Error reading SMTP packet; response to RCPT TO command expected
Hi all, we have started experiencing problems on our mail environment (iPlanet Messaging Server 5.2 HotFix 2.09 (built Nov 18 2005)) re: sending mail to hotmail.
For many emails sent to hotmail, we are getting the following error:
Error reading SMTP packet; response to RCPT TO command expected
We are not experiencing any errors when sending to yahoo from our iMS5.2 environment. Nor are we experiencing any errors when we send mail from our Microsoft Exchange server to hotmail.
Does anyone have any ideas as to what might be the problem?
Thanks in advance,
Stewart
[611 byte] By [
mcleansa] at [2007-11-27 9:29:12]
# 1
Hi,
Sounds like your system is experiencing a timeout of some kind sending emails to hotmail. The messaging server has sent the RCPT TO: <hotmail address> command and received no reply back.
First step, isolate your hotmail destined emails to a new channel with its own job_controller pool - if you are not already doing this that is.
Then monitor traffic through this channel to see if it is _all_ emails or just some emails experiencing this issue (it may just be a certain address or range of addresses causing the issue) - is there a time of the day that it occurs, that sort of thing. You can also enable master_debug on the channel to see get more logging information.
Regards,
Shane.
# 2
Hi all again, further to my previous posting, I have some more info.
In our iMS5.2 environment, we have two mail relays/gateways. Today I tried manually sending emails to hotmail using telnet. I found that I was able to send an email from one gateway (gw2) but not the other (gw1). On the mail gateway that I can't send an email, gw1, using telnet, I get the following error:
550 Your e-mail was rejected for policy reasons on this gateway. Reasons for rejection may be related to content such as obscene language, graphics, or spam-like characteristics (or) other reputation problems. For sender troubleshooting information, please go to http://postmaster.msn.com. Please note: if you are an end-user please contact your E-mail/Internet Service Provider for assistance.
A search on Google reveals this blocking is quite common with hotmail.
Am I right is thinking that hotmail is blocking emails that originate from mail gateway gw1 that is having problems? And if so, what can be done to remedy the situation?
Thanks in advance,
Stewart
# 3
Hi,
There is very little you can do except perhaps change the IP address of the gateway system that is being blocked or relay hotmail email via the 'working' gateway system and hope that this system isn't blocked as well in the future.
Of course you could always contact hotmail to see if you can get delisted - but this will depend entirely on them and the reason you were banned/blocked in the first place.
Regards,
Shane.
