[exim] SMTP timeout

Top Page
Delete this message
Reply to this message
Author: Paul LUNETTA
Date:  
To: exim-users
Subject: [exim] SMTP timeout
Hi,

I have a big problem of SMTP with our Exim mail server.
The symptoms are a timeout when trying to send messages.
It's impossible to connect to smtp. But the service is running.
For the ones using it only by the webmail (Horde), it's impossible to
connect.

The version is 4.5
In the exim.conf, we have :
***
smtp_accept_queue_per_connection = 100
queue_only_load = 6
***

I tried something found here by adding :
***
smtp_accept_max = 50
smtp_accept_max_per_host = 25
***
But it doesn't change anything.
I tried some open relay tests but it seems safe.
I'm still wondering if I'm not victim of a spammer.

Here are some results from commands i found on this mailing-list :

[root]# ps aux | grep exim | grep -v grep | grep -v restart
mail      6095  0.0  0.1  5592 2052 ?        S    Oct18   0:02
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail      7173  0.0  0.2  5832 2440 ?        S    02:37   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail      9260  0.0  0.2  5808 2416 ?        S    03:02   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     10718  0.0  0.2  5808 2416 ?        S    03:27   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     11518  0.0  0.2  5820 2416 ?        S    03:52   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     24973  0.0  0.2  5772 2364 ?        S    04:42   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     25585  0.0  0.2  5768 2360 ?        S    05:07   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     26233  0.0  0.2  5768 2360 ?        S    05:32   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     26828  0.0  0.2  5756 2348 ?        S    05:57   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     28035  0.0  0.2  5744 2336 ?        S    06:47   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     28178  0.0  0.2  5736 2348 ?        S    06:52   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     28674  0.0  0.2  5816 2432 ?        S    07:12   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     29910  0.0  0.2  5728 2320 ?        S    08:02   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     30521  0.0  0.2  5828 2444 ?        S    08:27   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     30898  0.0  0.2  5716 2288 ?        S    08:41   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     30930  0.0  0.2  5716 2292 ?        S    08:43   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     30942  0.0  0.2  5716 2296 ?        S    08:43   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     30965  0.0  0.2  5716 2296 ?        S    08:44   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     30974  0.0  0.2  5716 2296 ?        S    08:44   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     30976  0.0  0.2  5936 2532 ?        S    08:44   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     30977  0.0  0.2  5732 2300 ?        S    08:44   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     30978  0.0  0.2  5716 2288 ?        S    08:44   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31038  0.0  0.2  5716 2288 ?        S    08:47   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31079  0.0  0.2  5716 2292 ?        S    08:49   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31085  0.0  0.2  5716 2292 ?        S    08:49   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31103  0.0  0.2  5716 2292 ?        S    08:49   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31122  0.0  0.2  5716 2288 ?        S    08:50   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31164  0.0  0.2  5716 2292 ?        S    08:51   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31183  0.0  0.2  5716 2288 ?        S    08:53   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31221  0.0  0.2  5716 2292 ?        S    08:53   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31224  0.0  0.2  5716 2288 ?        S    08:53   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31225  0.0  0.2  5716 2288 ?        S    08:53   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31227  0.0  0.2  5716 2292 ?        S    08:54   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31233  0.0  0.2  5716 2288 ?        S    08:54   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31240  0.0  0.2  5716 2288 ?        S    08:54   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31282  0.0  0.2  5716 2292 ?        S    08:56   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31306  0.0  0.2  5716 2280 ?        S    08:57   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31340  0.0  0.2  5716 2280 ?        S    08:57   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31341  0.0  0.2  5716 2280 ?        S    08:57   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31342  0.0  0.2  5716 2280 ?        S    08:57   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31344  0.0  0.2  5612 2188 ?        S    08:58   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31350  0.0  0.2  5716 2280 ?        S    08:58   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31352  0.0  0.2  5716 2280 ?        S    08:58   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31396  0.0  0.2  5716 2276 ?        S    08:59   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31406  0.0  0.2  5716 2280 ?        S    09:00   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31413  0.0  0.2  5716 2280 ?        S    09:00   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h
mail     31449  0.0  0.2  5716 2276 ?        S    09:01   0:00
/usr/bin/exim -bd -q1h


[root]# lsof -i | grep smtp
exim       6095   mail    3u  IPv4 -2016982540       TCP *:smtp (LISTEN)
exim       7173   mail    5u  IPv4 -1941324508       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:37674 (ESTABLISHED)
exim       7173   mail    6u  IPv4 -1941324508       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:37674 (ESTABLISHED)
exim       9260   mail    5u  IPv4 -1940851730       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:38044 (ESTABLISHED)
exim       9260   mail    6u  IPv4 -1940851730       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:38044 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      10718   mail    5u  IPv4 -1940430039       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:38348 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      10718   mail    6u  IPv4 -1940430039       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:38348 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      11518   mail    5u  IPv4 -1939978049       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:38668 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      11518   mail    6u  IPv4 -1939978049       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:38668 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      24973   mail    5u  IPv4 -1939085466       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:39254 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      24973   mail    6u  IPv4 -1939085466       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:39254 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      25585   mail    5u  IPv4 -1938634657       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:39597 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      25585   mail    6u  IPv4 -1938634657       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:39597 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      26233   mail    5u  IPv4 -1938165067       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:39935 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      26233   mail    6u  IPv4 -1938165067       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:39935 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      26828   mail    5u  IPv4 -1937690832       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:40225 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      26828   mail    6u  IPv4 -1937690832       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:40225 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      28035   mail    5u  IPv4 -1936774443       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:40781 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      28035   mail    6u  IPv4 -1936774443       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:40781 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      28178   mail    5u  IPv4 -1936679014       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:40839 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      28178   mail    6u  IPv4 -1936679014       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:40839 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      28674   mail    5u  IPv4 -1936330313       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:40959 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      28674   mail    6u  IPv4 -1936330313       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:40959 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      29910   mail    5u  IPv4 -1935378598       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:41555 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      29910   mail    6u  IPv4 -1935378598       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:41555 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      30521   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934909438       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:41736 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      30521   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934909438       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:41736 (ESTABLISHED)
httpd2    30623 apache   30u  IPv4 -1934403420       TCP
localhost.localdomain:49218->localhost.localdomain:smtp (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31038   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934519105       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->84-217-135-31.tn.glocalnet.net:52925 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31038   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934519105       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->84-217-135-31.tn.glocalnet.net:52925 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31079   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934483013       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->203.170.251.115:13024 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31079   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934483013       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->203.170.251.115:13024 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31103   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934477236       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->192.168.1.70:1087 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31103   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934477236       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->192.168.1.70:1087 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31122   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934458347       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:41904 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31122   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934458347       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:41904 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31164   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934442156       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->194.84.197.3:21301 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31164   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934442156       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->194.84.197.3:21301 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31183   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934419572       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->194.191.90.218.broad.wx.js.dynamic.163data.com.cn:codasrv
(CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31183   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934419572       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->194.191.90.218.broad.wx.js.dynamic.163data.com.cn:codasrv
(CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31221   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934405342       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->ppp-124.120.62.245.revip2.asianet.co.th:19874
(CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31221   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934405342       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->ppp-124.120.62.245.revip2.asianet.co.th:19874
(CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31224   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934403419       TCP
localhost.localdomain:smtp->localhost.localdomain:49218 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31224   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934403419       TCP
localhost.localdomain:smtp->localhost.localdomain:49218 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31225   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934403413       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->pool-71-191-165-34.washdc.fios.verizon.net:18398
(CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31225   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934403413       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->pool-71-191-165-34.washdc.fios.verizon.net:18398
(CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31227   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934397633       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->c-68-58-18-110.hsd1.in.comcast.net:1155 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31227   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934397633       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->c-68-58-18-110.hsd1.in.comcast.net:1155 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31233   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934392772       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->net84-253-158-183.mclink.it:22951 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31233   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934392772       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->net84-253-158-183.mclink.it:22951 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31240   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934388856       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->ns6387.ovh.net:58312 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31240   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934388856       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->ns6387.ovh.net:58312 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31282   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934358799       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->pc-91-157-44-190.cm.vtr.net:2463 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31282   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934358799       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->pc-91-157-44-190.cm.vtr.net:2463 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31306   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934341732       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->67-58-205-54.amtelecom.net:1045 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31306   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934341732       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->67-58-205-54.amtelecom.net:1045 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31340   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934325530       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->192.168.1.61:1092 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31340   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934325530       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->192.168.1.61:1092 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31341   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934324518       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:41951 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31341   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934324518       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:41951 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31342   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934322488       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:41952 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31342   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934322488       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:41952 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31350   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934311276       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->cpc1-mfld9-0-0-cust766.nott.cable.ntl.com:55054
(CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31350   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934311276       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->cpc1-mfld9-0-0-cust766.nott.cable.ntl.com:55054
(CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31352   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934307206       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->c-71-201-52-59.hsd1.il.comcast.net:1868 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31352   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934307206       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->c-71-201-52-59.hsd1.il.comcast.net:1868 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31396   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934284557       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->125.215.200.233:3051 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31396   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934284557       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->125.215.200.233:3051 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31406   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934278323       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:41963 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31406   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934278323       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:41963 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31413   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934261844       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->mpwr-static-216.70.164.156.mpowercom.net:3058
(CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31413   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934261844       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->mpwr-static-216.70.164.156.mpowercom.net:3058
(CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31449   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934247314       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->192.168.1.49:1199 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31449   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934247314       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->192.168.1.49:1199 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31500   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934232822       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->pc-202-190-47-190.cm.vtr.net:1829 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31500   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934232822       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->pc-202-190-47-190.cm.vtr.net:1829 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31560   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934177103       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:41989 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31560   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934177103       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:41989 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31561   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934173996       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:41992 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31561   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934173996       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:41992 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31568   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934165709       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->18924096149.user.veloxzone.com.br:1948 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31568   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934165709       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->18924096149.user.veloxzone.com.br:1948 (CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31569   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934164673       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:42000 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31569   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934164673       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:42000 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31597   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934160409       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:42003 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31597   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934160409       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:42003 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31601   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934157246       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:42004 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31601   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934157246       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->our.provider.dns:42004 (ESTABLISHED)
exim      31687   mail    5u  IPv4 -1934111753       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->201-34-174-20.fnsce701.dsl.brasiltelecom.net.br:3943
(CLOSE_WAIT)
exim      31687   mail    6u  IPv4 -1934111753       TCP
www.our.server:smtp->201-34-174-20.fnsce701.dsl.brasiltelecom.net.br:3943
(CLOSE_WAIT)


I can only recover my service after at least two or free restart of the
services (antivirus, antispam, exim..).
One other strange thing. It happens on the monday morning. Really a load
problem ?

Thank you for your ideas and experience.
As you guessed I'm new to exim.

Paul Lunetta.