Exchange 2003 not sending emails

[alunmjones]

Yesterday morning our exchange server stoped sending emails, we can recive e-mails and everything else on the network works fine, but it just point blank refuses to send emails, it just ques them.

I did think that it was our DNS at first as i had modified it to allow us to view a few school websites in our area that are not in our external DNS but need access to, though after checking the fault started befor i had even touched the DNS so it cant be that.

I cant see Anything oviouse in the Event Viewer, it happned between 8:46 and 9:14 yesterday as the email i sent at 8:46 went through but the one at 9:14 didn't. didnt do the DNS till after lunch.

just to add, sending e-mails internally works fine, its at the point where the e-mails need to leave the school it just failes.

any suggestions?

[IanT]

Tracking message is an option, it will show you exact status.

[glennda]

take a look at AV I had it with Macffee that decieded one day to block all outbound connections on port 25 (smtp) which wasn't helpful in the slightest.

EDIT: just reread your post - this wouldn't cause them to sit in the queue

Do you use Smart hosts to forward mail to? Can you get to them?

[alunmjones]

@Glennda
I shut down F-secure just to check and checked the ISA server settings, e-mails still arnt leaving the site, i use routing for a couple of sites, where i direct the e-mails to a set IP, but most just go directly out via the isa server

@IanT
I have message tracking on the exchange server set up, but its not really helping, are there any extra commands for it that you know of?

I have just re-started the server and still nothing, everything is still qued

[IanT]

Just curious, you got a smarthost setup on your box?

Here is a good artcle on tracking:
Exchange 2003 Message Tracking and Logging

How to troubleshoot for Exchange Server 2003 transport issues

How to track Message in Exchange 2003/2007/2010 - Messaging with Communications - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

[alunmjones]

I dont think so, i didnt set it up originally, it just gets sent out through two smtp connectors, one that does everywhere and one that just does our local council, its been working for 3 years, not seen anything like this before, ive just checked Tracking and Logging, thats set up as suggested, but they havent been sent yet, ive checked port 25, its available inbound and outbound.

im running through the articles now, thanks,

[sukh]

1. Up the SMTP protocol logging to see what's happening on the protocol layer
2. Do you use DNS to resolve MX or a smarthost?
3. Hpw many SMTP connectors do you have?

[alunmjones]

ive set all logging to max, i can see things comming in but there is nothing about messages going out, i dont think they are actually beeing transfered to the smtp protocol at all, there is nothing in the logs for outbound mail. ill keep looking just incase.

I use an MX record in DNS, been working for 3 years, we have two SMTP Connectors, one that does everywhere and one that is just for the local council to send e-mail directly to there server on the local council Internet we connect to.

[zag]

maybe the smtp server is refusing the connection. We had this and when we rang the isp they had banned the ip address for spam.

Couple of security enhancements later we fixed it and they unbanned it.

[sukh]

1. What do your IIS/SMTP logs say?

[alunmjones]

Ive rung the council as they are the ones who provide our internet connection, ill see what they say after they get back to me

the logs only have inbound messages in them, nothing outbound, its like its not even bothering to try and make a connection, its not like its failing its just not even trying, im just a bit stumpped as to what could have changed.

[sukh]

You say your SMTP connector for Internet email uses DNS to resolve MX records right?
Can you send/PM me the IIS logs for SMTP?

[alunmjones]

yes, it was set up befor i started and has been working for over 3 years with no problems, ill try and send todays now, but it only has inbound messages in it as nothing has got to the SMTP Protocol to actually be sent out, i had GFI Mail essentials installed to do the disclaimer/footer but i removed it justincase it was stoping mail, but no change

[pooley]

Try smtpdiag, this will pinpoint what the error is as it attempts to send the email

[alunmjones]

when i run smtpdiag i get an error of
Connecting to the server failed. Error: 10060

when it tries to connect to an external mx server, it can find the address of the external mx server, just cant connect