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Q216161: XFOR: Automatic Replies to SMTP Reports Disallowed

Article: Q216161
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): winnt:5.5
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): exc55 EXC55SP3Fix
Last Modified: 13-APR-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Exchange Server, version 5.5 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you apply the AutoReply rules to SMTP reports, it may cause a message
volley situation if the "Disable auto-replies to the Internet" check box is not
selected. Non-delivery reports (NDR), Delivery Receipts (DR), Read Receipts
(RR), non-Read Notification (NRN), and Out of Office (OOF) messages are the
types of reports that may cause the above problem.

CAUSE
=====

When a report is generated for SMTP, the RFC-821 MAIL FROM: field should be
<> (null) however the RFC-822 To: line typically contains the postmaster
information of the system that generated the report (for example,
postmaster@microsoft.com). Exchange Server AutoReply rules would then
automatically reply to this postmaster account. If the postmaster account sent
back a non-delivery report, this scenario could repeat.

This same situation could occur if the user's AutoReply rule requested a delivery
receipt. The delivery receipt could be automatically replied to requesting
another delivery receipt. This could cause another message volley situation.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Exchange Server
version 5.5. For additional information, please see the following article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q191014 XGEN: How to Obtain the latest Exchange Server 5.5 Service Pack

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

Component: Information Store

+-------------------------+
| File name  | Version    | 
+-------------------------+
| Gapi32.dll | 5.5.2539.1 | 
+-------------------------+
| Mdbmsg.dll | 5.5.2539.1 | 
+-------------------------+
| Store.exe  | 5.5.2539.1 | 
+-------------------------+


STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server
version 5.5. This problem was first corrected in Exchange Server 5.5 Service
Pack 3.

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

Automatic replies to Internet mail can cause these volley situations because the
sender's SMTP address cannot always be verify as valid. Even when the domain
name exists, if an auto-reply occurs to an invalid address, the NDR from the
other system is almost always a new message, thus bypassing any checking
Exchange Server can do to detect the volley.

Further, automatic forwards can cause this situation if the address being
forwarded to is invalid. Exchange Server does not prevent auto-forwarding of any
messages to the Internet, so the creator of the rule must be careful to verify
the address as correct.

For additional information about Exchange Server auto-replies and auto-forwards
to the Internet, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q176161 Exchange 5.5 Will Disallow Auto Forwarding to the Internet

  Q192982 XFOR: Internet Mail Service Does Not Allow Auto Forwarded Msgs

Additional query words: volleys looping postmaster

======================================================================
Keywords          : exc55 EXC55SP3Fix 
Technology        : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange550 kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : winnt:5.5
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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