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iis smtp nntp : "The connection was dropped by the remote host"


nova3uk
8/16/2005 6:45:51 AM
I have seen lots of posts about this error, but there are so many
variations of which none has solved my problem i have decided to start
my own topic, as I really could do with some help! :(

I have a number of windows servers which have been trundling along for
months sending emails without so much as a hiccup, then a few days ago
there queue folders began jamming up, and nothing seemed to send
properly. Whether the mail is to a local server or a remote one makes
no difference.

After days of investigation the problem is that it makes its connection
without any trouble, send the EHLO, and starts to send the mail but at
the point of sending DATA it just stops, and eventually the remote
server drops the connection with a timeout.

This is happening consistantly, with mail to any domain. I know my ip
is not on a blacklist, and i have even tested sending it to another
remote server of my own which has no blacklisting rules, and the same
thing occurs.

The problem has happend at the same time, to at least 3 servers all
configured to be there own DNS servers, and using there own DNS. The
errors logged in event viewer show this same error for every message.

These servers were running perfectly for a number of months, and i
haven't changed a thing.

I can only think of two posibilities:

1. Some windows update that has auto installed and has got a bug
(unlikely)

2. My firewall (CISCO PIX) or my Switch 3COM is causing me troubles.

I have investigated the possible problems with the PIX, and disabled
fixup smtp as suggested by MS, and Cisco, although the pix is runnin on
software version 6+ so this error is unlikley in any case.

Interestingly, if i telnet in or out to any one of these boxes i can
send an email without any problem at all, I get no disconnection, and
no errors of any kind. I can even use many lines on purpose to send the
email as a means of testing the fixup smtp really is disabled.

I have not changed the pix configuration for weeks, so I cannot see why
it could just begin misbehaving.

If any oen has any ideas at all, I would be very grateful to hear
them!!

Thanks!
Rp
8/26/2005 2:46:25 PM
I also receive timeouts with a sililar problem but with domains sending to
me. I see the log entries showing the connection, the mail from, the mail to
and the "timeout" and the quit. Nothing has changed in our environment all of
a sudden I'm getting compolaints form outside domains trying to email me. Any
insight will be helpful. No we did not make any changes nor did we install
anything.

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