3COM: Microsoft Mail Gateway to 3Com Shuts Down Randomly

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Mail Gateway to 3Com 3+Mail, version 1.0

SYMPTOMS

When using the Microsoft Mail for PC Networks Gateway to 3Com 3+Mail, version 1.00, the gateway shuts off for no apparent reason after about 15 minutes or some other regular interval.

Or when you install the gateway, the computer hangs (stops responding) when you are entering the three-part names of XNS-based servers such as the name of the 3+Mail server.

CAUSE

The computer running the gateway may be timing out because of excess net traffic -- not necessarily mail traffic.

RESOLUTION

Try running the GATEWAY.EXE on a computer that can provide higher throughput on and off the network such as a 386/25 with a 16-bit network adapter card. Ensure that the computer has a significant on-card buffer RAM such as the 3Com EtherLink 16 or 3Com EtherLink III NIC.

Other options include finding a network segment with less traffic or scheduling to run the gateway under lighter network traffic by using the FIRETIME option in the GATEWAY.INI file.