Configure Retry Intervals

If a message cannot be delivered on the first attempt, Exchange tries to send it again after a specified time. You can configure the interval between delivery attempts. After the time limit is reached, the message is returned to the sender with an NDR. Copies of the message and the NDR are sent to a location that you designate on the Messages tab. The NDR then goes through the same delivery process as messages.

To configure retry attempt and interval settings:

1. Start System Manager
   On the Start menu, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Exchange, and then click System Manager.
2. Navigate to the SMTP virtual server.
   1. Servers
   2. Server
   3. Protocols
   4. SMTP
   5. SMTP virtual servers
   6. SMTP virtual server
3. Right-click the SMTP virtual server, click Properties, and then click the Delivery tab.
4. On the Delivery tab, specify the following settings:
   • First retry interval (minutes). Type a value for the amount of time to attempt delivery before posting the first notification. The default is 10 minutes.
   • Second retry interval (minutes). Type a value for the amount of time to attempt delivery before posting the second notification. The default is 10 minutes after the first retry interval.
   • Third retry interval (minutes). Type a value for the amount of time to attempt delivery before posting the third notification. The default is 10 minutes after the second retry interval.
   • Subsequent retry interval (minutes). Type a value for the amount of time to attempt delivery before posting a notification. The default is 15 minutes.
   • Delay Notification. To allow for network delays, you can set a delay period (of minutes, hours, or days) to expire before sending the delivery notification. The minimum value is 1 minute, the default is 12 hours, and the maximum value is 9999 days.
   • Expiration Timeout. Type a value (in minutes, hours, or days) for messages that have not been delivered after all retries and delays have expired. The minimum value is 1 minute, the default is 2 days, and the maximum value is 9999 days.