Message Transfer Agent problem

[tim55]

Our NT4/Exchange5.5 server has just stopped accepting or sending emails. I checked the services and the Message Transfer Agent was stopped and would not restart, saying that an error 2140 error had occurred.

I then rebooted the server and the Internet Mail Service will not start now, saying that it is dependent upon the MTA running.

I have found various references to this error message, but nothing very clear cut. Can anyone suggest how I might approach the problem?

Thank you.

 

[zbnet]

Have you checked the space on the disk the MTA is using for its working directory?

Also, are there any MTA-specific events in the application log?

 

[NicBurns]

Also check your version of 5.5 the standard edition only allows 15gb of mail where as the enterprise is unlimited the restart helps but then it stops again.

 

[tim55]

Thank you zbnet. Spot on!

MTA will only load when there is at least 10MB free and we had gone below this. I have moved some things from one drive to another and it has started fine.

First stop tomorrow, 2 new scsi hard drives for the server!

Thanks again.

Tim

 

[zbnet]

When you get through with adding your new drives, you should use the Performance Optimizer to analyse and move the Exchange files - even if you end up disagreeing with where it thinks you should put the files, it it still worth running it, as it tweaks all sorts of parameters under the covers.

Proactive monitoring of free disk space is easy enough to do with an Exchange server - even if you don't have any specific monitoring software, a few minutes with a DOS script and the AT command will produce you a regular report of the free space on each of your volumes. That way you stay ahead of the problems rather than always playing catchup.