Mail mis queued

[Nev]

Hi all,

Have located a quirk of Windows 2003 where Wingate is concerned.

If the system shuts down abnormally the registry is restored and for example the SMTPUID is an old value, which leads to mail not progressing to the 'Sent' directory.

Delivery is no affected yet a back log of messages are stuck in the 'holding' directory.

Has anyone else experienced this?

[adrien]

Hi Nev

Are there corresponding RCP files in the domain directory?

Normally we don't rely on the UID except to try and avoid file name conflicts.... so normally the worst thing that would happen if the UID got wound back would be possibly trying to move a file into the holding directory when there was already a file of that name there.

If the move fails, you should get an error logged in the SMTP server log.

Also, it should leave the RCP file in the PostIn directory if this is the case... do you see that?

In which case, when the conflicting file name is eventually removed out of the Holding folder (by delivery for example), then the mail should flow through.

How often does the system restart like that? and how often does it take a registry backup?

Adrien

[Nev]

Hi Nev

Hello Adrien,

Are there corresponding RCP files in the domain directory?

No.

Normally we don't rely on the UID except to try and avoid file name conflicts.... so normally the worst thing that would happen if the UID got wound back would be possibly trying to move a file into the holding directory when there was already a file of that name there.

If the move fails, you should get an error logged in the SMTP server log.

Also, it should leave the RCP file in the PostIn directory if this is the case... do you see that?

No.

In which case, when the conflicting file name is eventually removed out of the Holding folder (by delivery for example), then the mail should flow through.

Yes mail is delivered, it's just that the *.msg doesn't move to the 'Sent' directory because it is in duplicate.

How often does the system restart like that? and how often does it take a registry backup?

Adrien

Well it's happened twice due to disgraceful shutdown when a managed UPS turns off yet the system is still in use.

I have a scheduled task to save the registry weekly, but I think you mean what is the SMTPUID.

It [SMTPUID] is a value at the end of the previous session when the system had an unplanned shutdown.

[adrien]

Hi Nev

Message files are moved to Sent once their reference count goes to zero, which means that when all the domain jobs that have an RCP file relating to that message are delivered, then it should be removed or moved to Sent (depending on the setting).

Are these files there before the reboot do you know?

Also do you know if the sent folder is working properly? We have a fried drive on one of our servers because of power outages... made some folders unwriteable...

There should be a log message if it is unable to move the file.

Adrien

[Nev]

Hi Nev

Message files are moved to Sent once their reference count goes to zero, which means that when all the domain jobs that have an RCP file relating to that message are delivered, then it should be removed or moved to Sent (depending on the setting).

Are these files there before the reboot do you know?

Also do you know if the sent folder is working properly? We have a fried drive on one of our servers because of power outages... made some folders unwriteable...

There should be a log message if it is unable to move the file.

Adrien

Hi Adrien,

The message files would only accrue during the next session.

This could be simulated by changing the value of SMTPUID back say five and restarting Wingate then sending a message.

The odd point is, that prior to Windows 2003 Std Edition on this PC I just used Windows 2000 Pro and haven't seen this reversion in registry entries on any other sites either including Windows XP Pro units.

It will proceed / deliver yet the message cannot move to the Sent folder because it is in duplicate, or at least that is how I see it.

Ok on the damaged drives, yes I try to keep a UPS on all servers, just occasionally I over stay my limit working back in my office and forget the shutdown, so I have set a message to remind me now 15 minutes out :-)).

Yes the sent folder is working AOK on all the servers where I 'Keep copies of sent mail' which these days due to Privacy regulations in Australia isn't many.

[adrien]

Yep. I think you're onto it.

It will have the same filename as a previous message in the Sent folder.

Do you leave all messages in there, or clear them out to somewhere?

Adrien

[Nev]

Yep. I think you're onto it.

It will have the same filename as a previous message in the Sent folder.

Do you leave all messages in there, or clear them out to somewhere?

Adrien

Hi Adrien,

Well it's interesting you should ask that.

Mostly I update the SMTPUID and restart Wingate then re number the *.msg files if only a few [we seem to send about twenty messages some days] then drop them in the 'Sent' directory, just for my own network.

I have been known on occasions, using a combination of Star Office / spreadsheet and 'autonumber' to create an sequential list to export to a cmd file, this renumbers en masse, then I drop into their correct directory.

However I only follow this now for organisations which have a published Privacy Policy or my own network.

It would be over two years since I have seen this as the Windows 2000 Server / Pro SP4 units I look after seem to manage this area well, even if an unmanaged shutdown occurs, but now that I think about it they all have UPS's and staff sometimes shut down manually so no chance to error.