Help, configuration and tips.

Tutorial: Configuring the Outgoing Mails
This page explains in detail how to configure the 'Outgoing Mails' system and how to fix common problems. For more detailed information on what each option of the 'Outgoing Mails' dialog performs then visit the Outgoing Mails section.

Understanding
When you send an email from your mail client or from the WebMail facility to a non-local account, the email will always enter this system. The purpose of the 'Outgoing Mails' system is to deliver emails to non-local accounts (email accounts hosted by other mail servers). The system internally consists of 2 main parts, 'Mail Delivery' and 'Queued Mails'. This allows an outbound mail to exist in the system for a period of time when required and also enables busy mails servers to function well under load.

Re-send Options
When an outbound mail fails to be delivered, it will be placed back into the mail queue were it will wait for a set period of time before another attempt to deliver the mail is made. Ability Mail Server has 2 options available which allow you to adjust this behavior. The first option allows you to set the number of re-send attempts an outbound mail is given and the second is the period of time to wait between re-send attempts. By default, a mail will be given 5 re-send attempts and a wait period of 5 minutes.

Delivery Mode
There are two modes in which the 'Outgoing Mails' system can operate. Independent Mode is usually the right choice for most users and is designed for stand-alone mail servers who will handle the delivery of their own mail. Relay Mode is more commonly used by users who wish to route all outbound mail through another SMTP.

Independent Mode
In this mode the mail server will handle the delivery of all the outbound mails. Delivery usually takes the form of performing an MX lookup and then opening an SMTP connection direct to the destination mail server. This mode also ensures that the Domain Mapping rule 'Via SMTP', which is usually only used for static routing, is correctly obeyed. However, this mode requires access to at least one DNS which will be needed for MX lookups. If you do not provide a DNS then the mail server will attempt to automatically detect a list of DNS's from your computer, which in most cases is usually fine. However, should you experience any problems, you may need to provide the DNS information (see our FAQ for more information).

Relay Mode
In this mode the Mail Server will send all outbound mails onto another SMTP. This is usually only required by users you wish to reroute mail through a set company SMTP, an ISP SMTP or users who do not have access to a DNS. It is important to note that the Domain Mapping rule 'Via SMTP' has no effect when Relay Mode is enabled.

Outgoing Mail Logs
By default, the 'Outgoing Mails' system only records basic information such as MX lookups, successful mail transactions and failures. However, if you require more information then you can enable 'More Detailed Logging'. This triggers the logs to also record information on all SMTP connection attempts, SMTP commands sent and received, and more information on DNS activity. This is usually only required when trying to find the source of a problem or when an administrator wishes to track strange log activity.