Mail Server troubleshooting

 
The Mail Server won't start up.
 

    • Check the Mail Server Error log.
    • Rename the Mail Database file or run the AppleShare IP Mail Tool program on the server.

 
A particular user is having trouble sending mail.
 

    • If the mail is addressed to a user who connects to the same Mail Server, verify that mail is enabled for the addressee.
    • Make sure that the user's e-mail application is properly configured for your network with the correct mail server name, e-mail address, and so on. See Enabling and disabling mail service.
    • Check the size of the mail the user is trying to send. Mail servers can limit the size of messages. See Setting a maximum incoming message size.
    • Check the Mail Server Log to see if there is a pattern of failed connections for the Mail Server. See Mail Server Log and Error Log.
    • If the destination is a computer for which you provide DNS service, check the MX record on the DNS server. If you change the MX record, remember that DNS caches must be flushed before the change takes effect.
    • Verify that the user is allowed to send SMTP mail. The default SMTP port is 25. See Changing mail protocol settings.

 
A particular user is having trouble receiving mail.
 

    • Check the user name, password, and Internet alias. See Changing a user's attributes.
    • Make sure that mail is enabled in the user's mail panel, and that forwarding is not set. See Enabling and disabling mail service.
    • Make sure the DNS mail system is configured correctly by checking with your network administrator or Internet service provider, or by checking the "MacDNS Administrator's Guide" in the MacDNS folder inside the AppleShare IP 6.2 folder on the server's hard disk.
    • If the user's mail account is set up for an APOP-encrypted password, make sure that the user's mail application is also set up for APOP. See Enabling and disabling mail service.)
    • If you are sharing users and groups and have set up a user's mail account on a secondary server (by typing a DNS name other than the primary server's name in the Mail Account Location text box on the Mail Settings page for the user), make sure you've followed all of the steps in AppleShare IP Help to set up a secondary server and to run the Mail server on a secondary server. Then make sure the user's e-mail application is configured to log on to the correct server.
    • If the user is having trouble receiving replies to mail that he or she sent, make sure that the user's e-mail address is correctly set up in the client mail application's return information field.

 
A particular user's mail is unexpectedly deleted.
 

    If the user has a joint IMAP and POP mailbox, make sure the user is logging on to the Mail Server using both POP and IMAP clients. If the user is logging on using an IMAP client, but the POP client is set to retrieve mail on a regular basis, the mail may be downloaded to the user's hard disk before the user sees it in the mailbox.

    Turn on separate POP and IMAP mailboxes and tell the user to log on using both clients. If the user is only logging on using one client, disable the other protocol.

    See Enabling and disabling mail service.

 
Mail is being delivered to the wrong place.
 

    • Verify that the correct address is specified for mail forwarding in the user's mail settings. See Forwarding mail addressed to local users.
    • Check the mail application's address book. It may have an out-of-date address for the recipient.
    • Check the MX record for the recipient's host on your DNS server.

 
Users say that "Reply to all" doesn't work.
 

    • Verify that the reply address includes a fully qualified domain name for each recipient.

 
Users say that they cannot connect to the Mail Server.
 

    • Make sure the Mail Server is running. See Starting and stopping the Mail Server.
    • Make sure the e-mail applications are properly configured for your network. See Enabling and disabling mail service.
    If users are connecting to the Mail Server over TCP/IP, check the connection between the user's computer and the server using a TCP/IP utility that allows you to "ping" the computer. (If users are connecting over AppleTalk, make sure they can see the Mail Server in the Chooser.)
    • If the Web & File Server or the Print Server is running on the same computer as the Mail Server, the server may be too busy. Consider adding more RAM to the computer or moving the Mail Server to another computer.
    • You may need to increase the memory allocated to the Mail Server.

    For additional help on this topic, go to the server and open AppleShare IP Help.

 
The Mail Server can't connect to another computer that provides mail service.
 

    • The Mail Server uses port 25 to make SMTP connections for exchanging mail with other mail servers. Verify that port 25 is enabled on the other computer.
    Make sure that the port number over which you'd like to communicate is being used. See Changing mail protocol settings.
    • Make sure that your network is not down or experiencing problems. Make sure any remote mail servers to which you're trying to connect are running.

 
You cannot connect to the IMAP Admin port.
 

    • Make sure the IMAP Adminstrator Access checkbox is selected in the Protocol section of the Advanced Mail Server Options page. See Enabling and disabling IMAP Administrator Access.
    • Make sure your IMAP client supports nested folders and the changing of the port used to establish a connection with a Mail Server. You need to change the port that your IMAP client uses to 626.
    • Make sure you have administrative access. (If so, the "Enable user to administer the server" box is checked on your General Information page.)
    • Make sure mail is enabled for your account.
    • Make sure you haven't blocked access to the IMAP Admin port for this client using TCP Filter software.

 
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