SMTP: Unable to Send SMTP Mail Messages from Downstream PO (135031)

SYMPTOMS

Downstream postoffices (PO) with the SMTP Access Component installed can not send SMTP messages; the mail messages are still in the SMTP queue and have not been picked up by the External Mail program. However, Microsoft Mail messages are sent successfully in both directions from the downstream postoffice to the gateway postoffice, and incoming SMTP mail is successfully routed to the Downstream postoffice. No errors are listed in the SESSION.LOG, and mail is not returned with an error.

CAUSE

After you install the SMTP Access Component on the downstream postoffice, the gateway postoffice is deleted from the External-Admin option in ADMIN.EXE. Then it is added back (one reason would be for troubleshooting purposes).

The NETWORK.GLB file was not updated to show the correct hex value for the gateway postoffice's MBG and KEY files. When a user on the downstream postoffice sends SMTP mail, it is being put into the SMTP <hexid>.MBG and <hexid>.KEY files; however, the External Mail program does not know what postoffice to send the SMTP Mail to. As a result, it ignores the mail.

ADMIN.EXE should recognize that the gateway postoffice is a hub postoffice, but it does not and subsequently allows the administrator to delete it.

RESOLUTION

NOTE: Debugging the NETWORK.GLB file and changing the hex value to the correct hex value (matching the gateway postoffice's hex value in the XTN file) does NOT fix this problem and is NOT recommended.

When the SMTP gateway postoffice reference is deleted from a downstream postoffice with the SMTP Access Component installed, you must run the following to remove the SMTP Access Component from the downstream PO:

install -r

Then run INSTALL to put the files back again and to update the NETWORK.GLB and other files.

This information may also apply to other gateways.