The Internet Agent
Experiences a Problem with Rules Causing Looping
Problem:
An infinite message loop can occur when a user has turned
on a rule automatically replying to messages. If a message is then
sent to another user who has an automatic reply rule, or to a list
server, an infinite loop can occur.
Explanation:
GroupWise has built-in counters to prevent most infinite loops,
primarily those occurring within the GroupWise system. The following
safeguards have been implemented by the GroupWise Internet Agent
to prevent the looping of messages that go through the gateway:
- Messages generated by a rule now have
the From address changed to POSTMASTER@foreign_name.
- A field has been added
with the real user address so most mailers will reply to the user,
but list servers that reply to the From address will reply to the
postmaster instead.
- An field has been
added with the POSTMASTER foreign name address. With this field,
undeliverable messages won’t be sent to a mailbox that
has a rule associated with it.
- If a message is sent to a user that is defined on
a foreign domain or gateway, the field
will contain the postmaster’s actual resolved address.
This allows the postmaster message to get to a postmaster who might
not be on the GroupWise system.
Action:
The infinite loop protection built into GroupWise might not
work for some messages going through the gateway to Internet list
servers. Such infinite loops must be resolved on a case-by-case
basis.