Error: 8503 trying to connect to post office in direct mode using vlms.

(Last modified: 28Mar2002)

This document (10010088) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

fact

Novell GroupWise 5.0

Novell GroupWise 5.1

Novell GroupWise 5.2

Novell GroupWise 16 bit Client

symptom

Error: 8503 trying to connect to post office in direct mode using vlms.

Error: 8503

Error:  Could not connect to the specified network address.  Either the server is down, the network is slow, or an invalid address and port combination was specified.

Error only occurred with workstations running vlms.

Customer could not connect to the post office in direct mode.

cause

Invalid WINSOCK.DLL file in the C:\WINDOWS directory.
Even though the customer is accessing GroupWise in direct mode, GroupWise still
needs to load a valid WINSOCK.DLL file.  If it cannot find it or it is incompatible with the version of dos requesters being used, the 8503 error will occur.  You can get the WINSOCK.DLL file off of your Microsoft Windows 95 CD.

fix

Get a valid WINSOCK.DLL file and put it in the C:\WINDOWS directory
1. Find all occurrences of WINSOCK.DLL in the search paths, then remove all of them
2. Download the TCP16.EXE file from the support connection.
3. Extract file into the directory that contains the NET.CFG and the vlms.
4. Add this path to the search drive list. (Or you can extract the TCP16.EXE into a current search path)

document

Document Title: Error: 8503 trying to connect to post office in direct mode using vlms.
Document ID: 10010088
Solution ID: 4.0.20836.1675983
Creation Date: 23Jun1998
Modified Date: 28Mar2002
Novell Product Class:Groupware

disclaimer

The Origin of this information may be internal or external to Novell. Novell makes all reasonable efforts to verify this information. However, the information provided in this document is for your information only. Novell makes no explicit or implied claims to the validity of this information.
Any trademarks referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners. Consult your product manuals for complete trademark information.