E-mail with attachement takes forever !

[vectorw16]

Hi,

I have a strange problem with my exchange 5.5 server !

When people try to send us e-mail with attachement it takes forever to be received ! (Sending mail is ok)

Small attachement are fine, but let's say 1 mo attachment and more takes much longer ! Sometimes 5 to 6 hour ! Sometimes they are not received at all !

We have a good internet connection so it shouln't take that long !

I think it's something with my firewall that is really restricting !

Do I need to open other ports for SMTP mail (other than 25) ?

Can someone explain to me the steps with ports number when someone send me an e-mail ?

Thanks any help is appreciated

 

[jasonboyes]

Sounds like a network issue could you give us more information

Rich Cook -- "Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning."

 

[dennisbbb]

1) Check if you have a virus scanner that is scanning attachment content.

2) Try openning port 110 Pop3 as well as port 25 smtp. I have a server that occasionally would not sent out mail after it recieves the message from the client. Openning up port 110 does the trick and sends out every time.

3) Sometimes, your network may have packet collisions when sending large files across the network. Try timing the network speed on those nodes that are suspected of having problems.

 

[vectorw16]

dennisbbb (MIS)
1) Yes I have a antivirus scanning but it was working fine before and I didn't change anything in it !

2) But I don't have any problem sending mail and I have no remote client ! Why should I open Pop3 ?

3) No I don't have a big amount of collision !


But now that I think about it I did change the location of my server because we are in renovation !

Before my servers where close to the internet router now they are 3 switch away ... but I have a Full Duplex 100 link all over the way ! It should be enough ...

What do you think ?

Should I really look for a network problem or a firewall too restrictive ?

Thanks

 

[dennisbbb]

Definitly it sounds like a network problem then.

The 5-6 hours lag is an indication.
"Sometimes they are not received at all !" may indicate queue timing out.

Check if your IMC queue has a lot of emails waiting to be sent. This may indicate you have an outbound traffic limitation.

100FD network may not run well in long distance or multi-hub-switch setup. Try Autonegotiate and better quality cables.

 

[vectorw16]

Hi again,

Here are 2 error message received by users trying to send us e-mails with an attatchement !

----------------------------------------------
Delivery attempt history for your mail:

Tue, 18 Nov 2003 01:16:54 -0500 (EST)
Error writing SMTP packet

Mon, 17 Nov 2003 20:58:52 -0500 (EST)
Error writing SMTP packet

Mon, 17 Nov 2003 18:36:39 -0500 (EST)
Error writing SMTP packet

Mon, 17 Nov 2003 16:21:58 -0500 (EST)
Error writing SMTP packet

Mon, 17 Nov 2003 15:07:53 -0500 (EST)
Error writing SMTP packet

Mon, 17 Nov 2003 13:57:53 -0500 (EST)
Error writing SMTP packet
---------------------------------------
And
---------------------------------------
Your message was not delivered because the destination computer was
not reachable within the allowed queue period.
---------------------------------------

Do you still maintain that my problem is a congestion problem ?

I don't have any email outbound waiting to be deliver ! Everything works great outbound !

Any advice is welcome ...
Thanks