Exchange 2003 SMTP Freezes

I have an SBS 2003 Server that was working fine until I remove the McAfee Anti Spam product and installed a new one. (it was discontinued) Now more SMTP queue freezes at random intervals from 8 to 36 hours. The system stops processing mail, will show messages in the mail queue folder and my spam filter is showing no activity. I got to restart the SMTP service and it hangs, reports an error and the service says stopping. The only way I can get it to process mail is to restart the server. I have tried reinstalling exchange, reinstalling SMTP, re applied the service packs and checked my systemprep and done an dcdiag /v and received no errors (except the ISM service is stopped which is expected).

I am stuck about what to try next. Any suggestions?

I haven’t used McAfee ever on my SBS servers hence it would be difficult to say anything with my personal experience but if you post the log generated regarding the same may help us. Can you just check what does it say in your logs for the reason SMTP service is stopping? However if you suspect McAfee, then simply try once disabling it or call up their customer support.

I am sort of grasping at straws with the McAfee because I do not get error messages in my event logs or my smtp logs. I'm trying to come up with services that would run at random internals that could cause the message queue to stop without warning so I'm guessing AV at this point.

Messages just stop getting processed by the Exchange server. Internal messages and external ones just sit in queue waiting. When I try to restart the service I get the standard error message about the service not responding but no details to follow up on.

Is there some lower level logging that I can turn on to show me the status of the queues that might give me better error tracking?

Problems in Exchange occurs usually because of 5 to 6 things which are such as network connection, system components, 3rd party anti-virus or anti-spam programs conflict etc. So you will need to go through one by one for the same. For example, you should try disabling 3rd party apps/antivirus/anti-spam applications and see if it helps.

Meanwhile, I’ll suggest you go through these Microsoft KBs, hope you get some help:
How to block open SMTP relaying and clean up Exchange Server SMTP queues in Windows Small Business Server: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324958/en-us
Exchange queues fill with many non-delivery reports from the postmaster account in Small Business Server 2003: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/886208/en-us

Thank you for your reply, I am out for a long weekend so I am late getting back on this.

First I want to correct the description I gave. Messages are delivered in a timely fashion for the first 8 to 36 hours and then all delivery is stopped and now further messages are sent internally or externally. There is no delay in the delivery when the queue is working properly.

I have run the analyzer and didn't get any issues but I will run it again and gather what ever information I can for you and send it along when I get in on Tuesday.

Thanks
Craig

Hi Guys,

I am having exactly the same problem as Craig - did anyone ever find a solution to this issue.

many thanks and happy new year.
Dave Tordoff