inbound mail does not get delivered in exchange 2003!

what about internal users to each other. If internal users cant send to each other it's the x400 address but if they can it's definately an issue with the Recipient Policy. What is your setup? are you using a
domain.local or domain.com namespace? Make sure that your ad domain name has an smtp address in the default Recipient policy even if it's a domain.local address, depending on how your network is set up this may or may not need to be checked. Last of all the X400 needs to have an smpt address in the same policy. Look into these things and if no success provide a little more info and ill be able to help you out.

they have no problem with that either, they can send and receive internal mails...
I'm using both .local and domain.local namespaces.
I've no idea what goin g on...I've even uninstall groushield...but it doesn't seem to be the problem.
I'm getting crazy with it...

any other ideas?

Is there some sort of mail filtering before the exchange server? If it were AV it would be blocking both directions. Some have rules that block port 25 but i have only ever seen that affect mimesweeper.

What do you mean by using both .local and domain.local namespaces?

In the Recipient policy is the domain.local address checked?

Reading your descripton again it seems to be an x400 issue, make sure the x400 address is enabled and that every user has one. Have you run forest prep and domain prep?

I've run forest prep and domain prep...all users have x400 addresses enabled.
Even though there is a firewall, there is nothing that prevents access to port 25.
In fact, the server DO receive incoming SMTP sessions, and emails...the problem is that somehow it does not recognize the mailboxes (is there is such a thing?¡)
I'm even more surprised than you people...I have no idea what to do anymore...
The recipients policy has 3 addreses

1) SMTP Domain.com
2) SMTP domain.local
3) X400

Is this ok?

Yeah that looks all good.

You probably already know that the error that your getting is:

General message failure that is Message Categorizer-based (bad address failure). An e-mail address could not be found.

Are all of the smtp addresses mentioned above checked in the policy.
If so try unchecking domain.local. I am assuming you Active Directory domain naming is domain.local. Also try:
 - Rebuild of the global address list.
 - Rebuild of the Recipient Update Service
 - Update the Recipient Update Service
 - Restart Exchange Services after this.
         Exchange System Attendant
         Exchange Information Store
         Exchange MTA Stacks
         Exchange Management

If it still doest work try removing exchange attributes of an AD user but dont delete the mailbox. Then go to:
Exchange System Manager > Servers > 'ServerName' > First Storage Group > Mailbox Store > Mailboxes > Right Click a mailbox and hit reconnect. Point to the user. This will establish if it's a rights issue.

If it still doesnt work, again try removing exchange attributes of an AD user And then recreate the mailbox for that user.

Try these things and get back to me.

Is this a new server? An old server that has stopped working? I remember i had problems once on a E2K on Win2K and my problem ended up with the policy after chasing my tail for a day.

One more question, is the domain controller in Native or Mixed mode?

***One more thing, just make sure the MTA Stacks service is started.

This is probably a stupid question and sorry for asking but is there an @ symbol in front of the domain.com in the Default Recipient Policy? If no there should be.

Well, I don't thing any kind of questions could be stupid right now :-)  I can accept any kinf of questions! (I'm desperated).

Here are some of the answers:
-All smpt addresses are checked;
-Actually, my local domain is named ricoh.com.ar (which is also the domain for email addresses), and I´ve added ricoh.local (both with @). I´ve added the .local thing, because I´ve read an articule in the KB and thought it might help...but it didn´t.
-The domain controller is in Mixed mode.

I´m trying what you´ve posted right now...I´ll get back to you with the results.
Thank you VERY much.

Jb,

I´ve followed all the instructions you´ve posted...still with the same error.
The funny thing is that I have no errors in evt viewer, and users can send outgoing mails...and between them too.
I receive a non-delivery report everytime I try to send an e-mail to any of the recipients, so that enough to indicate they actually arrive to the mail server.
It's too weird...

What do you think? should I reinstall it all over from the scratch? It is a new installation.

Reinstalling is definately the easy way out but i would be very reluctant to do that on a DC. Start off by removing the ricoh.local as those addresses dont need to be there. Are there any NT4 domain controllers in your domain cause if no then you can raise the domain functional level but this is not essential. Try running domain prep from the exchange cd. Then well take a look at DNS, the amount ive times ive been done over by DNS is insane. More questions, are there multiple DC's? is the exchange server also a DC? ist the exchange server the GC? Check the groups
 - Exchange Domain Servers
 - Exchange Enterprise Servers
 - Exchange Services

This is a big question, is the mail getting to the exchange Queues cause if it is we can rule out the connectors.

Try a DCDIAG and NETDIAG just to rule out a whole bunch of possibles.

Starting to look more and more like a DNS issue which means reinstalling wont help too much.

Keep me posted.

I've an incoming trustee with a WNT 4 domain, that's why I have running in mixed mode.
I've already run both forestprerp and domainprep earlier...I though it might help...but it wasn´t the case.
I have two DCs, one of them is a DC, but not a GC.

I've also run both netdiag and dcdiag and they look GREAT (THAT is weird...).
I only have Exchange Domain Servers & Exchange Enterprise Servers, can´t see any Exchange Services group.

The mail is not getting into the exchange Queues...why is that?

Sorry...

I have two DCs, one of them is a DC, but not a GC. --> I have teo DCs, the exchange box is one of them, but it is not a GC...

Maybe the connector isnt going right. Under conectors on the general tab, how is it set up?

Go to active directory Sites and services Click on the default site > servers > <server name> > right click NTDS settings and see if Global Catalogue is set. Usually the first Domain Controller will become the GC.

i´ve set it up with the IMW...
Under the general tab:
Use DNS to route...and the local server is marked ad the local bridgehead. 'Do not allow folder...' is marked.

Some additional Info...the event viewer generated this warning...

The transport configuration type 2 for the directory entry with DN or GUID CN=MICROSOFT MTA,CN=ARBUEXC01,CN=SERVERS,CN=FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP,CN=ADMINISTRATIVE GROUPS,CN=RICOH,CN=MICROSOFT EXCHANGE,CN=SERVICES,CN=CONFIGURATION,DC=RICOH,DC=COM,DC=AR is not one of the supported values. Reconfigure the transport configuration type in the identified directory entry. [BASE IL OPERATOR 26 217] (8)

Regarding the GC question: No, the GC is the other DC, not the one with Exchange.

Ok, starting to wonder if the mail is making it to exchange.

www.dnsstuff.com

Pinging mail.ricoh.com.ar [200.47.62.235]:

Ping #1: * [No response]
Ping #2: * [No response]
Ping #3: * [No response]
Ping #4: * [No response]

Done pinging mail.ricoh.com.ar!

Is it normal for it to timeout?

i'm behind a firewall...an ISA 2004.
Try by telneting SMTP...

Getting MX record for ricoh.com.ar (from local DNS server, may be cached)... Got it!

Host Preference IP(s) [Country] mail.ricoh.com.ar. 10 200.47.62.235 [AR] mail2.ricoh.com.ar. 20 200.47.62.236 [AR] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Step 1:  Try connecting to the following mailserver:
         mail.ricoh.com.ar. - 200.47.62.235

Step 2:  If unsuccessful in step 1, try connecting to the following mailserver:
         mail2.ricoh.com.ar. - 200.47.62.236

Step 3:  If still unsuccessful, queue the E-mail for later delivery.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trying to connect to all mailservers:

   mail.ricoh.com.ar. - 200.47.62.235  [Successful connect: Got a good response [250 2.1.5 sluna@ricoh.com.ar ]]
   mail2.ricoh.com.ar. - 200.47.62.236  [Successful connect: Got a good response [250 2.1.5 sluna@ricoh.com.ar ]]

The link below corresponds to small business server but the description of your problem sounds similar to it. You may want to check it out
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324236/EN-US/

Suerte!

well, that points to POP3 services, I'm using Exchange Server as the Mail Delivery service.
Looks like I'm pretty much sc---d

The transport configuration type 2 for the directory entry with DN or GUID CN=MICROSOFT MTA,CN=ARBUEXC01,CN=SERVERS,CN=FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP,CN=ADMINISTRATIVE GROUPS,CN=RICOH,CN=MICROSOFT EXCHANGE,CN=SERVICES,CN=CONFIGURATION,DC=RICOH,DC=COM,DC=AR is not one of the supported values. Reconfigure the transport configuration type in the identified directory entry. [BASE IL OPERATOR 26 217] (8)


Let's take a look into this?

whats the source and id of this error?

maybe run an mta check.....

mtacheck /rd /rp

Event Viewer = MSExchangeMTA = 9302

D:\Exchsrvr\BIN>mtacheck /rd /rp

Starting object integrity checks


Database clean, no errors detected.

are there any other exchange servers there?

there is one, in other domain (NT4) with 5.5 (not being used right now).
I was going to replace it with this new clean server install...

ok, if you right click at the root of exchange system manage
cleck the box that says Display Routing Groups
you will then need to close system manager and restart the service

open back up

Routing Groups > First Routing Group > Members

What is listed here?

It's close, im sure of it.... something to do with the routing groups / bridgehead

One more thing, in the connector go to the address space tab, type should be SMTP, address should be   *     and cost should be 1

ARBUEXC01 Is this the exchange server?

yes, that's the exchange server.

in the member group I have the ARBUEXC01...
PLEASEEEE....we have to be close, otherwise I'll get killed...

is the server type master?

yes, it is.

ok, must be to do with the address space, connectors address space, whats that set up like

the address space is SMTP * 1
Only one IMC as I said before...

Connector Scope

Entire Organization.

The ISA server is forwarding the mail to the e2k3 server yes?

exactly.
Actually...I can see all the incoming smtp request from several ip addresses...a lot of junk too.

I mean, If i send an email from the outside...I'll get the postmaster message, so...it gets to connect to the server, but it cannot find any mailbox.
Am i right?

ok, look under protocols x.400 properties and make sure it's the right server name there

nder the x400 protocol I only have the name o the server in the local x400 name...
should I have anything else?

Everything seems to be spot on, recommend running through the wizard again.

do I need anything else at the firewall besides port 25??