SMTP: Gateway Hangs Using Novell LAN Workplace for DOS

 Last reviewed: October 20, 1997
Article ID: Q105289
3.00 MS-DOS kb3rdparty kbtlc

The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Mail Gateway to SMTP, version 3.0

SYMPTOMS

The Microsoft Mail Gateway to SMTP may hang during message transmission when using Novell's TCP/IP product for the PC (LAN Workplace for DOS). This error appears: 

   ERROR write: (9) Bad file number
The following lines appear in the log file as errors when you use the -CD and -LACSY options with SMTPGATE. (NOTE: Each error appears on one on one long line in the log file; they are broken here due to formatting restrictions.) 

     [rx] 451 net hang reading from SMTP_GATEWAY_MACHINE: Connection timed
     out during HELO with SMTPSMART_HOST.

   14:34:25 - ERROR Invalid response to MAIL: 451 net hang reading from
   SMTP_GATEWAY_MACHINE: Connection timed out during HELO with
   SMTP_ROUTER/HOST_MACHINE.

CAUSE

The way LAN Workplace for DOS handles IP fragmentation causes the SMTP Gateway layer to hang because it is waiting for a good packet of information to process and has no time-out limit for waiting.

RESOLUTION

To avoid this problem, either:

  • Upgrade to the latest version of LAN Workplace for DOS and apply all the necessary patches.

    -or-

  • Configure LAN Workplace for DOS to use the smallest packet size available: 632. The default size is 2048.

Additional reference words: 3.00 ErrMsg ERROR write: (9) Bad file number
KBCategory: kb3rdparty kbtlc
KBSubcategory: MailGWSMTP

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Last reviewed: October 20, 1997
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