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Q150114: XFOR: IMC Doesn’t Appear to Use All Mail Exchangers

Article: Q150114
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): winnt:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbtool kbusage
Last Modified: 23-MAR-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Exchange Server, version 4.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

When you compare the results between Nslookup.exe and Restest.exe, it may appear
that the Microsoft Exchange Internet Mail Connector (IMC) is not resolving all
mail exchangers for a given domain.

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

For example, you may notice a discrepancy between the number of mail exchangers
listed by Restest.exe and Nslookup.exe on the following query.

Below is a sample run of Restest.exe:

C:\my documents>e:restest -debug aol.com

  ***   Matches Microsoft Exchange Server build 4.0.0736   ***

host[0] = '198.81.11.33'
host[1] = '198.81.11.14'
host[2] = '198.81.11.37'
host[3] = '198.81.11.15'
host[4] = '198.81.11.52'

Notice that Restest.exe displays 6 mail exchangers for AOL.COM. Nslookup.exe
appears to show more mail exchangers.

Below is a sample run of Nslookup.exe:

> server hp81.prod.aol.net
Default Server:  hp81.prod.aol.net
Address:  192.203.190.18

> set type=MX
> aol.com.
Server:  hp81.prod.aol.net
Address:  192.203.190.18

aol.com preference = 15, mail exchanger = e.mx.aol.com
aol.com preference = 15, mail exchanger = f.mx.aol.com
aol.com preference = 15, mail exchanger = a.mx.aol.com
aol.com preference = 15, mail exchanger = b.mx.aol.com
aol.com preference = 15, mail exchanger = c.mx.aol.com
aol.com preference = 15, mail exchanger = d.mx.aol.com
aol.com nameserver = ops01.ops.aol.com
aol.com nameserver = dns-aol.ans.net
aol.com nameserver = hp81.prod.aol.net
e.mx.aol.com    internet address = 198.81.11.18
e.mx.aol.com    internet address = 198.81.11.20
e.mx.aol.com    internet address = 198.81.11.12
e.mx.aol.com    internet address = 198.81.11.15
f.mx.aol.com    internet address = 198.81.11.51
f.mx.aol.com    internet address = 198.81.11.52
f.mx.aol.com    internet address = 198.81.11.53
f.mx.aol.com    internet address = 198.81.11.54
f.mx.aol.com    internet address = 198.81.11.50
a.mx.aol.com    internet address = 198.81.11.28
a.mx.aol.com    internet address = 198.81.11.29
a.mx.aol.com    internet address = 198.81.11.30
a.mx.aol.com    internet address = 198.81.11.11
b.mx.aol.com    internet address = 198.81.11.32
b.mx.aol.com    internet address = 198.81.11.33
b.mx.aol.com    internet address = 198.81.11.13
b.mx.aol.com    internet address = 198.81.11.31

Although Nslookup.exe shows many more IP addresses listed for aol.com, there are
still only 6 mail exchangers (a.mx.aol.com .. f.mx.aol.com). AOL has multiple,
redundant hosts listed for each mail exchanger.

Microsoft Exchange, and Restest.exe, are working correctly.

Additional query words:

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Keywords          : kbtool kbusage 
Technology        : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange400 kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : winnt:4.0

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