space is replicated to the Exchange Server 5.5 Gateway Address Routing Table (GWART), it will be usable by the Exchange Server 5.5 MTA because it begins with an asterisk.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/25/2005
Keywords:kbnofix kbprb KB262206
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