XCON: X.400 Connector Configuration Checklist (169159)


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 Q169159

SUMMARY

This article contains a checklist that is intended as an aide in configuring a Microsoft Exchange Server X.400 Connector to a foreign X.400 Message Handling System (MHS).

MORE INFORMATION

This is not intended to replace observations on previously operational connections that may point to the actual problem, but rather as a guide to succesful configuration of between dissimilar message transfer agents (MTAs). The term 'host' refers to a computer that supports an MTA.

  1. Can each host ping the IP address of the other?
    • No - Resolve network issue.
    • Yes - If you want to use the host name instead of the IP address, continue to step 2. Otherwise, continue to step 3.
  2. If the host name will be used instead of the IP address of the target MTA, ping the host name. NOTE: DNS supports host name resolution, or a 'hosts' file may be used. The hosts file for computers running Windows NT Server is located in the winntdir\System32\Drivers\Etc folder. The format is IP address, a tab, and then the host name. Did the host name return an IP address?
    • No - There is a problem with name resolution.
    • Yes - Continue to step 3.
  3. Configure the Exchange Server MTA to support a 2K TPDU. Start the Windows NT Registry Editor, change to the following registry key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services \MSExchangeMTA\Parameters

    Find the Supports 2K TPDU registry value, set the type to DWORD, and then change the value to 0x1 (1 hexadecimal).
  4. Have the administrator who wants to configure a given MTA record the following information for the MTA that they want to connect to:
    • Remote Host name. This entry is is case sensitive and cannot exceed 32 characters in length. It is used to specifiy the Remote MTA name on the General tab of the Exchange Server X.400 Connector.
    • Remote MTA password. This entry is case sensitive and cannot exceed a length of 64 characters. It is used to specifiy the Remote MTA password on the General tab of the Exchange Server X.400 Connector.
    • T selector. This value cannot exceed 32 text characters (64 hexadecimal characters). This value is critical and must be an exact match with the corresponding value specified in the configuration for the MTA on the other host. This value is used for the T selector that is specified on the Stack tab of the Exchange Server X.400 Connector. If the remote administrator wants to specify a S selector and/or a P Selector, this should be done after successful messaging has been established. The selector supported in the X.400 link options depends on the mode of the MTA. 1988 mode supports T, S, and P selector. 1984 modes support a T selector only.
  5. Use the Overide tab to specify the local MTA and password. The Exchange Server MTA uses the name of the computer that is running Windows NT Server on which Exchange Server is installed for the MTA name. If no incoming password is necessary, using the Override tab is unnecessary. Using a password is redundant because the T selector provides adequate security.
  6. The administrator of the foreign MTA provides the X.400 address associated with the foreign MTA or requests that you specify a 'wildcard' for the Country code in the address space configured on the Address tab of the Exchange Server X.400 Connector. Using a 'wildcard' character, the '*', in the address space results in a match for all X.400 recipients not local to the Exchange Server computer.
  7. The information on the Advanced tab of the Exchange Server X.400 Connector should be configured to match the mode of the foreign MTA. The X.400 link option to allow MS Exchange Content should always be disabled when connecting to a foreign MTA (click Help on the Advanced tab). The typical foreign MTA requires that the Two Way Alternate option be disabled. Allow BP-15 (in addition to BP-14) is available when sending to a 1984 X.410 or a 1988 mode foreign MTA.
  8. Make a custom recipient on both hosts or send to a user on the foreign host using a 1-off address in the To line. The following is an example of a 1-off address:

          [x400:c=us;a=attmail;p=organization;o=locale;s=lastname;g=firstname]

  9. If the above test fails in either direction, select the Server object in the Exchange Server Admininistrator program, and then click Properties the File menu. Click the Diagnostics Logging tab and increase the MSExchangeMTA X.400 Interoperablility and APDU logging to Maxium. This results in logging to the Bf0.log, Ev0.log, and Ap0.log files in the Mtadata folder.
  10. Repeat the send mail test and contact Microsoft Product Support and Services (PSS).
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/28/2005
Keywords:kbhowto kbsetup kbtshoot KB169159
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