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Q146397: XCON: Large Number of Messages with Receipts Can Stay in MTA

Article: Q146397
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): winnt:4.0,5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 16-MAR-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

You may find that a large number of messages with Read receipts and Delivery
receipts destined to go out the Microsoft Exchange Server version 4.0 Internet
Mail Connector (IMC), or Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.0 Internet Mail
Service (IMS), slow down or halt the Microsoft Exchange Server Message Transfer
Agent (MTA).

If you stop and restart the MTA and IMC (or IMS), a few messages will be
delivered. From that point onward, delivery may be very slow or halted outright.
Symptoms can also include messages placed in the BAD queue.

CAUSE
=====

This is caused by a corrupted application protocol data unit (APDU) received
from the MTA.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange versions 4.0
and 5.0.

For Microsoft Exchange Server version 4.0, this has been fixed in MTA build
996.25. Please contact Microsoft Technical Support for information on the
availability of this fix.

This problem was corrected in the latest Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0 U.S.
Service Pack. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the
following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

  S E R V P A C K


MORE INFORMATION
================

To install the fix for Microsoft Exchange Server version 4.0:

1. Get the appropriate file from Microsoft Technical Support and unzip it. There
  is no password on these files.

2. Install the new MTA by running the following command on the Microsoft
  Exchange Server computer:

  hotfix /i

  The retail symbols (BDB files, but renamed to DBG) are included. You will need
  to install these manually into your Symbols directory.

Please note that this is also a problem on other platforms and localized
versions. If you need an Alpha version of the MTA (or a different localized
version), please contact Microsoft Technical Support.

How to find the MTA build number from the Event Logs:

The MTA automatically logs its build number in the NT Application Event Log when
the service is started. This information is written to Event ID 9298 and looks
similar to the following:

Event ID:    9298
Source:      MSExchangeMTA
Type:        Information
Category:    X.400 Service
Description:
Microsoft Exchange Server MTA Service startup complete, version 4 (build
995.54).
[BASE IL MAIN BASE 46 490] (14)

This entry corresponds to the Microsoft Exchange Server version 4.0 Service Pack
4 MTA.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange500 kbExchange400 kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : winnt:4.0,5.0
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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