Knowledge Base

XFOR: Non-Delivery Report: 554 (not a type writer)

Article ID: 180414

Article Last Modified on 10/28/2006

Microsoft Exchange Server 4.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q180414

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to send a message via the Internet Mail Service (Internet Mail Connector in version 4.0), you may receive the following non-delivery report (NDR):

A mail message was not sent due to a protocol error.
554 (not a type writer)
Input line to submit longer than 254 characters

"Unable to deliver the message due to a communications failure"

CAUSE

This error has been reported when a message has been sent to a distribution list containing hundreds of names. The message destined for another Exchange Server computer was being routed through another SMTP host called Secure Message Guard, that was unable to handle more than 254 characters on the To: line. The error is due to a limitation of the Secure Message Guard host.

WORKAROUND

Limit the character length on the message To: line to fewer than 254 characters.

Keywords: kbprb kbusage KB180414