Sending email to thousands -- time out or limit problem!

[pain4u]

Obviously alot of people don't post on this forum...but I figured I would give it a shot anyhow! I am not too familiar with configuring Sendmail (and I don't still get what the hell M4 is)...but I know what I am doing to an extent. I just need some help with possibly a configuration directive (a time out maybe)...here is my scenario:

I have a list of about 20,000 subscribed emails (I am running FreeBSD). I'm using a PHP script that I've written to query a mySQL database for email address's and then send an email out to each one. But my problem is that I am only able to send 1,000 or so at a time. I believe this is a problem from within Sendmail because I have already setup my Server & PHP to allow no time outs whatsoever! --I've been trying to figure this out for a day or 2 now.

I have done some error handling / debugging and it looks like the connection status is Normal & OK between my script, the server, the client and the database...SO, that means it must be Sendmail timing out. I have tried setting up Multiple Queues, and that did not help any. The reason why I think it is timing out and not hitting a message send limit is because I have had it give me the same error/problem with only 200 - 500 messages being sent from within the same length of time as it took to send 1,000+ (I have tested this!). SENDMAIL MUST BE TIMING OUT!

Can anyone help me?? - PAINKILLER

 

[AndyBo]

What shows in the sendmail log? Under Linux this is usually /var/log/maillog - not sure what it will be under BSD. If sendmail is timing out, then you should get some kind of message in there.

Also, have you considered looking at one of the mailing list managers such as majordomo for handling the mailing list? It might handle things better.

 

[pain4u]

Thank you for your reply!

I have considered Majordomo for handling my list...but for right now I am only worried about transporting email to everyone on my list.

I have checked the mailing log file...and it has been like a week or so since my last attempt to send email to my list. So, I wasn't able to really find anything.

What type of error message should I be looking for in the log file?

If anyone out there knows a good book or a tutorial available for configuring & sending out email to a large list like mine...I would REALLY appreciate a reference to it! I am going to look for literature about Sendmail tonight, since something is obviously not working properly...and I don't think it is PHP or mySQL.

- PAINKILLER