Topic: No incoming mail - help really appreciated !!!

[Graham]

Hi All,

I am just starting to trawl through all the posts on this but wondered if anyone could offer some help that would speed up the process. The server in question is 20 miles away and I have been back 4 times already . . . .

Dial up by analogue USR 56K.
Outgoing mail no problem.
All times set for short.
Schedule set for every 2 hours on each option.
Multidrop selected.
ISP pop server name [not ip] entered

I have received mail once last night by doing this :-

/etc/./fetchmail

but no exchange left ot the schedule.

I had to leave the office after that and cant get back until Monday.

Has anyoe else had same situation and found a solution ?

I would like to be able to :-

1) Start ppp manually [is this $ ifdown ppp0 ?]
2) Start fetchmail manually with specified config file [which is? I couldnt find a fetchmail.conf]
3) Inspect log file/responses from fetchmail for checking
4) Start process as if scheduled

Is ther anything else I shoudl be checking ?

Ok, I will go away now and look for other posts on same.

Any help woudol be really really appreciated !

Thanks !

Graham

[Graham]

This gets even stranger - I have had one delivery at 4:00pm today ???

All the schedule options are set for every two hours 8-6 and including evening
and weekends ?

I am wondering if there is a deamon somewhere that needed to be restarted ?

Do you generally have to re-boot when you have made changes to settings ?

Can anyone shed any light on any of this ?

Thanks !

Graham

[Graham]

Have now setup similar server at home so I can investigate further.

I need to go fully armed as I travelled 80 miles already with no luck !!!

Looked in /var/log at the various log files and the messages' file seems
to indicate modem activity and echo output to that file.

Also, /var/log/diald/accounting.log looks promising so I will hook up a modem tomorrow (10 mins) and see what the results are !

Will keep you posted on results . . .

[Graham]

Ok, I can replicate this problem back at home.

Am a bit more familiar with the log files now and have plugged modem into
server.

I have cut and paste output from message' if anyone could look over it. I cant see any reference to fetchmail and wondered why the link is being closed down before fetchmail has a chance to start. I tried increasing the link time at the bottom of /etc/diald/phone.filter and also tried editting template /etc/e-smtih/templates/etc/diald.filter to increase link uptime. Then I thought why not increase the connection period from the server manager to medium for all times as I dont care about charges [flat rate £14.99 / month BTOpenworld] and let the scripts write the changes for me.

I am going to try this now but in the meantime heres outpu from message :-

ps Would having dynamic IP allocation from my ISP have any effect on times ?

May 25 21:00:01 server chat[8789]: abort on (BUSY)
May 25 21:00:01 server chat[8789]: abort on (ERROR)
May 25 21:00:01 server chat[8789]: abort on (NO CARRIER)
May 25 21:00:01 server chat[8789]: abort on (NO DIALTONE)
May 25 21:00:01 server chat[8789]: abort on (Invalid Login)
May 25 21:00:01 server chat[8789]: abort on (Login incorrect)
May 25 21:00:01 server chat[8789]: report (CONNECT)
May 25 21:00:01 server chat[8789]: send (ATZ^M)
May 25 21:00:01 server chat[8789]: expect (OK)
May 25 21:00:01 server chat[8789]: ATZ^M^M
May 25 21:00:01 server chat[8789]: OK
May 25 21:00:01 server chat[8789]:  -- got it
May 25 21:00:01 server chat[8789]: send (ATL0M0^M)
May 25 21:00:02 server chat[8789]: expect (OK)
May 25 21:00:02 server chat[8789]: ^M
May 25 21:00:02 server chat[8789]: ATL0M0^M^M
May 25 21:00:02 server chat[8789]: OK
May 25 21:00:02 server chat[8789]:  -- got it
May 25 21:00:02 server chat[8789]: send (ATD08089933001^M)
May 25 21:00:02 server chat[8789]: expect (CONNECT)
May 25 21:00:02 server chat[8789]: ^M
May 25 21:00:25 server chat[8789]: ATD08089933001^M^M
May 25 21:00:25 server chat[8789]: CONNECT
May 25 21:00:25 server chat[8789]:  -- got it
May 25 16:00:25 server diald[807]: connector: chat:  May 25 21:00:25 CONNECT 45333/ARQ/V90/LAPM/V42BIS
May 25 16:00:25 server diald[807]: Connected to site 213.120.208.141
May 25 16:00:25 server diald[807]: Running pppd (pid = 8791).
May 25 16:00:25 server diald[8791]: Running pppd: /usr/sbin/pppd -defaultroute -detach modem crtscts mtu 1500 mru 1500 name drugscouncil@btopenworld.com noauth noipdefault ipparam diald
May 25 21:00:25 server modprobe: modprobe: Can't locate module char-major-108
May 25 21:00:25 server pppd[8791]: pppd 2.4.0 started by root, uid 0
May 25 21:00:25 server pppd[8791]: Using interface ppp0
May 25 21:00:25 server pppd[8791]: Connect: ppp0 <--> /dev/ttyS1
May 25 21:00:26 server pppd[8791]: local  IP address 213.122.50.134
May 25 21:00:26 server pppd[8791]: remote IP address 213.120.208.141
May 25 21:00:27 server e-smith[8804]: Processing event: ip-change 213.122.50.134
May 25 21:00:27 server e-smith[8804]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S15set-external-ip
May 25 16:00:27 server diald[807]: New addresses: local 213.122.50.134, remote 213.120.208.141, broadcast 0.0.0.0
May 25 21:00:28 server /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S15set-external-ip[8805]: /home/e-smith/configuration: OLD ExternalIP=213.122.54.102
May 25 21:00:28 server /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S15set-external-ip[8805]: /home/e-smith/configuration: NEW ExternalIP=213.122.50.134
May 25 21:00:28 server e-smith[8804]: S15set-external-ip=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S15set-external-ip|Start|1022356827 538706|End|1022356828 274272|Elapsed|0.735566
May 25 21:00:28 server e-smith[8804]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S16restart-masq
May 25 21:00:29 server e-smith[8804]:
May 25 21:00:29 server e-smith[8804]: Shutting down IP masquerade and firewall rules:^I^IDone!
May 25 21:00:29 server e-smith[8804]:
May 25 21:00:30 server e-smith[8804]: Enabling IP masquerading: done
May 25 21:00:30 server e-smith[8804]: S16restart-masq=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S16restart-masq|Start|1022356828 274998|End|1022356830 787008|Elapsed|2.51201
May 25 21:00:30 server e-smith[8804]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S47proftpd-conf
May 25 21:00:31 server e-smith[8804]: S47proftpd-conf=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S47proftpd-conf|Start|1022356830 787700|End|1022356831 847750|Elapsed|1.06005
May 25 21:00:31 server e-smith[8804]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S50conf-security
May 25 21:00:33 server e-smith[8804]: S50conf-security=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S50conf-security|Start|1022356831 848446|End|1022356833 165006|Elapsed|1.31656
May 25 21:00:33 server e-smith[8804]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S55conf-httpd
May 25 21:00:35 server e-smith[8804]: S55conf-httpd=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S55conf-httpd|Start|1022356833 165720|End|1022356835 353313|Elapsed|2.187593
May 25 21:00:35 server e-smith[8804]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S75restart-httpd-full
May 25 21:00:35 server e-smith[8804]: S75restart-httpd-full=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S75restart-httpd-full|Start|1022356835 354035|End|1022356835 959532|Elapsed|0.605497
May 25 21:00:35 server e-smith[8804]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S80pptpd-conf
May 25 21:00:36 server e-smith[8804]: S80pptpd-conf=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S80pptpd-conf|Start|1022356835 960905|End|1022356836 626128|Elapsed|0.665223
May 25 21:00:36 server e-smith[8804]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S85update-dns
May 25 21:00:37 server e-smith[8804]: S85update-dns=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S85update-dns|Start|1022356836 627249|End|1022356837 802182|Elapsed|1.174933
May 25 21:00:37 server e-smith[8804]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S90pptpd-restart
May 25 21:00:37 server e-smith[8804]: S90pptpd-restart=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S90pptpd-restart|Start|1022356837 803427|End|1022356837 944548|Elapsed|0.141121
May 25 21:00:37 server e-smith[8804]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S90restart-ntpd
May 25 21:00:38 server e-smith[8804]: S90restart-ntpd=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S90restart-ntpd|Start|1022356837 945574|End|1022356838 632078|Elapsed|0.686504
May 25 21:00:38 server e-smith[8998]: Processing event: ip-up ppp0 /dev/ttyS1 115200 213.122.50.134 213.120.208.141 diald
May 25 21:00:38 server e-smith[8998]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-up/S20email-ipup
May 25 21:00:38 server httpd-e-smith: httpd shutdown succeeded
May 25 21:00:38 server e-smith-bg: Shutting down http: [   OK   ]^M
May 25 21:00:39 server e-smith[8998]: S20email-ipup=action|Event|ip-up|Action|S20email-ipup|Start|1022356838 749560|End|1022356839 453484|Elapsed|0.703924
May 25 21:00:39 server e-smith[8998]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-up/S55set-gateway-ip
May 25 21:00:40 server e-smith[8998]: S55set-gateway-ip=action|Event|ip-up|Action|S55set-gateway-ip|Start|1022356839 454183|End|1022356840 848161|Elapsed|1.393978
May 25 21:00:41 server ntpd: ntpd shutdown failed
May 25 21:00:41 server e-smith-bg: Shutting down ntpd: [ FAILED ]^M
May 25 21:00:42 server httpd-e-smith: httpd startup succeeded
May 25 21:00:42 server e-smith-bg: Starting httpd: [   OK   ]^M
May 25 16:00:57 server diald[807]: Failed to received first packet within 30 seconds. Closing Link down.
May 25 21:00:57 server pppd[8791]: Terminating on signal 2.
May 25 21:00:57 server pppd[8791]: Connection terminated.
May 25 21:00:57 server pppd[8791]: Connect time 0.6 minutes.
May 25 21:00:57 server pppd[8791]: Sent 265 bytes, received 289 bytes.
May 25 21:00:58 server e-smith[9049]: Processing event: ip-down ppp0 /dev/ttyS1 115200 213.122.50.134 213.120.208.141 diald
May 25 21:00:58 server e-smith[9049]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-down/S50isdn-down-notify
May 25 21:00:58 server e-smith[9049]: S50isdn-down-notify=action|Event|ip-down|Action|S50isdn-down-notify|Start|1022356857 994220|End|1022356858 603101|Elapsed|0.608881
May 25 21:00:58 server pppd[8791]: Exit.
May 25 16:00:58 server diald[807]: Disconnected. Call duration 33 seconds.
May 25 16:00:58 server diald[807]: IP transmitted 0 bytes and received 0 bytes.
May 25 16:00:59 server diald[807]: Delaying 10 seconds before clear to dial.

[Graham]

HELP !

I am going mad thinking about his and pawing over log files. I cant seem
to find any mention of fecthmail but can start the process manually and that works alright. OK so it seems that fetchmail is not being started automagically and [taking a guess] think that for some reason cron is not doing its job ?

Can anyone give me some pointers ?

My poor brain hurts and I am tired !!!

Thanks !

[dj_ramjet99]

I had this issue after doing some upgrades and it seemed that smtpfwdd had stopped and needed to be manually restarted. Worth a crack anyway as it got me back and running. If you do a search under author 'ramjet' is should show up.
Hope it helps

[Graham]

Thanks for the reply Jet - apperciated !

I have replicated the exact same problem at home and with a fresh install of 5.1.2
so no upgrades or mods applied and after several re-boots shouldnt all services
have been restarted ?

I found your post and will try re-starting smtpfwrd but in my case it seems more like startmail / fetchmail just isnt being initiated to schedule and I dont know why.

[Is smtpfwrd involved in this process?]

I can start things manually and all works no probs. Left alone nothing happens.

I have re-configed my connection times to medium as I thought that the link close down [no packets within 30 secs] wasnt giving the schedule time to do its thing but it has made no difference.

Am really getting this round my neck and hae to go back on Monday with some answers !!!

[Filippo Carletti]

Please, add

debug
kdebug 1

in /etc/ppp/options
then restart and see logs again.

[Graham]

Filippo,

Here is log [I think the right one] after adding debug options to ppp.

The crazy thing is I seem to have had one delivery without my intervention.

I admit I added the services panel add on but cant see how that woudl effect
anything.

I will now send another mail and wait the 5 minutes as specified in times to check without touching anything and see what happens.

Even if it does work I still would like some help on what to look for when I get onsite.

Many many thanks for help - I have Mandrake 8.2 or SuSE 8 Pro here if
you would like me to send ?

ps Should I really be posting some of these details [Private company ones?]

###################################################
May 26 11:14:41 server chat[1435]: CONNECT
May 26 11:14:41 server chat[1435]:  -- got it
May 26 11:14:41 server diald[808]: connector: chat:  May 26 11:14:41 CONNECT 45333/ARQ/V90/LAPM/V42BIS
May 26 11:14:41 server diald[808]: Connected to site 0.0.0.0
May 26 11:14:41 server diald[808]: Running pppd (pid = 1446).
May 26 11:14:41 server diald[1446]: Running pppd: /usr/sbin/pppd -defaultroute -detach modem crtscts mtu 1500 mru 1500 name drugscouncil@btopenworld.com noauth noipdefault ipparam diald
May 26 11:14:42 server modprobe: modprobe: Can't locate module char-major-108
May 26 11:14:42 server kernel: PPP: version 2.3.7 (demand dialling)
May 26 11:14:42 server kernel: PPP line discipline registered.
May 26 11:14:42 server kernel: registered device ppp0
May 26 11:14:42 server pppd[1446]: pppd 2.4.0 started by root, uid 0
May 26 11:14:42 server kernel: ppp_ioctl: set dbg flags to 10000
May 26 11:14:42 server kernel: ppp_ioctl: set flags to 10000
May 26 11:14:42 server pppd[1446]: Using interface ppp0
May 26 11:14:42 server pppd[1446]: Connect: ppp0 <--> /dev/ttyS1
May 26 11:14:42 server kernel: ppp_tty_ioctl: set xasyncmap
May 26 11:14:42 server kernel: ppp_tty_ioctl: set xmit asyncmap ffffffff
May 26 11:14:42 server kernel: ppp_ioctl: set flags to 10000
May 26 11:14:42 server kernel: ppp_ioctl: set mru to 5dc
May 26 11:14:42 server kernel: ppp_tty_ioctl: set rcv asyncmap ffffffff
May 26 11:14:42 server kernel: ppp_ioctl: get unit: 0
May 26 11:14:42 server pppd[1446]: sent [LCP ConfReq id=0x1 ]
May 26 11:14:42 server kernel: ppp: tossing frame (e0)
May 26 11:14:42 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [LCP ConfReq id=0x38 ]
May 26 11:14:42 server pppd[1446]: sent [LCP ConfAck id=0x38 ]
May 26 11:14:42 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [LCP ConfAck id=0x1 ]
May 26 11:14:42 server kernel: ppp_tty_ioctl: set xmit asyncmap a0000
May 26 11:14:42 server kernel: ppp_ioctl: set flags to f010003
May 26 11:14:42 server kernel: ppp_ioctl: set mru to 5dc
May 26 11:14:42 server kernel: ppp_tty_ioctl: set rcv asyncmap 0
May 26 11:14:42 server pppd[1446]: sent [LCP EchoReq id=0x0 magic=0x48bfbda5]
May 26 11:14:42 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [CHAP Challenge id=0x6d <342cab500ea66852d96254efac87e79e>, name = "WarrAP141as6"]
May 26 11:14:42 server pppd[1446]: sent [CHAP Response id=0x6d <54aa5ba14ac366c2704746b7df314f91>, name = "drugscouncil@btopenworld.com"]
May 26 11:14:42 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [LCP EchoRep id=0x0 magic=0xe25aaaff]
May 26 11:14:43 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [CHAP Success id=0x6d ""]
May 26 11:14:43 server pppd[1446]: sent [IPCP ConfReq id=0x1 ]
May 26 11:14:43 server kernel: ppp_ioctl: set flags to f010043
May 26 11:14:43 server kernel: PPP BSD Compression module registered
May 26 11:14:43 server kernel: PPP Deflate Compression module registered
May 26 11:14:43 server pppd[1446]: sent [CCP ConfReq id=0x1 ]
May 26 11:14:43 server kernel: ppp_proto_ccp rcvd=0 code=1 flags=f010043
May 26 11:14:43 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [IPCP ConfReq id=0x37 ]
May 26 11:14:43 server pppd[1446]: sent [IPCP ConfAck id=0x37 ]
May 26 11:14:43 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [IPCP ConfRej id=0x1 ]
May 26 11:14:43 server pppd[1446]: sent [IPCP ConfReq id=0x2 ]
May 26 11:14:43 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [LCP ProtRej id=0xae 80 fd 01 01 00 0f 1a 04 78 00 18 04 78 00 15 03 2f]
May 26 11:14:43 server kernel: ppp0: ccp closed
May 26 11:14:43 server kernel: ppp_ioctl: set flags to f010003
May 26 11:14:43 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [IPCP ConfNak id=0x2 ]
May 26 11:14:43 server pppd[1446]: sent [IPCP ConfReq id=0x3 ]
May 26 11:14:43 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [IPCP ConfAck id=0x3 ]
May 26 11:14:43 server kernel: ppp_ioctl: set flags to f01000b
May 26 11:14:43 server kernel: ppp: set np 0 to 0
May 26 11:14:43 server pppd[1446]: local  IP address 213.122.109.187
May 26 11:14:43 server pppd[1446]: remote IP address 213.120.208.152
May 26 11:14:43 server pppd[1446]: Script /etc/ppp/ip-up started (pid 1475)
May 26 11:14:44 server diald[808]: New addresses: local 213.122.109.187, remote 213.120.208.152, broadcast 0.0.0.0
May 26 11:14:44 server e-smith[1484]: Processing event: ip-change 213.122.109.187
May 26 11:14:44 server e-smith[1484]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S15set-external-ip
May 26 11:14:45 server /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S15set-external-ip[1485]: /home/e-smith/configuration: OLD ExternalIP=213.122.107.192
May 26 11:14:45 server /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S15set-external-ip[1485]: /home/e-smith/configuration: NEW ExternalIP=213.122.109.187
May 26 11:14:45 server e-smith[1484]: S15set-external-ip=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S15set-external-ip|Start|1022408084 719455|End|1022408085 379250|Elapsed|0.659795
May 26 11:14:45 server e-smith[1484]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S16restart-masq
May 26 11:14:46 server e-smith[1484]:
May 26 11:14:46 server e-smith[1484]: Shutting down IP masquerade and firewall rules:^I^IDone!
May 26 11:14:46 server e-smith[1484]:
May 26 11:14:47 server e-smith[1484]: Enabling IP masquerading: done
May 26 11:14:47 server e-smith[1484]: S16restart-masq=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S16restart-masq|Start|1022408085 379980|End|1022408087 966854|Elapsed|2.586874
May 26 11:14:48 server e-smith[1484]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S47proftpd-conf
May 26 11:14:49 server e-smith[1484]: S47proftpd-conf=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S47proftpd-conf|Start|1022408087 967541|End|1022408089 563708|Elapsed|1.596167
May 26 11:14:49 server e-smith[1484]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S50conf-security
May 26 11:14:51 server e-smith[1484]: S50conf-security=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S50conf-security|Start|1022408089 564428|End|1022408091 328985|Elapsed|1.764557
May 26 11:14:51 server e-smith[1484]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S55conf-httpd
May 26 11:14:54 server e-smith[1484]: S55conf-httpd=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S55conf-httpd|Start|1022408091 329695|End|1022408094 733202|Elapsed|3.403507
May 26 11:14:54 server e-smith[1484]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S75restart-httpd-full
May 26 11:14:55 server e-smith[1484]: S75restart-httpd-full=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S75restart-httpd-full|Start|1022408094 733937|End|1022408095 388056|Elapsed|0.654119
May 26 11:14:55 server e-smith[1484]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S80pptpd-conf
May 26 11:14:56 server e-smith[1484]: S80pptpd-conf=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S80pptpd-conf|Start|1022408095 389364|End|1022408096 188208|Elapsed|0.798844
May 26 11:14:56 server e-smith[1484]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S85update-dns
May 26 11:14:57 server httpd-e-smith: httpd shutdown succeeded
May 26 11:14:57 server e-smith[1484]: S85update-dns=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S85update-dns|Start|1022408096 189343|End|1022408097 237867|Elapsed|1.048524
May 26 11:14:57 server e-smith[1484]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S90pptpd-restart
May 26 11:14:57 server e-smith-bg: Shutting down http: [   OK   ]^M
May 26 11:14:57 server e-smith[1484]: S90pptpd-restart=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S90pptpd-restart|Start|1022408097 239013|End|1022408097 388168|Elapsed|0.149155
May 26 11:14:57 server e-smith[1484]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-change/S90restart-ntpd
May 26 11:14:58 server e-smith[1484]: S90restart-ntpd=action|Event|ip-change|Action|S90restart-ntpd|Start|1022408097 389184|End|1022408098 711619|Elapsed|1.322435
May 26 11:14:59 server e-smith[1682]: Processing event: ip-up ppp0 /dev/ttyS1 115200 213.122.109.187 213.120.208.152 diald
May 26 11:14:59 server e-smith[1682]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-up/S20email-ipup
May 26 11:15:00 server e-smith[1682]: S20email-ipup=action|Event|ip-up|Action|S20email-ipup|Start|1022408098 947391|End|1022408100 71130|Elapsed|1.123739
May 26 11:15:00 server e-smith[1682]: Running event handler: /etc/e-smith/events/ip-up/S55set-gateway-ip
May 26 11:15:00 server httpd-e-smith: httpd startup succeeded
May 26 11:15:00 server e-smith-bg: Starting httpd: [   OK   ]^M
May 26 11:15:01 server ntpd: ntpd shutdown failed
May 26 11:15:01 server e-smith-bg: Shutting down ntpd: [ FAILED ]^M
May 26 11:15:01 server e-smith[1682]: S55set-gateway-ip=action|Event|ip-up|Action|S55set-gateway-ip|Start|1022408100 71802|End|1022408101 718862|Elapsed|1.64706
May 26 11:15:01 server pppd[1446]: Script /etc/ppp/ip-up finished (pid 1475), status = 0x0
May 26 11:15:01 server su(pam_unix)[1713]: session opened for user qmailr by (uid=0)
May 26 11:15:12 server su(pam_unix)[1713]: session closed for user qmailr
May 26 11:15:12 server pppd[1446]: sent [LCP EchoReq id=0x1 magic=0x48bfbda5]
May 26 11:15:12 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [LCP EchoRep id=0x1 magic=0xe25aaaff]
May 26 11:15:42 server pppd[1446]: sent [LCP EchoReq id=0x2 magic=0x48bfbda5]
May 26 11:15:43 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [LCP EchoRep id=0x2 magic=0xe25aaaff]
May 26 11:16:12 server pppd[1446]: sent [LCP EchoReq id=0x3 magic=0x48bfbda5]
May 26 11:16:13 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [LCP EchoRep id=0x3 magic=0xe25aaaff]
May 26 11:16:42 server pppd[1446]: sent [LCP EchoReq id=0x4 magic=0x48bfbda5]
May 26 11:16:43 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [LCP EchoRep id=0x4 magic=0xe25aaaff]
May 26 11:17:12 server pppd[1446]: sent [LCP EchoReq id=0x5 magic=0x48bfbda5]
May 26 11:17:13 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [LCP EchoRep id=0x5 magic=0xe25aaaff]
May 26 11:17:13 server sshd[1753]: Accepted password for ROOT from 192.168.0.11 port 1121
May 26 11:17:13 server sshd(pam_unix)[1753]: session opened for user root by (uid=0)
May 26 11:17:42 server pppd[1446]: sent [LCP EchoReq id=0x6 magic=0x48bfbda5]
May 26 11:17:43 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [LCP EchoRep id=0x6 magic=0xe25aaaff]
May 26 11:18:12 server pppd[1446]: sent [LCP EchoReq id=0x7 magic=0x48bfbda5]
May 26 11:18:13 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [LCP EchoRep id=0x7 magic=0xe25aaaff]
May 26 11:18:42 server pppd[1446]: sent [LCP EchoReq id=0x8 magic=0x48bfbda5]
May 26 11:18:43 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [LCP EchoRep id=0x8 magic=0xe25aaaff]
May 26 11:19:12 server pppd[1446]: sent [LCP EchoReq id=0x9 magic=0x48bfbda5]
May 26 11:19:13 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [LCP EchoRep id=0x9 magic=0xe25aaaff]
May 26 11:19:42 server pppd[1446]: sent [LCP EchoReq id=0xa magic=0x48bfbda5]
May 26 11:19:43 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [LCP EchoRep id=0xa magic=0xe25aaaff]
May 26 11:20:00 server su(pam_unix)[1816]: session opened for user qmailr by (uid=0)
May 26 11:20:05 server identd[1841]: Successful lookup: 1056 , 25 : qmailr.qmail
May 26 11:20:05 server identd[1843]: Successful lookup: 1058 , 25 : qmailr.qmail
May 26 11:20:06 server su(pam_unix)[1816]: session closed for user qmailr
May 26 11:20:12 server pppd[1446]: sent [LCP EchoReq id=0xb magic=0x48bfbda5]
May 26 11:20:13 server pppd[1446]: rcvd [LCP EchoRep id=0xb magic=0xe25aaaff]

[Graham]

Yes, mail now working on time and cron reports regular
/etc/startmail every 5mins no problem.

What effect would jets advice have and do you think that
is what restarted mail ?

Any other advice would be appreciated [I am only an electrician !!!!]

Thanks !

[Graham]

This is driving me insane now !

I travelled the 40 mile round trip to check settings etc.

Looks like I will have to go back yet again !

I have even tried using forwarding from the Domain Host Mailbox
to the Dialup Host Mailbox so we are picking up mail from the UK
and not Germany.

When I work on the server I set the retrieve times to 5mins so
I can quickly check wether mail is being picked up.

It worked fine for several pick ups so I set back down to hourly pick ups
and then left. The mail is still sitting there waiting to be collected !!!!

The main reason for changing the pick up point was becasue I had some
log message about being unable to synchronize servers [qmail]

This appeared a few times. So I decided to send all mail to UK and
retrieve from BTUK. This worked when I was onsite and the only change
I have made after that is to the settings above. [ie One hour pick up]

What could be causing this problem - It isnt the ISP - it must be
something to do with Smith.

I can start fetchmail manually when on site and that works no probs.

I tried restarting smtpfwdd but I guess that was before I set time back
down to an hour.

I really dont know where to go next !

Any help really appreciated !!!

This could be worth a lot of Beer !!!!

[Graham]

I am starting to think that maybe it would be worth doing a
a re-install from saved config floppy and tape backup restore ?

What do you think ???

I am willingf to try ANYTHING !!!!!

[Graham]

Looking for more answers?

Try here :-

http://forums.contribs.org/index.php?topic=13679.msg52013#msg52013

and here :-

http://forums.contribs.org/index.php?topic=13679.msg52013#msg52013

[Graham]

Seems like other people came to a dead end too ?

I am about to get on the train for another trip and will try replacing "startmail" with
"fetchmail" in crontab template. Then expanding template.

Any other help / suggestions /solutions /advice / comments / words of wisdom / jokes would really help right now as I have travelled nearlly 100 miles administering this box and beginning to wish I had stuck with NT and Mercury Mail [shame] I have also got a stress headache and there are 16 staff waiting to get their emails !!!!

[Graham]

Just a thought :-

If crontab points to startmail [a script] which points to

a) fetchmail if connected   OR   b) ip-up if not

In case b) where is the ip-up script ?

Found something called ippp.conf but I dont think thats it ?

Maybe it isnt calling fetchmail correctly ?

It seems /etc/fetchmail is a script [owned by qmail] but
the real fetchmail lives in /usr/bin !

I am dizzy !!!

ps Hope no one minds me writing this stuff ?

Guess the admin will delete the irrelevant ones ???

[Filippo Carletti]

Check if startmail works when you are connected or not.
startmail purpose is to connect if not connected and then fetch mail.

[dj_ramjet99]

Hi Graham,

I'm like that as well, start a post and keep updating it as you go, especially as I do all my stuff without anyone to help me out! These forums and google are lifesavers!

Anyway, I hope you get your mail issue sussed out.

Regards,

[Graham]

I have now mail working !

I did try the workaround suggested by some as follows :-

edit /etc/e-smith/templates/etc/crontab/email

In thetimes' sections I replaced all the instances startmail' with fetchmail'

I then expanded the templates with

/sbin/e-smith/ ./expand-template /etc/crontab

After inspecting /etc/crontab I did a re-boot for good measure !

I am now getting mail. I have only one ISP and havent added any modules
other than the services one. I did however do the recommended blade
upgrade.

My only niggle now is that I am getting a message from cron as follows . . .

fetchmail: couldn't find canonical DNS name of mail.myisp.com

I made another post herer about it :-

http://forums.contribs.org/index.php?topic=4413.msg15324#msg15324

Jest you are right ! I never learnt anything by not asking questions even dumb
ones - if this is a place to do that and no one minds then thats great. If I get answers thats even better. Thanks for all contribs etc

As a side I learnt more about computers in 6 months of using Linux than 6 years using Windows !!!!!!!