IIS's SMTP server can't send out email

[multiplex77]

Hi,

I've an ASP application running on IIS 5 that is using CDONTS to send out emails. But I can't seem to get it to send out emails on my client's server. It just doesn't send out when the email function is called.

So I tried going to Default SMTP Server's Smart host and entered the SMTP server IP address. But it still doesn't send. I don't know if and where the error message is stored.

My client says there is no firewall blocking the sending out of email.

My questions:
1. How really does IIS send out email? Isn't it using it's own SMTP server? So why do I even have to type in a smarthost?

2. Could it be because my client's SMTP server requires authentication before sending out email?

On the server in my office, it sends out fine without needing any smart host. And I know that my SMTP server (though not specified in the smart host) DOES require outgoing mail authentication.

Hope someone could shed some light on this. Thanks very much!

 

[tekman1000]

IIS stores its smtp Queu's, Badmail, etc in the inetpub\mailroot folder. Check the Queu folder to see if the messages are pilling up there. More than likely your clients email server is preventing mail forwarding from unknown smtp servers (as it should because this is how spammers send mail).

Answers:
1. IIS is using its own smtp server.

2. NOT sure but I had the same senario and all I added was the internal IP addres of my mail server(MS Exchange)in the following format [192.168.1.1] and it worked.

You should also check the clients DNS server to see if there is an MX record identifing the mail server.

 

[multiplex77]

Hi,

Thanks tekman for the reply. I did place the IP address in square brackets. Thanks for pointing out the mailroot folders. When I check the subfolders, it just shows the messages that are not sent. But it doesn't indicate what the problem is, does it? Where can I go to find some sort of error message.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Rachel80]

Hi,

I've similar problem.. my emails are actually kept in the Queue folder instead of being sent out. How can I configure the settings to send out emails using the IIS SMTP Server? Thanks.

 

[hardrock49]

im not sure what ver of iis install cdonts but not all do. first check to make sure that it is installed if not download cdonts.dll and install it.

 

[Rachel80]

I do have cdonts.dll installed. I tried some SMS components downloaded from the net and used their sample codes (ASP) to try out but they simply wont send emails. It only works when I use JMail component (not CDONTs) with PWS. I could do this but I wanna use IIS instead of PWS. Any suggestions? Moreover I need to mass mail/SMS, is there any free email/sms component available? Any help is much appreciated, thanks!

 

[Rachel80]

Oops, typo error.. in 2nd sentence, I mean "tried some Email components"

 

[shaddow]

You could use JMail component, it's free and most of ISP should have it. But the problem could be some FrontPage Server Extension settings. Somewere there should be a smtp server setting.
I cannot check right now (working on Windows .NET).

________
George, M

 

[czbear]

This may sound rudimentary but....

Make sure the SMTP service is running in the services under adminitrative tools advanced in the control panel. In addition to that make sure the SMTP server is running and properly configured under the IIS MMC.

 

[Rachel80]

My SMTP service generates this warning message:

Message delivery to the remote domain 'yahoo.co.uk' failed. The error message is 'An internal DNS error caused a failure to find the remote server.'

where xx@yahoo.co.uk is the receipent email address. Do I have to configure DNS settings? I referred to this site:

http://abstractvb.com/code.asp?F=5&P=1&A=1054

under Using advanced features, 1. DNS lookup and MX record resolve

 

[Gorkem]

I had the exact same problem before..

Mail being stuck in the queue, or not being able to find a domain.. (like Rachel's post above)

My server was using a non-routable IP address (192.168.1.x).. After some research, it seems that when the server sits as on a non-routable IP network, IIS SMTP can't send emails. One of two things must be done.. either expose the server to the internet using a static routable IP address or use secondary SMTP software.. (I use ADR - Advanced Direct Remailer)..

What I have done is set my smart host in IIS to point to my ADR running on the same server but binded to a different 192.168.1.x IP Address. You will have to use a different port for it as well.. I use port 9876 for mine and I make sure that IIS SMTP uses this port for sending emails as well.

It has worked like a charm ever since.

Cheers,

G.

GT Interactive

http://www.gt-interactive.net

-----------------------------
Components/Tools/Forums/Software/Web Services

 

[lebisol]

hmmm does your router have port 25 open to the WAN?
"expose" that port but u can still keep the web 80 port closed to the WAN
All the best!

> need more info?
:: don't click HERE ::

 

[multiplex77]

Hi,

Thanks for all your replies. I still can't get it to work. Here are some facts about my situation:

1. The mail is getting stuck in the Queue folder of the mailroot.
2. SMTP service is installed and running. I can open, start and stop it from Internet Service Manager.
3. It doesn't work whether or not I set my smarthost address. The IP address of the mail server (if I do set the smarthost) is 192.168.113.15. Does this indicate that it is a "non-routable IP address"?
4. There are no firewalls present in this network. All ports are open.

One thread said I should install CDONTS. Isn't CDONTS installed together with SMTP service?

Is there any way I can get this to work without using JMail or ADR or any other 3rd party software?

Thanks a lot for the help and advice.

 

[imac]

Hello all,

We had the same problem...and solved it!!!

In &quot;Default SMTP Virtual Server Properties&quot; <Delivery> <Advanced> Put the IP address of the Exchange Server in the &quot;Smart Host&quot; option [123.123.12.1] with square brackets and also UNCHECK the option for &quot;Attempt direct delivery before sending to smart host&quot;

I hope this helps...

imac & JJ R Happy now

 

[Gorkem]

Hey Multiplex,

Ok.. your server is on a non-routable ip block.. this means that it is not directly exposed to the internet. Your solution here is to either set up an additional SMTP server on this machine (which I have done and it has been successful - using Adavanced Direct Remailer) and point your smart host to this program.. OR to point your smart host to another server that has both a non-routable (192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x) IP and a routable IP (all other ip's except the ones noted as non-routable) This will ensure that the server has access to both internal machines and to the external internet.

If you want, download ADR and let me know once you have installed it and I will give you step by step instructions on how to fix this problem using ADR.

Cheers,

G.



GT Interactive

http://www.gt-interactive.net

-----------------------------
Components/Tools/Forums/Software/Web Services

 

[natesin]

If port 25 is not open at the router, will the mail just sit in the queue?

 

[dragonturtle]

In my network, Port 25 is blocked via firewall. Emails sent via CDONTs are left in the \inetpub\mailroot\badmail folder, rather than queued.

 

[multiplex77]

Seemed to get mine to work by going into Command line and doing a Release and Renew of the IP (IPCONFIG). Not sure why it works but it works!