Win2k3 Virtual SMTP: queue wont flush

Hey all you DevShed forum posters!

First off, id like to say "hi" because im new here :P

Now we get down to business. Ok, i have just installed Win 2k3 server and ive installed the virtual SMTP server that goes with it. I never really looked at it untill a few hours ago, when i was doing some php that required the sending of mail. I tried sending mail, and i didnt get any errors... So i waited for 10-15 minutes and still no email in my inbox. I poked around, and found the mail queue folder, conveniently located in c:\inetpub\mailroot\Queue\. I noticed all my messages were still in there. I waited an hour or so, and they were still in there, and i doubted they are going to come out any time soon (and they still havent)... Im trying to find out how to flush the queue and i've tried restarting the service, pausing it momentarily, and none of it works. The emails are still in there! I searched google only to find everything had to do with Microsoft Exchange mail server, so i did an advanced search and told google not to show the results containing "exchange". I got alot on the virtual SMTP server, but nothing to do with flushing the queue or even just the queue itself...

Can someone help me figure out why the mail isnt being sent, and why im not getting any errors?? (dont get me wrong, i dont want errors, but id expect a few if the mail isnt being sent...)

I guess untill i get this working, ill be coding some other part of my php site...

[EDIT]Ok, i looked again in the queue folder and read one of the other emails, and it was a mail saying: Delivery to the following recipients has been delayed. email@yahoo.ca. Why is it being delayed? Can i make it so it isnt delayed? or is it just delaying because it hasnt been able to be sent (as described above)?[/EDIT]

Thanks alot!

~phydidian

I had this happen when the Default site was configured with a host header. After it was removed, mail flow was back to normal.

Hope this helps

Ok, i've removed the default headers from the site, and i still havent gotten the emails im sending.... I think imma wait it out for the retry cycle to catch it, maybe thats what im waiting for now.

i've been looking answers for the same problem, i get "Messages stuck in the queue" and while i was trying i notice something that could be the solution (centainly not the professional answer):

1. click start, control panel, administrative tools, IIS services
2. expand PC and right click "default virtual SMTP server"
3. select delivery tab (spanish: ENTREGA)
4. set lower values for: "first retry interval", "second try interval", "third retry interval", "subsequent retry interval"... (i set them to 1)

now it's working fine for and hope this to be usefull

Normally no need to mess with the retry intervals...

In a script situation, you will need to allow the local machine to relay through the SMTP server without providing credentials. In nearly all 2003 deploymens, this should be configured automatically, but I have seen cases where it is not:

1) To allow relay from the local machine: Rt click on SMTP virtual server => Click Properties => Click the 'Access' tab => Click 'Relay' => Make sure the 'Only the list below' radio button is selected => Click 'Add' => Select 'Single Computer' => enter 127.0.0.1 as the IP address.

BE VERY CAREFUL HERE AND FOLLOW THE ABOVE DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY OR YOU MAY OPEN YOUR SMTP SERVER UP TO BEING A SPAM RELAY AND YOU MAY GET YOUR IP BLACKLISTED.

Also, can you browse the internet from your server OK? If not you may have the wrong default gateway entered in the network adapter's properties. Make sure your ISP allows traffic on port 25 AND that your router/firewall allows outbound connections on port 25.

Lastly, for more troubleshooting, enable logging on the SMTP virtual server (W3C Extended Log File Format) which is at the bottom of the General tab in the properties of the SMTP virtual server.

BTW: Email to the Yahoo! domain is often delayed. Search their website for FAQ from their postmaster...You may want to setup another 'free' email account somewhere and send 1 or 2 to that account to see that it is in fact just the yahoo! domain that is delaying your email; or send a handful to friends..

Hi PWD,

Now I have some problems with Yahoo account. I set my server to 'localhost' and it can send to another webmail like hotmail or gmail normally. But I cannot use the yahoo account for sending email like the others.

It just cannot use for 3 days ago. I don't know what happens with Yahoo account. But I can send to yahoo account by another webmail (eg. hotmail). My application send e-mail process use to work before. Now it does not work in either my local pc and server with win 2003.

Could you give me some suggestion?
Thanks alot,
TOI