FFAPI: Err Msg: [021] Message Was Not Delivered Due to... (136379)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Mail Software Development Kit: FFAPI for Gateways and Applications 3.0
This article was previously published under Q136379 SYMPTOMS
When you send a message and later receive a non-delivery message, the
following message may be included:
[021] Message was not delivered due to missing routing file.
The message is also placed in the SYSTEM.LOG of the postoffice of the
recipient. This non-delivery message can be inappropriate in that the
recipient has received the message.
CAUSE
Gateways and FFAPI-based applications can contribute to the occurrence of
this incorrect message. When these programs execute the mailer process,
they will delete the routing file prior to updating the In queue of the
postoffice. When the In queue cannot be updated due to file contention, a
reference will continue to exist for a message that has no associated
routing file. This will cause the 021 message on the next cycle of In queue
processing.
WORKAROUND
When possible, the following steps should be taken to reduce the occurrence
of these errors.
- Use the mailer disable option on gateways that support this option.
When you use the mailer disable option, an external program must be
available to perform the mailer option. (Version 3.2 and later of
the External Mail program (EXTERNAL.EXE will not delete the routing
file if the In queue cannot be updated.)
The SMTP and X400 gateways support -md (mailer disable.)
- Place gateways and FFAPI-based applications on postoffices that have
a minimal amount of In queue activity. This will reduce the occurrence
of In queue file contention and increase the likelihood that the
In queue will be updated successfully.
STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in version 3.0 of Microsoft
Mail Software Development Kit: FFAPI for Gateways and Applications. A fix
for this problem is in development, but has not been regression-tested and
may be destabilizing in production environments. Contact Microsoft Product
Support Services for more information on the availability of this fix.
MORE INFORMATION
Mailer is the process that handles mail that has been posted to the In queue
mailbag of a postoffice. The process involves posting a message header into
each recipients mailbag, updating the In queue to remove the reference to
the mail item, and deleting the routing file that was used to identify
local recipients of the message.
The 021 error can occur when the mailer process is unable to access the
In queue to delete the reference to the mail item following mail delivery.
On a subsequent mailer process, a header is found that no longer has a
routing file associated with it. This produces the 021 error message in the
SYSTEM.LOG and results in the non-delivery notice being sent to the sender
of the mail item.
NOTE: The problem described in this article will not occur in mail systems
that have version 3.2 or later of the External Mail program. These versions
of External will not delete the routing file when the In queue cannot be
updated.
| Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 1/23/2000 |
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| Keywords: | KB136379 |
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