XADM: Dead Letter Functionality with Exchange Server 4.0 (154108)

SYMPTOMS

Dead Letter functionality is not included with Exchange server 4.0. This existed on the release candidate builds but it was removed from the final product. A server that has been upgraded through the release builds can exhibit some problems when sending mail to invalid addresses. For example, when sending a message to an invalid MS Mail address chosen from the personal address book, the message may be sent to the Administrator's Mailbox defined in the MS Mail Connector Properties. The sender does not receive a Non-Delivery Report indicating address unknown. The recipient does not receive the message.

CAUSE

This occurs if the Exchange Server has been upgraded from Release Candidate 1 to Release Candidate 2 to Exchange 4.0. In Release Candidate 1, an Object Attribute called DOMAIN-DEF-ALT-RECIP was used to define a Dead Letter recipient. This attribute was deleted from Release Candidate 2; however, the upgrading process may not have deleted this attribute.

RESOLUTION

Launch the Exchange Administrator in raw mode by adding a forward slash and an r (/r) to the end of the command line.
Highlight the Configuration Object and select MTA Site Configuration.
On the File menu, select Raw Properties.
Locate the attribute DOMAIN-DEF-ALT-RECIP and delete the entry in the Edit Value field.
Press the Set button and click OK to exit the Raw Properties.
Using the Services tool in Control Panel, stop and restart the Microsoft Exchange Message Transfer Agent service.

MORE INFORMATION

The Dead Letter recipient functionality provided a recipient for messages that could not be delivered to the intended recipient. This functionality was deleted in the Release Candidate 2.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

152446 Dead Letter Recipient Button is Missing