Site and Recipient Addresses

Microsoft Exchange Server creates site addresses by using the organization name and site name provided during Setup. Recipient addresses are created by using site addresses. Both site and recipient addresses are stored in the directory. It is important to ensure you have valid site addresses before adding mailboxes or connectors.

Site and recipient addresses are created for the following address types: MS (MS Mail [PC]), SMTP (Internet), and X400 (X.400). If third-party gateways are installed, other addresses can also be generated.

Microsoft Exchange Server creates a distinguished name for every object in the directory, such as a mailbox or distribution list. The distinguished name is used to route messages within a Microsoft Exchange Server organization. If the distinguished name cannot be resolved, the Microsoft Exchange Server uses the X.400 address of the object. It is important to retain the X.400 address for every object in the directory, even if you are not connecting to another X.400 system.

When a message is routed to a custom recipient, the distinguished names of the recipient and originator are replaced with an address of the same type as the recipient. This ensures that the message can be delivered to the foreign system, and that a reply can be routed back to the originator with the correct address type. An illustration of the address conversion follows.

If the recipient is not defined in the Microsoft Exchange Server directory, the address must be in the form required by the foreign system. In this case, only the originator's address is converted to the native format of the foreign system.

For information about viewing and modifying site and recipient addresses, see Microsoft Exchange Server Operations.