503 valid rcpt command must precede data

**Shanbaag** · 01-12-2009

I am running my website on php and i have created the mail server, the problem is when i try to send a mail it shows error message " 503 valid RCPT command must precede DATA". Does anyone know what causes this issue and how to fix it?Any help will be extremely appreciated.

**Macarenas** · 01-12-2009

The most common reason for this error is an incorrectly configured mail client. 503 valid RCPT command must precede DATA usually means that SMTP authentication isn't turned on. Configure your email client to authenticate automatically by checking the Dedicated Server requires authentication.

**vishodhan** · 01-12-2009

This error occur if Antivirus or Firewall software configured on your machine check your outgoing mail connections. if using a mail screening utility such as Mail Washer, you may want to disable the "automatically check at intervals" setting and check mail manually. If the system checks mail while you are sending you may get this error.

**JonathanD** · 01-12-2009

Make sure that antirelayd is up and running. antirelayd is a process that allows POP before SMTP, and maintains /etc/relayhosts.check your email for new mail before trying to send email. This adds your IP address to a relayhosts file and allows any email to be sent from that IP address for up to 30 minutes. After 30 minutes you have to authenticate again.