Automated Responce...

[dotobi]

Hey

A user wants an out-of-office style responce to all emails sent to them. Out-of-office replies only reply to a sender once, then if that sender continues to send emails, then they do not recieve out-of-office replies. This makes sence becuase if the sender also had an automated responce thenthe two systems would just keep automatically repliying to each other infinately until one of the mailboxes was full.

So... is there a way of setting up an automated responce to every email, but with a limit on it so that the above problem can not happen?

We're running SBS2003 R2

Thanks

Kev

 

[58sniper]

No. The biggest reason why is to reduce the likelihood of a mail loop. Let's assume Bob enables a rule that does just what you're asking....

Spammer Jack sets his system to blast out a billion emails by spoofing a random email address, say innocent Jill at the local church. But Jill hasn't worked there in a while, so her account no longer exists. Spammer Jack's system sends a crapload of email to Bob's account, as if they were sent from Jill's account, which no longer exists. Bob's rule fires off a message, which goes to the church. But Jill doesn't work there anymore, so the church's server fires back an NDR. Which Bob's fancy rule fires off a reply to. This goes back and forth, eventually causing a server to collapse.

Pat Richard
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Contributing author Microsoft Exchange Server 2007: The Complete Reference

 

[dotobi]

Hey

Thanks for getting back..

Yeah I was aware of that problem, but that's why I thought there must be some way of setting it so that there is a limit to how many replies are sent (for example only 5 to one particular recipient per day).

There are certain technical support email addresses you write to that send back an automated responce everytime you email them. Their system must have a limit to stop this problem happening???

Thanks

Kev

 

[58sniper]

Those might not be Exchange based. Many of those are specific support applications.

Pat Richard
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Contributing author Microsoft Exchange Server 2007: The Complete Reference