From: netsvcs on
I am receiving the following message when I try to start Outlook "Too many
names have been found in the directory service or the server has exceeded its
time limit for searching. Type more letters of the name and try again." We
have an Exchange 2003 server.

I've tried the users full name and a I still get this.
From: v-mishen on
Dear Customer,

Thank you for posting.

From your post, I understand when you start Outlook, an error "Too many
names have been found in the directory service or the server has exceeded
its time limit for searching. Type more letters of the name and try again"
is encountered. If I'm off base, please feel free to let me know.

Based on the current situation, would you please let me know?

1. When the issue is encountered? Check Name when configure Outlook Profile
or Check Name when attempting to send an email or other situations?
2. If the issue occurs when checking name when configure Outlook profile,
please let me know whether the issue only occurs on the specific user. If
you create a new mailbox enabled user, whether the issue still persists? If
you create the outlook profile on another computer, whether the issue still
persists?
3. If the issue occurs when checking name when attempting to send an email,
please let me know whether the Outlook is configured to work in Cached Mode
or Online Mode. If the Outlook works in Cached Mode, please change it to
Online Mode and check the result again.
4. Please capture a screenshot to me (v-misehen(a)microsoft.com) when the
error is encountered.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Mike Shen
Microsoft Online Community Support
==================================================
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From: netsvcs on
1. The issue only occurs during Profile configuration. It does not occur
when sending mail.

2. The issue occurs with any type of user, newly created or existing, when
trying to create a new profile for Outlook

3. N/A

4. I tried to send it but your email server said that I do not have
permission.


""Mike Shen (MSFT)"" wrote:

> Dear Customer,
>
> Thank you for posting.
>
> From your post, I understand when you start Outlook, an error "Too many
> names have been found in the directory service or the server has exceeded
> its time limit for searching. Type more letters of the name and try again"
> is encountered. If I'm off base, please feel free to let me know.
>
> Based on the current situation, would you please let me know?
>
> 1. When the issue is encountered? Check Name when configure Outlook Profile
> or Check Name when attempting to send an email or other situations?
> 2. If the issue occurs when checking name when configure Outlook profile,
> please let me know whether the issue only occurs on the specific user. If
> you create a new mailbox enabled user, whether the issue still persists? If
> you create the outlook profile on another computer, whether the issue still
> persists?
> 3. If the issue occurs when checking name when attempting to send an email,
> please let me know whether the Outlook is configured to work in Cached Mode
> or Online Mode. If the Outlook works in Cached Mode, please change it to
> Online Mode and check the result again.
> 4. Please capture a screenshot to me (v-misehen(a)microsoft.com) when the
> error is encountered.
>
> I look forward to hearing from you.
>
> Sincerely,
> Mike Shen
> Microsoft Online Community Support
> ==================================================
> Get notification to my posts through email? Please refer to
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscriptions/managednewsgroups/default.aspx#notif
> ications.
>
> With newsgroups, MSDN subscribers enjoy unlimited, free support as opposed
> to the limited number of phone-based technical support incidents. Complex
> issues or server-down situations are not recommended for the newsgroups.
> Issues of this nature are best handled working with a Microsoft Support
> Engineer using one of your phone-based incidents.
>
>
>
>
From: v-mishen on
Dear Customer,

Thanks for your response.

Firstly, I am sorry that the email address should be
v-mishen(a)microsoft.com.

Base on the current situation, please let me know whether all the Outlook
clients (Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2003) encountered the problem when create
profile. If the issue only occurs on specific Outlook client or specific
Outlook client type (such as Outlook 2007), please let me know the Outlook
version number.

From the error message "Too many names have been found in the directory
service or the server has exceeded its time limit for searching. Type more
letters of the name and try again", the issue can be caused by two factors:

1. Too many names have been found in the directory service
2. The server has exceeded its time limit for searching

Regarding the first factor, please let me know if you create a new user
with a unique alias name, whether the issue can be reproduced if you use
the alias name to check name.

Regarding the second factor, I would like to explain the issue can mostly
be caused by two issues:

Note: When checking name, the Outlook actually connects to GC (The Exchange
server will recommend a GC server to Outlook) to check the user.

1. Network issue between the Outlook client and the GC Server
2. GC Server performance issue

Therefore, I suggest we attempt the following method to troubleshoot the
issue:

Suggestion 1: Restart GC one by one (Please let me know how many GC exists
in the environment)
Suggestion 2: When configure Outlook profile, please provide the GC server
name instead of Exchange Server name in order to avoid the Exchange
referral process.

Note: If you have several GC servers exist in the environment, please test
the issue by using the closest GC server.

Mike


From: netsvcs on
This problem has magically disappeared now.

""Mike Shen (MSFT)"" wrote:

> Dear Customer,
>
> Thanks for your response.
>
> Firstly, I am sorry that the email address should be
> v-mishen(a)microsoft.com.
>
> Base on the current situation, please let me know whether all the Outlook
> clients (Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2003) encountered the problem when create
> profile. If the issue only occurs on specific Outlook client or specific
> Outlook client type (such as Outlook 2007), please let me know the Outlook
> version number.
>
> From the error message "Too many names have been found in the directory
> service or the server has exceeded its time limit for searching. Type more
> letters of the name and try again", the issue can be caused by two factors:
>
> 1. Too many names have been found in the directory service
> 2. The server has exceeded its time limit for searching
>
> Regarding the first factor, please let me know if you create a new user
> with a unique alias name, whether the issue can be reproduced if you use
> the alias name to check name.
>
> Regarding the second factor, I would like to explain the issue can mostly
> be caused by two issues:
>
> Note: When checking name, the Outlook actually connects to GC (The Exchange
> server will recommend a GC server to Outlook) to check the user.
>
> 1. Network issue between the Outlook client and the GC Server
> 2. GC Server performance issue
>
> Therefore, I suggest we attempt the following method to troubleshoot the
> issue:
>
> Suggestion 1: Restart GC one by one (Please let me know how many GC exists
> in the environment)
> Suggestion 2: When configure Outlook profile, please provide the GC server
> name instead of Exchange Server name in order to avoid the Exchange
> referral process.
>
> Note: If you have several GC servers exist in the environment, please test
> the issue by using the closest GC server.
>
> Mike
>
>
>