Mail stuck in outbound SMTP queue

Hi all,

Situation:

SBS2003
Panda Exchange Secure
Using ISP's SMTP mail server to forward outbound mail.

Problem is, mail stuck in outbound SMTP queue (Legitimate mail, not NDR's or spam)

Things already tried include:
restarting SMTP connector

Forcing connection, results in queue going back to retry state, sometimes it will send 1 piece of mail.

Forward mail via DNS, results in some of mail going out but not others, again I have to click force connection on the queues concerned.

Stopping Anti-Virus services, excluding c:\program files\exchsrvr\mailroot\vsi 1\queue (amongst other standard exclusions) from scan, results in no difference to problem.

Run isinteg on priv1.edb, results integrity chack successful no errors.
Run eseutil /g  on priv1.edb result in successful finish 205 (unknown error, unknown error)

telnet'd ISP's host, accepting mail fine.

changed forwarding SMTP server to completley different ISP (required authentication of course) - same problem.

Observations:
After forcing connection, the additional information at the bottom of the queue page says Connection dropped by remote host.
The outbound queue might say 35 emails, but if I peek in C:\Program Files\Exchsrvr\Mailroot\vsi 1\Queue there is nothing in there ? which is mighty strange. if I search the c: drive for *.eml it finds the usual stuff in the expected places but also find what would appear to be the queued mail in a location simply call My Computer. If I try to open one it will return
file:///c:/program%20files/exchsrvr/mailroot/vsi%201/queue/ntfs_60ccecc401c8277b000000a3.eml
The specified path does not exist, check the path then try again.

Below is a snippet from the SMTPSVC log file


2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 220+earth.karoo.kcom.com+ESMTP 0 0 30 0 15 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionCommand SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 EHLO - assco.co.uk 0 0 4 0 15 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 250-earth.karoo.kcom.com 0 0 24 0 31 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionCommand SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 MAIL - FROM:<>+SIZE=3664 0 0 4 0 47 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 250+sender+<>+ok 0 0 16 0 62 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionCommand SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 RCPT - TO:<della@centurycontainers.com> 0 0 4 0 62 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 250+recipient+<della@centurycontainers.com>+ok 0 0 46 0 78 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionCommand SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 DATA - - 0 0 4 0 78 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 354+go+ahead 0 0 12 0 93 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 HELO - +è-‰ 501 0 27 8 0 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 250+ok:++Message+181549391+accepted 0 0 35 0 218 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionCommand SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 RSET - - 0 0 4 0 234 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 250+reset 0 0 9 0 234 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionCommand SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 MAIL - FROM:<>+SIZE=6692 0 0 4 0 250 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 250+sender+<>+ok 0 0 16 0 265 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionCommand SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 RCPT - TO:<clientcare.refD65720901GF.ib@natwest.co.uk> 0 0 4 0 265 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 250+recipient+<clientcare.refD65720901GF.ib@natwest.co.uk>+ok 0 0 61 0 281 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionCommand SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 DATA - - 0 0 4 0 281 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 354+go+ahead 0 0 12 0 297 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 250+ok:++Message+181549392+accepted 0 0 35 0 531 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionCommand SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 RSET - - 0 0 4 0 531 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 250+reset 0 0 9 0 547 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionCommand SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 MAIL - FROM:<>+SIZE=58840 0 0 4 0 578 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 250+sender+<>+ok 0 0 16 0 593 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionCommand SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 RCPT - TO:<mike.downs@rix.co.uk> 0 0 4 0 593 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 250+recipient+<mike.downs@rix.co.uk>+ok 0 0 39 0 609 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionCommand SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 DATA - - 0 0 4 0 609 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 354+go+ahead 0 0 12 0 609 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:48:57 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 QUIT - - 240 1750 27 8 782 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:17 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 HELO - +è-‰ 501 0 27 8 0 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:17 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 HELO - +è-‰ 501 0 27 8 0 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:17 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 QUIT - - 240 1671 27 8 718 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:17 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 HELO - +è-‰ 501 0 27 8 0 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:17 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 HELO - +è-‰ 501 0 27 8 0 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:17 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 HELO - +è-‰ 501 0 27 8 0 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:17 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 HELO - +è-‰ 501 0 27 8 0 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:18 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 QUIT - - 240 1609 27 8 734 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:18 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 QUIT - - 240 1562 27 8 719 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:18 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 QUIT - - 240 1562 27 8 703 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:18 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 QUIT - - 240 1594 27 8 719 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:18 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 QUIT - - 240 1578 27 8 719 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:44 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 HELO - +è-‰ 501 0 27 8 0 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:44 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 HELO - +è-‰ 501 0 27 8 0 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:44 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 QUIT - - 240 1578 27 8 734 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:44 124.120.79.248 - SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 QUIT - - 240 1578 27 8 718 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:59 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 220+earth.karoo.kcom.com+ESMTP 0 0 30 0 15 SMTP - - - -

I hope this isn't going to be a long one !

Rick
2007-11-30 04:49:59 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionCommand SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 EHLO - assco.co.uk 0 0 4 0 15 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:59 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 250-earth.karoo.kcom.com 0 0 24 0 31 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:59 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionCommand SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 MAIL - FROM:<>+SIZE=58840 0 0 4 0 47 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:59 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 250+sender+<>+ok 0 0 16 0 62 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:59 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionCommand SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 RCPT - TO:<mike.downs@rix.co.uk> 0 0 4 0 62 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:59 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 250+recipient+<mike.downs@rix.co.uk>+ok 0 0 39 0 78 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:59 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionCommand SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 DATA - - 0 0 4 0 78 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:49:59 212.50.160.34 OutboundConnectionResponse SMTPSVC1 SERVER - 25 - - 354+go+ahead 0 0 12 0 93 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:50:01 189.11.107.204 189-11-107-204.ctaje701.dsl.brasiltelecom.net.br SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 HELO - +189-11-107-204.ctaje701.dsl.brasiltelecom.net.br 250 0 40 53 266 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:50:01 189.11.107.204 189-11-107-204.ctaje701.dsl.brasiltelecom.net.br SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 MAIL - +FROM:+<cservice.refX0855739.ib@natwest.com> 250 0 60 48 0 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:50:03 189.11.107.204 189-11-107-204.ctaje701.dsl.brasiltelecom.net.br SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 RCPT - +TO:+<mark@assco.co.uk> 550 0 0 27 0 SMTP - - - -
2007-11-30 04:50:03 189.11.107.204 189-11-107-204.ctaje701.dsl.brasiltelecom.net.br SMTPSVC1 SERVER 10.0.0.2 0 QUIT - 189-11-107-204.ctaje701.dsl.brasiltelecom.net.br 240 2969 60 4 0 SMTP - - - -