Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of Laride
Laride

asked on

2003 Server - SMTP - The service could not bind instance 1. The data is the error code.

I have been running the server with smtp working fine for a month or so. The smtp virtual server has stopped and will not re-start. A box comes up headed 'SMTP Configuration' The server has returned a  service specific error.....

This is the error from the event viewer.


The service could not bind instance 1.  The data is the error code.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp. (nothing here!)


We are using a piece of software called webboard as one of the sites (asp FORUM) which uses the system smtp to send messages to users for various reasons. It appears (although this may well be coincidence) that the problems started when the first mail was sent (or attempted) by this software the other day.

Any ideas?


Avatar of Sembee
Sembee
Flag of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland image

Can you post the FULL event log entry please?

Also what version of Windows this server is on, including service pack, and what service pack Exchange is on?

Simon.
Avatar of Laride
Laride

ASKER

Latest service pack (2 I think) and all upddates processed to date.

Here are the log entries:-

ERROR ... SMTPSVC ... category"none"....event"115"

Properties ...
The service could not bind instance 1.  The data is the error code.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

That is all there is to see.

Thanks

What else is on this machine? Antispam, antivirus, email security tools etc?

Simon.
Avatar of Laride

ASKER

Nothing else of this nature.

SoftArtisans fileupload

It's really very clean at present. We do not use an internet browser for obvious reasons and we do not run popmail or any receiving mail.

We just need to send.


Well to me it sounds like either there is something else that is accessing the smtp port or that somehow a file that is required for the smtp service is corrupted, or the metabase itself has become corrupted  or on the software you are using is corrupted.

You could try A. uninstall the webboard software and see if the smtp service starts working correctly again,
                   B.  create a new metabase bin file http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;843093

                    c.(which no one wants to do) uninstall the webboard software , uninstall IIS and Exchange then reinstall IIS and exchange
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320202

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of ITCEXCHANGE
ITCEXCHANGE

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
Avatar of Laride

ASKER

OK I'm a little closer. I think my machine is OK. If I stop the WEBBOARD smtp service than I can start my system SMTP again.

I wondered whether it had anything to do with ITCEXCAHNGE's first point:-
This issue can occur because the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite of utilities, which includes the SMTP, POP3, and IMAP4 protocols, requires a unique socket for each instance. A TCP/IP socket is composed of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) port pair.

.... so I changed the IP to a unique IP. Still could not run the two along side each other. My system virtual SMTP uses the same IP as one of the sites and works fine for all sites on the server until I start the WEBBOARD software.

If you have any comments they will be appreciated but in the meantime I am asking for assistance from AKIVA.com (webboard). They are on Pacific time whilst I am GMT so I will not be able to move forward for another 8 hours or so!

Maybe you should try to us TWO network cards with two different IP addresses. That way  you really have "unique"  IP and MAC addresses.
Hey,

You may also reffer to KB 256132 - XFOR: Event ID 115 When Configuring More than One Virtual Server on Same IP Address - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256132

Cheerss!!!

Kaushal.
Avatar of Laride

ASKER

It's all ben sorted. The WEBBOARD software configuration was incorrect. This was put right by their support team last night.

I had set up a conflict whereby both WEBBOARD and Microsoft SMTP were both being bound to to the same IP and port combination. Whichever was started first got the cigar!

The reason "This issue can occur because the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite of utilities, which includes the SMTP, POP3, and IMAP4 protocols, requires a unique socket for each instance. A TCP/IP socket is composed of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) port pair. To generate a unique socket, either the TCP port or IP address of each instance must be unique to the given virtual server. "
I am glad you got it to work and thank you for the points