An NDR is generated in a mixed-mode environment when an Exchange 5.5 recipient sends mail to a large distribution list that only contains Exchange 2000 recipients (830498)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Exchange 2000 Enterprise Server
  • Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5

SYMPTOMS

When a Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 recipient sends an e-mail message to a large distribution list, the message causes a non-delivery report (NDR) to be generated. This problem occurs when the large distribution list contains only Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server recipients in a mixed-mode Exchange environment. An NDR is generated for each recipient on the distribution list. The NDR generates an error code of 5.5.3. Error code 5.5.3 indicates that there are too many recipients. Message tracking shows that the NDR is generated after the categorizer performs an Active Directory lookup.

E-mail messages are delivered successfully when the e-mail messages are sent from an Exchange Server 5.5 recipient to a large distribution list that only contains Exchange 5.5 recipients.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the number of recipients in the distribution list is higher than the maximum number of recipients who are permitted for a message. There is no override setting for a disabled user account that was created by the Active Directory Connector (ADC). Additionally, there is no override setting for an Active Directory user account that was mailbox-enabled on a computer that is running Exchange Server 5.5.

RESOLUTION

Warning If you use the ADSI Edit snap-in, the LDP utility, or any other LDAP version 3 client, and you incorrectly modify the attributes of Active Directory objects, you can cause serious problems. These problems may require you to reinstall Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server, Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, or both Windows and Exchange. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems that occur if you incorrectly modify Active Directory object attributes can be solved. Modify these attributes at your own risk.

To resolve this problem, use the ADSI Edit snap-in to change the msExchRecipLimit attribute. Change the attribute to the limit that you want for the user account that was created by the ADC. Or, change the attribute to the limit that you want for the account that was mailbox-enabled on a computer that is running Exchange Server 5.5. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Start the ADSI Edit snap-in, and then connect to a domain controller.
  2. Click the DC=your-company-domain,DC=com container.
  3. Click the container or the organizational unit where the user resides.
  4. Right-click the user account that was created by the ADC, or right-click the account that was mailbox-enabled on an Exchange 5.5 computer, and then click Properties.
  5. In the Select a property to view box, select msExchRecipLimit.
  6. In the Edit Attribute box, type the limit that you want to use to override the global setting.
  7. Click Set, click Apply, and then click OK.
  8. Quit ADSI Edit.

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

The maximum number of recipients limit did not exist in Exchange 5.5 on a per-user basis. The expected behavior is not to have this limit apply to recipients who still exist on an Exchange Server 5.5 computer. This limit does not stop you from sending e-mail messages to large distribution lists that contain only Exchange 5.5 recipients. This problem is generally seen in environments where there are recipients who belong to distribution lists, and these distribution lists are nested in distribution lists that are on different servers.

The msExchRecipLimit attribute permits an administrator to keep global settings if every user does not have to send e-mail messages to large distribution lists and if only one Exchange 5.5 mailbox must perform this function. As long as you use only one Exchange 5.5 mailbox to perform this function, this Exchange 2000 setting does not have to be applied to all Exchange 5.5 recipients because this limit does not exist in an Exchange 5.5 environment.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:2/17/2004
Keywords:kbDirectory kbfix kbprb KB830498 kbAudITPRO
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