SMTP: Err Msg: ERROR Network_Read: Lost Network Connection

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Mail Gateway to SMTP, version 3.0

SUMMARY

When a connection begins for the Microsoft Mail Gateway to SMTP, the first thing that occurs is a greeting exchange between the TCP/IP host and the SMTP gateway computer. RFC 822 specifies that these greeting replies include host names. However, the SMTP gateway does not include the host names in its greeting replies. Most hosts ignore this particular piece of the 822 RFC.

When communicating with an IBM VM host running IBM VM SMTP V2R2, an error may occur because IBM VM requires that the host name be included. As a result, the gateway log file, SMTPGATE.LOG, will record the following error message:

   ERROR Network_read: Lost network connection

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be problem in version 3.0 of Microsoft Mail Gateway to SMTP. This problem was corrected in version 3.0.1 of SMTPGATE.EXE. If you do not have version 3.0.1 (or later), you can obtain the latest version from the Microsoft Software Library (MSL). Download SMTPGW.EXE (S14223), a self-extracting file, from any of the following services:

• Microsoft's World Wide Web Site on the Internet

        On the www.microsoft.com home page, click the Support icon.
        Click Knowledge Base, and select the product.
        Enter kbfile SMTPGW.EXE (size: 231849 bytes) 
                               , and click GO!
        Open the article, and click the button to download the file.
  
  

• Internet (anonymous FTP)

        ftp ftp.microsoft.com
        Change to the Softlib/Mslfiles folder.
        Get SMTPGW.EXE (size: 231849 bytes) 
  

• The Microsoft Network

        On the Edit menu, click Go To, and then click Other Location.
        Type "mssupport" (without the quotation marks).
        Double-click the MS Software Library icon.
        Find the appropriate product area.
        Locate and Download SMTPGW.EXE.
  

• Microsoft Download Service (MSDL)

        Dial (206) 936-6735 to connect to MSDL
        Download SMTPGW.EXE (size: 231849 bytes) 
  

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
   TITLE     : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online
               Services

MORE INFORMATION

The following is an example of what happens when you connect to the IBM VM host with a telnet session on port 25:

   $ telnet 128.227.212.10 25
   Trying...
   Connected to 128.227.212.10.
   Escape character is '^]'.
   220 yourhost.yourdomain.com running IBM VM SMTP V2R2 on Fri,
   19 Mar 93
   12:19:29 EST
   HELO
   501 Syntax Error. Domain name missing
   helo myhost.mydomain.com
   250 yourhost.yourdomain.com is my domain name.
   quit
   221 yourhost.yourdomain.com IBM VM SMTP V2R2 closing
   connection
   Connection closed by foreign host.