XFOR: Exchange 5.5 Internet Mail Service on Cluster Uses Node IP Address (266250)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 SP1, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 SP2, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 SP3, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT
This article was previously published under Q266250

SUMMARY

When the Exchange Server 5.5 Internet Mail Service is installed and configured on either a Microsoft Windows 2000 or a Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 cluster, Internet Mail Service uses the physical node Internet Protocol (IP) address instead of the Exchange-based server's virtual IP address.

MORE INFORMATION

You can use protocol logging and a network trace to determine what occurs when a node makes an outbound connection. The protocol log reports that the connection is coming from the cluster IP, but the network trace reports that the connection is using the IP address that is bound to the network adaptor on the node. This behavior can be an issue if a firewall has been implemented. If all IP addresses except for the cluster IP are blocked, traffic from the nodes is stopped, and the Exchange-based server is not able to send and receive mail.

The Exchange 5.5 Internet Mail Service does not use cluster APIs. Socket programs can only use the virtual address when the socket programs are rewritten with cluster APIs, which are able to reference the virtual IP addresses that can be used.

For additional information, see the Cluster.doc file in the Docs\Word_docs\Clustering folder that is located on the Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 CD-ROM.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/25/2005
Keywords:kbinfo KB266250
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