SMTP failure

pedalvet · 16 Nov 2006, 03:51 AM

Have not been able to send mail all day. I know things crashed a few hours ago, but I'm getting incoming mail again, but still can't send out from my desktop. I can send (and receive) from my Treo handheld though.

I have my username and password entered correctly (has been working for over a year without any changes), and the "my server requires authentication" box is checked. I've always used port 25 by default, but tried 26 and 21 with no love.

This is the error message:
"A time-out occurred while communicating with the server. Account: 'mail.messagingengine.com', Server: 'mail.messagingengine.com', Protocol: SMTP, Port: 25, Secure(SSL): No, Error Number: 0x800CCC19"

Any suggestions?

pedalvet · 16 Nov 2006, 06:15 AM

Well, I tried from another PC, and I can send just fine. Both machines are running Outlook Express configured with the exact same settings.

If anyone has any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it.

JRobert · 16 Nov 2006, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pedalvet
Well, I tried from another PC, and I can send just fine. Both machines are running Outlook Express configured with the exact same settings.

If anyone has any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it.

Network connectivity issues from the first PC? Does

Code:

> tracert messagingengine.com

succeed, from both PCs?

-jeff-

pedalvet · 16 Nov 2006, 09:13 AM

Thanks for the reply. I don't know how to do what you suggested, but no need! It suddenly resumed working when I checked after dinner.

Thanks for your response!

Dave

robmueller · 17 Nov 2006, 12:22 PM

FYI, with tracert, you need to use:

Code:

tracert mail.messagingengine.com

or

Code:

tracert www.fastmail.fm

messagingengine.com itself is hosted elsewhere.

Rob

JRobert · 17 Nov 2006, 09:31 PM

Missed that subtlety! Thanks, Rob. And, for the terminally curious (moi!), what is the (functional) difference between them?

-jeff-

pedalvet · 17 Nov 2006, 10:16 PM

Sorry to be a little slow here, but if I understand what you are saying, if this happens again I should try putting "tracert mail.messagingengine.com" in for the SMTP server?

Thanks for the help.

Dave

ewal · 18 Nov 2006, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pedalvet
Sorry to be a little slow here, but if I understand what you are saying, if this happens again I should try putting "tracert mail.messagingengine.com" in for the SMTP server?

Thanks for the help.

Dave

Hi

Nope, don't do that, it will not help at all.

Tracert is an operating system command for traceroute (see: here ).

This command simply traces the internet route between your computer to the domain name's host you give. This command is available under most operating systems. To use it under Window, simply:

start > run > command > tracert (domainname). What you see from that should be obvious.

Note: If you are behind some types of firewalls (such as often used in corporate environments, you may not be able to use tracert.)

Ed

pedalvet · 18 Nov 2006, 02:42 AM

Thanks, Ewal! All is working well now, but I've learned something for the next time.

Dave

rzajac · 18 Nov 2006, 03:58 AM

My SMTP has also not been working for the last couple of days.

I can receive mail, but I cannot send it.

I'm using Thinderbird. Any other people having this problem?

Any clues?

JRobert · 18 Nov 2006, 06:03 AM

No, but you might try the suggestion above. Open DOS shell (assuming you're on a Windows machine) and type the command

Code:

tracert mail.messagingengine.com

. The listed route should end with 'mail.messagingengine.com' and none listed as unreachable. That's the quickest way to find out whether you could reach the site at all (ie., that there are no network problems between you and FM). If you can't, there's probably no point in checking the server settings in your mail client for instance. If you can, then it's time to 1) check your mail client settings, and 2) find out whether the SMTP server is up and functioning (that is, if it's able to accept mail; you'd already know it was replying to pings).

-jeff-

rzajac · 18 Nov 2006, 06:08 AM

ok jeff,

thank you very much. i did that, and i saw the progress of the trace, and it did in fact, trace.

is there something i need to do now?

robmueller · 21 Nov 2006, 08:35 AM

If it finishes the trace, then the problem is not your network connection.

What your problem probably is is that your ISP has started blocking the standard SMTP port 25. We have an alternate SMTP port on 26. In TB, go to Tools -> Account Settings. In the list on the left, click on the Outgoing Server (SMTP) item. On the right, click the mail.messagingengine.com server, click Edit. In the port area, change it from 25 to 26.

Rob

pedalvet · 29 Nov 2006, 11:22 PM

Well, my SMTP failure has returned. Thanks to your suggestions, I ran a "tracert mail.messagingengine.com", and it times out at the second step.

So I gather this means I have some type of network problem? What do I do to try to restore this? I hate having to use the web interface, but it's the only way I can send mail.

Thanks for your help!

Dave

JRobert · 30 Nov 2006, 01:56 AM

Depends on who/what is the second step. On my system, the first step is my router (192.168.0.1 - 192 is private, i.e. local address and typical for local routers), the second step is my ISPs local host. The third step is another host at my ISP - probably one of their routers.

If you are timing out at your ISP it could be 1) your ISP doesn't return pings, so you haven't learned much, or 2) you've lost connectivity to your ISP, or 3) they've lost connectivity at the next hop. 2 or 3 means you're off the air - your browser won't work, either, for example.

If the failing second step is not one of your own devices (a router in your local network), I'd contact the ISP, explain what's happening and ask if they can shed any light on it.

Good luck.

-jeff-

16 Nov 2006, 03:51 AM	#1
pedalvet Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 11	SMTP failure Have not been able to send mail all day. I know things crashed a few hours ago, but I'm getting incoming mail again, but still can't send out from my desktop. I can send (and receive) from my Treo handheld though. I have my username and password entered correctly (has been working for over a year without any changes), and the "my server requires authentication" box is checked. I've always used port 25 by default, but tried 26 and 21 with no love. This is the error message: "A time-out occurred while communicating with the server. Account: 'mail.messagingengine.com', Server: 'mail.messagingengine.com', Protocol: SMTP, Port: 25, Secure(SSL): No, Error Number: 0x800CCC19" Any suggestions? Last edited by pedalvet : 16 Nov 2006 at 03:59 AM.

16 Nov 2006, 06:15 AM	#2
pedalvet Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 11	More info Well, I tried from another PC, and I can send just fine. Both machines are running Outlook Express configured with the exact same settings. If anyone has any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it.

17 Nov 2006, 12:22 PM	#5
robmueller Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 6,102 Representative of: Fastmail.FM	FYI, with tracert, you need to use: Code: tracert mail.messagingengine.com or Code: tracert www.fastmail.fm messagingengine.com itself is hosted elsewhere. Rob

18 Nov 2006, 06:03 AM	#11
JRobert Master of the @ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 1,561	No, but you might try the suggestion above. Open DOS shell (assuming you're on a Windows machine) and type the command Code: tracert mail.messagingengine.com . The listed route should end with 'mail.messagingengine.com' and none listed as unreachable. That's the quickest way to find out whether you could reach the site at all (ie., that there are no network problems between you and FM). If you can't, there's probably no point in checking the server settings in your mail client for instance. If you can, then it's time to 1) check your mail client settings, and 2) find out whether the SMTP server is up and functioning (that is, if it's able to accept mail; you'd already know it was replying to pings). -jeff-

16 Nov 2006, 09:13 AM	#4
pedalvet Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 11	Thanks for the reply. I don't know how to do what you suggested, but no need! It suddenly resumed working when I checked after dinner. Thanks for your response! Dave

17 Nov 2006, 09:31 PM	#6
JRobert Master of the @ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 1,561	Missed that subtlety! Thanks, Rob. And, for the terminally curious (moi!), what is the (functional) difference between them? -jeff-

17 Nov 2006, 10:16 PM	#7
pedalvet Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 11	Sorry to be a little slow here, but if I understand what you are saying, if this happens again I should try putting "tracert mail.messagingengine.com" in for the SMTP server? Thanks for the help. Dave

18 Nov 2006, 02:42 AM	#9
pedalvet Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 11	Thanks, Ewal! All is working well now, but I've learned something for the next time. Dave

18 Nov 2006, 03:58 AM	#10
rzajac Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3	My SMTP has also not been working for the last couple of days. I can receive mail, but I cannot send it. I'm using Thinderbird. Any other people having this problem? Any clues?

18 Nov 2006, 06:08 AM	#12
rzajac Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3	ok jeff, thank you very much. i did that, and i saw the progress of the trace, and it did in fact, trace. is there something i need to do now?

21 Nov 2006, 08:35 AM	#13
robmueller Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 6,102 Representative of: Fastmail.FM	If it finishes the trace, then the problem is not your network connection. What your problem probably is is that your ISP has started blocking the standard SMTP port 25. We have an alternate SMTP port on 26. In TB, go to Tools -> Account Settings. In the list on the left, click on the Outgoing Server (SMTP) item. On the right, click the mail.messagingengine.com server, click Edit. In the port area, change it from 25 to 26. Rob

29 Nov 2006, 11:22 PM	#14
pedalvet Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 11	Well, my SMTP failure has returned. Thanks to your suggestions, I ran a "tracert mail.messagingengine.com", and it times out at the second step. So I gather this means I have some type of network problem? What do I do to try to restore this? I hate having to use the web interface, but it's the only way I can send mail. Thanks for your help! Dave

30 Nov 2006, 01:56 AM	#15
JRobert Master of the @ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 1,561	Depends on who/what is the second step. On my system, the first step is my router (192.168.0.1 - 192 is private, i.e. local address and typical for local routers), the second step is my ISPs local host. The third step is another host at my ISP - probably one of their routers. If you are timing out at your ISP it could be 1) your ISP doesn't return pings, so you haven't learned much, or 2) you've lost connectivity to your ISP, or 3) they've lost connectivity at the next hop. 2 or 3 means you're off the air - your browser won't work, either, for example. If the failing second step is not one of your own devices (a router in your local network), I'd contact the ISP, explain what's happening and ask if they can shed any light on it. Good luck. -jeff-