[bit.listserv.ibmtcp-l] SMTP returns mail when NAMESRV down

ACC00SLB@UNCCVM.BITNET (Steve Blackley) (02/09/90)

Recently we have setup our NAMESRV machine to send queries to a remote
server for resolution.  We modified our Mailer tables so mail with
internet addresses would be sent to our SMTP rather than INTERBIT.
This works fine until the remote server goes down, or something in
between (DACU, Ethernet, etc.), in which case the mail gets returned
by SMTP.

When using a remote server with NAMESRV, can you configure SMTP to
know the difference between (Unknown Address) and (Any Other Failure) ?
Currently SMTP returns the mail when there is any failure.
We would like SMTP to keep the Mail until the Server comes active,
then try to resolve the address.

af@SEI.UCL.AC.BE (Alain FONTAINE (Postmaster - NAD)) (02/09/90)

Could this be a consequence of a NAMESRV bug that make it return
'Name error' (rc=3) in some cases when it should only be allowed
to return a null answer ???                       /AF

RUBIN@YKTVMX.BITNET (Bill Rubin) (02/10/90)

This problem is fixed in the SMTP/MX code, which will be on the 1.2.2
PTF tape. SMTP will now requeue mail for resolution if the remote name
server is not available. The old version had no wait of holding mail
for later name resolution.

Bill Rubin
IBM TJ Watson Research