Exchange Notes Connector Mail Flow (298414)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Premium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Standard Edition
This article was previously published under Q298414

SUMMARY

This article describes mail flow between Exchange and Lotus Notes (Domino) mail systems. It may be helpful to understand this process when you are attempting to troubleshoot mail flow issues.

MORE INFORMATION

Mail Flow from Notes to Exchange

  1. A Lotus Notes/Domino user sends mail that is addressed to an Exchange mailbox owner. The Notes system should be configured to recognize the Exchange system as a "Foreign Domain". The Lotus Notes Mail Router should deposit the mail into the Exchange.box (this is the default name) database on the Lotus Notes server.
  2. Lsntsmex.exe pulls the mail from the Notes' Exchange.box, converts it from Notes format to Exchange MAPI format by using the Lotus Notes API, and then puts it in the Notes Mail Connector's READY-IN MAPI folder.
  3. Lsmexin.exe performs address translation and Active Directory lookup for the intended recipient. It then moves the mail from the READY-IN folder to the MTS-IN folder.
  4. Store.exe (MSExchangeIS service) moves the mail to the Message Transfer Agent (MTA, Emsmta.exe), and then the MTA puts the mail on the MTA's SMTP queue, which is viewable under the server's X400 Queues in Exchange System Manager (ESM).
  5. Store.exe picks up the mail from the MTA and puts it on the SMTP Service's MTS-OUT queue.

    Note This queue is only viewable in Performance Monitor/System Monitor.
  6. SMTP categorizes and routes the mail to the target recipient(s).

Mail Flow from Exchange to Notes

  1. An Exchange mailbox owner sends mail that is addressed to a Notes/Domino user.
  2. The message is categorized and routed to the Microsoft Exchange Connector for Lotus Notes.
  3. The store driver moves the message into the SMTP Service's MTS-IN folder.
  4. Store.exe submits the mail to the MTA.
  5. The MTA makes another call to the routing engine and determines that the appropriate queue is the connector's X400 Queue in the MTA.
  6. Store.exe picks the mail up from the MTA and puts it in the MTS-OUT folder of the Exchange Notes Connector.
  7. Lsmexout.exe performs address translation and moves the mail from MTS-OUT to READY-OUT.
  8. Lsmexnts.exe performs message body translation from Exchange MAPI format to Notes format, and moves the mail by use of Lotus Notes API calls to Mail.box on the Notes system. The Lotus Notes Mail Router is responsible for delivery to the appropriate Notes mailbox on the appropriate Notes server.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/25/2005
Keywords:kbinfo KB298414
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