KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q194548: X400: Message with Long Free-Form Name Cannot Be Delivered

Article: Q194548
Product(s): Microsoft Mail For PC Networks
Version(s): MS-DOS:3.2
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 20-MAY-2002

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Mail Gateway to X.400, version 3.2 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

If the Microsoft Mail Gateway to X.400 sends a message with a free-form name
that is longer than 64 characters to a foreign system, the message transfer
agent (MTA) on the foreign system may indicate that it cannot deliver the
message because the free-form name is invalid.

CAUSE
=====

The Microsoft Mail Gateway to X.400 normally uses the contents of the personal
name (PN) field to create the free-form name. However, if the PN field is empty,
the entire X.400 address is used to create the free-form name. When this occurs,
it is possible for the free-form name to be longer than 64 characters.

The NIST Stable Implementation Agreements for Open Systems Interconnection
Protocols specify that the maximum length for free-form names is 64 characters.
Therefore, some foreign systems are unable to process messages with free-form
names that are longer than 64 characters.

RESOLUTION
==========

A supported fix that corrects this problem is now available from Microsoft, but
has not been fully regression-tested and should be applied only to systems
experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the
fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and
information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World
Wide Web:

  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or
later:

  File Name      Version
  ----------------------
  X400gate.exe   3.2.8

This hotfix has been posted to the following Internet location as X400gy2k.exe:

  ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/mail/gateways-public/All-Y2K/


STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Mail Gateway to X.400
version 3.2.

Additional query words: ffn

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMailSearch kbMailGateSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbMailGatex400320
Version           : MS-DOS:3.2
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.