This section provides information and solutions for common
operating problems. The best practice is to monitor transmissions
and make configuration adjustments before problems occur. You can
set up your system to regularly review transmissions and resolve
bottlenecks.
Tip The Queue Viewer
utility is particularly useful for resolving message flow
issues.
Set up a mailbox to receive non-delivery receipts (NDRs) and
undeliverable e-mail. The SMTP
postmaster account, set through Active Directory Users and
Computers, should be a valid SMTP account that users can send
e-mail to when they receive an NDR.
Use performance counters to gauge server load. The Windows 2000
Performance tool is an excellent monitor for tracking process flow
information. Performance is discussed more in Monitoring SMTP
Performance and Configuration, as well as in the Windows 2000
documentation.
After an error has occurred, use Windows 2000 Event Viewer to
begin troubleshooting the problem. The System, Application, and
Security event logs record events for SMTP and other computer
processes. You can review events in the logs to determine why an
error occurred.
A route domain may be designated for a remote domain you're trying
to send e-mail to, and may be overriding the virtual server smart
host setting.
Solution
Check your connectors and be sure a route domain hasn't been
designated for the domain in question. Connector smart hosts will
override those set at the virtual server.
The virtual server may have already been stopped when the service
was stopped. A virtual server will only restart with the service if
it was running before the service stopped.
Solution
Restart the
SMTP virtual server in System Manager.