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

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Mail Gateway to X.400, version 3.2 
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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

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

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