Are the Emails lost

[msh2007]

we have linux mail exchanger running sendmail to exchange emails with outside world and then the emails from outside pass through the spam filter server and then arrive at the exchange server. We had a problem for at least 12 hours on the spam filter server so emails from outside were not coming. Now when I restarted spam filter server problem is solved. My question is that are the emails which were sent by external people lost or where they are if they have not yet received DSN notification saying mail could not be delivered. Thanks

 

[58sniper]

That depends on exactly where the problem was. If the sending servers actually delivered the message to your sendmail box, and the problem happened within the sendmail box (after delivery and before hand-off), then your mail is likely lost.

If the sending server could not successfully deliver the message to the sendmail server, it could stay queued up for a while on the sending server for later delivery. In Exchange, it could stay queued up for two days, but those settings are configurable.

Pat Richard, MCSE(2) MCSA:Messaging, CNA(2)
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[msh2007]

Thanks for the explanation. In fact the problem was not on sendmail box but on the spam filter server coming after that. According to my understanding, as there was no problem with mx the mails would have been successfully delivered to sendmail box but if they are there in the sendmail queues after 12 hrs or not, I am not sure. For that matter i will need to study sendmail configuration . I appreciate your help.

 

[58sniper]

Yep - I'm sure there's a group around here that can better handle that issue.

Pat Richard, MCSE(2) MCSA:Messaging, CNA(2)
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt