Cannot send mails to mail server. (The operation has timed out.)

Question

I have configured database mail in sql server 2008 r2 on my local machine.

While testing I have observed that some of mails are not getting triggered.

Log file shows following message-

The mail could not be sent to the recipients because of the mail server failure. (Sending Mail using Account 7 (2013-04-30T10:23:57). Exception Message: Cannot send mails to mail server. (The operation has timed out.)

I have wriitten on SP for snding mails which sends 94 mail to different ail address  out of which only 35 are getting delivered.

Plz Assist me.

Answer 1

1. Check with you AD team managing smtp server, to see if there is any restriction on any policy effecting you
2. Check connectivity between your machine & smtp server is persistant or not

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Answer 2

Hi Prashant Parit,

Please apply the latest SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack. And try to stop and restart SQL Server Agent.

See similar thread: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqltools/thread/6d3cd4ca-0a4e-4c84-bf1e-b8565c963c38.

Thanks.

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Maggie Luo
TechNet Community Support

Answer 3

Here is what to do:

First execute this "select * from msdb.dbo.sysmail_server"

Look for the "account_id" field that you want to change, and remember the value.

Then execute msdb.dbo.sysmail_update_account_sp @Account_id = <the number you got from the previous statement>, @Timeout= <some number , I used 30 myself>, @No_credential_change = 1 (do not change anything else)

Answer 4

Hello Maggie Luo/Rohit,

Am facing the same problem. Though this issue is Intermittent. At time the SQL server will send all the emails without any fail (say 58) at times it's not delivering good portion of sent emails (say 38 out of 58). and throwing error as :

The mail could not be sent to the recipients because of the mail server failure. (Sending Mail using Account 20 (2014-07-21T11:08:25). Exception Message: Cannot send mails to mail server. (The operation has timed out.).

Need your help guys in fixing this.

I have checked exchange/AD side properties and they all looks fine to me.

Thanks.

Answer 5

Hey Prashant,

Let me know what steps you followed to fix this issue.

Thanks.

Answer 6

Hi prashant, I faced the same issue and this is how i got it resolved, 

• Just create a new mail account, Which is as same as the one which you are currently using for your mail profile but with a different name
• Now add this new account to the profile which you are using to send mails
• So in the end you will be having two same mail accounts for your mail profile.
• Now if the mail fails with the first account it will be sent with the second one.