Exchange Server 2003 receives messages but sent messages are queued when you use the Exchange Server MTA to connect to a third-party MTA over an X.400 connector

You use the Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 message transfer agent (MTA) to connect to a third-party MTA over an X.400 connector. When you do this, Exchange Server 2003 receives messages successfully as expected. However, Exchange Server 2003 cannot send messages over the X.400 connector. Instead, sent messages are queued in Exchange Server 2003.

This problem occurs because Exchange Server 2003 incorrectly sends proprietary routing data to non-Exchange Server MTAs.

This proprietary routing information cannot be interpreted by the third-party MTA. Therefore, the third-party MTA may stop communicating with Exchange Server. Therefore, the Exchange Server MTA queue becomes filled with many routing packets that are not accepted by the third-party MTA. Also, Exchange Server may have many messages queued for delivery because the third-party MTA refuses additional traffic from Exchange Server.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

Because of file dependencies, you must have Microsoft Exchange Server Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) installed to apply this hotfix. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart your computer after you apply this hotfix. However, the Microsoft Exchange Server MTA Stacks service together with its dependent services are automatically stopped and then restarted when you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfix.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: