Knowledge Base

PC Ext: External Reports Incorrect Version

Article ID: 128628

Article Last Modified on 10/30/2006

APPLIES TO

This article was previously published under Q128628

SYMPTOMS

After you upgrade EXTERNAL.EXE from a previous version, the Mail External program displays the incorrect version information.

CAUSE

This may happen if you try to perform the upgrade while the Mail External program is running, because both EXTERNAL.EXE and ASYNC.OVL are locked open during the External process.

RESOLUTION

  1. Stop the External Message Transfer Agent (MTA).
  2. Backup the following files from the \MAILEXE directory using the MS-DOS Copy command:

    EXTERNAL.EXE
    ASYNC.OVL
    X25ATLAN.OVL
    X25EICON.OVL

  3. Copy the new files to the existing \MAILEXE directory:

    EXTERNAL.EXE
    ASYNC.OVL
    X25ATLAN.OVL
    X25EICON.OVL

  4. Start the External MTA.

MORE INFORMATION

There are three ways to display the version of the Mail External program:
  1. Run the External program (recommended).
  2. Type the following, and press ENTER:

    External /?

  3. Type the following, and press ENTER:

    External /h

With version 3.2.16 of the Mail External program, the use of the command line switches will result in an Invalid Option error, and then it will display 3.2.16, even if the .OVL files are incorrect. The preferred method of checking the version is to run EXTERNAL.EXE.

All of the update files including EXTERNAL.EXE and all three .OVL files should be copied to the \MAILEXE directory. When the Mail External program runs, it takes the version number from all ASYNC.OVL files, even if the /CommDisable or -a option is used. The Mail External program also checks the other .OVL files (X25ATLAN.OVL and X25EICON.OVL) during an X.25 connection.

Additional query words: 3.00a 3.20 3.20a external.ini command line

Keywords: KB128628


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