Customizing the X.400 Protocol

The X.400 protocol provides the underlying functionality that is used by X.400 connectors and protocol stacks. The X.400 service message transfer agent (MTA) stack, located in the Protocols container under your Exchange server in Exchange System Manager, provides addressing and routing information for sending messages from one server to another. Use the X.400 Properties dialog box to configure basic settings and messaging defaults that are used by the X.400 protocol on your server. Any X.400 transport stacks and X.400 connectors that you create on this server inherit these settings by default, although you can override this configuration on individual connectors.

The General tab on the X.400 Properties dialog box

The following general properties can be set on the X.400 protocol.

• The entry in the LocalX.400 name box identifies the X.400 account that Exchange uses when it connects to the remote system. This name identifies the MTA to other mail systems. By default, this name is the name of the server where the X.400 service is installed. You can change the local X.400 name by using the Modify button. You can also set a local X.400 password. Third-party systems use this password when connecting to the X.400 service.

• The Expand remote distribution lists locally option makes a remote distribution list available to users in your organization. When this option is selected and a user sends a message to a remote distribution list, the distribution list expands locally (on the server to which the user is currently connected). Exchange finds the best routing for the message, based on the location of recipients in the list. This method ensures the most efficient message handling. However, note that processing large distribution lists can affect server performance.

• The Convert incoming messages to Exchange contents option changes the address and contents of incoming messages to a format compatible with MAPI clients, such as Microsoft Outlook® and Exchange. Do not select this option if your users do not use a MAPI client.

• The Modify button in Message queue directory allows you to change the location of the X.400 message queue directory.

  Note

  When you modify the location of the queue directory, you are modifying only the MTA database path and moving only the database (.dat) files. You are not moving any of the run files or the run directory. The database files are the core files that are required for starting the MTA, queue files, and message files.