What's the usual re-sending time period for SMTP servers?

[abrodski]

Hello!

My Postfix SMTP server is off most of the time (because the computer is not always on). I know it's not the way it should be in a production environment, but anyhow...

Since, obviously, I don't wanna miss any mail I get curious. I was trying to send e-mails to myself from different web mail accounts that I have (like Yahoo, GMail etc.). What happened is that after my SMTP server had gone online, it actually received the e-mails that I sent.

Sometimes it wasn't instantaneously, but nevertheless within an hour, if not less. But that's web mail SMTP servers.

What I want to ask is about regular SMTP servers, say, which operate at different IT companies (hosting SMTP servers, corporate SMTP servers etc.) I know that every server can be configured differently, but maybe there's an unwritten standard in the industry or at least just let me know what kind of configuration you personally installed or know about.

[tangor]

Is there a business reason for the POSTFIX to be OFF instead of 24/7/365? Email of any kind needs to be constant to have any real value. Just asking!

And if wear and tear, electricity, or other considerations are involved, look to a shared host for about $25 a year to handle that SMTP server (1 to 9 email accounts) and use your current machine for something else.

[abrodski]

There're business reasons for me not to deal with server being online all the time. But those reasons are not related to a technology, but more of a business/personal nature. I'm aware that there are ways to solve this problem, but I was asking what I was asking and I have reasons for that.

[Hoople]

Server configuration defaults vary. Most common I've seen is 1, 2, 4 hours. But one must keep in mind that is configurable and way too many techies somehow feel they know more and change it. Another factor is the timeout of retry expiration, typically 48 hours.

At the 48 hour point the endless retry loop is overruled and mail is permanently (5xx or 5.x.x error) rejected - a notice is sent back to the sender telling them delivery attempts failed. Many servers send interim reports of attempts continuing (typically every two hours) to fail but are to be still attempted. Like the above settings get changed.

Most of these retry and failure messages are NOT layperson friendly and really confuse users as to what they actually mean. I understand what your saying about YOUR inconvenience but can your personal and or business credibility survive the continual hit of these fails reported to the senders?

These error report's rarity (likely you are the only one they know generating these errors regularly) is only going to amplify the sender's negative experience IMHO. You have NO control as to how they react to their PERSONAL techie frustrations. But what do I know, since I've only been doing email support for 18+ years. Nah, no clue <G>

[abrodski]

Thanks for your detailed reply!

My original question was purely technical in its nature and arguing about business considerations won't probably get us far here. It's an off topic, but since you're asked...

a) As of today, my business (LLC) is mostly on a paper. It almost doesn't bring any revenue, therefore I don't have clients to disappoint to begin with;

b) When you run a one-person operation you have to know everything. That includes, but not limited to book keeping. And that's what I have to learn at this time, among other things (like how to pay taxes and submit all the paperwork, how to get the local licenses, how to market best, how to make my company's website and host it in the office etc.);

c) From the defaults of Exchange, Postfix and Exim I've learned that if I keep my SMTP server on for about 4 hours DAILY, it's highly unlikely I would miss any e-mail at all;

d) I tried to send myself e-mails from a few different web mail systems (while my server was offline, of course). A few hours after that I turned on my server and got all the e-mails that I'd sent. Once I even got the e-mail the following day. And I NEVER got any temporary (interim) non-delivery notifications that you've mentioned that can make a bad business impression on potential clients. I can only assume that those web mail SMTP servers simply don't send out those interim messages to save traffic and resources;

e) Several paying customers that I had always used the phone and never really relied on e-mails anyway.

[tangor]

With the advent of DMARC and other technologies (confirmations of the sending server by the receiver) it is possible that your OUTGOING may be falling into a black hole. Might want to go for six hours a day, not 4 and do as much as you can when you turn it ON so that responses can find your system before you go dark for the day.

As for how long some systems try.... I've seen up to five days. Usually on those it's a TLS problem (no confirmation). Worse, is blacklisted by one of the spam lists, might negate the whole transaction.

Given your specifics, it might make more sense to shelve the SMTP server until you are actually ready to go on line, thus concentrating on the other aspects to be accomplished before diving into the whole "web and email" thing. This would seem a better use of time (and less distractions) as your head absorbs and sorts all these details. Get the grunt work (taxes, permits, etc) out of the way before doing anything else.

Reality is that for not that much money you could have someone under contract to set up and operate your site and SMTP for a short period and TRAIN you how to do it when the time comes to go live.

[abrodski]

Thanks for your input!

Well, so far I've got a problem only with Yahoo Mail (it's just one out of 6 different web mail services that I used to send an e-mail to my server). Seems like Yahoo didn't even try to re-send it at all! Actually their web mail hardly even works here (again, the only one out of 6).

Theoretically, everything is possible and the world isn't perfect. So if an e-mail gets lost, then it was destined to happen. What, if you use a snail-mail and it doesn't get delivered, do you just stop using regular mail? No... Why it should be any different for e-mail?
Like I said, if you really need to contact someone, there are other ways. And if it's not so important, then why bother.

I have to have a company's e-mail address, not just some web mail one. For me this whole technology thing is also a hobby, so it's not just for business. As per business, I like to know that full cycle IT operations are done in-house (no 3rd parties involved).
Especially, if I also plan to be an IT startup (among other, i.e. non-IT fields of interest).

I agree with you on the idea that I should concentrate fully on purely business stuff, but like I said, to me it's all kinda mixed. I consider it a good thing because if you dislike what you do, you probably won't succeed in business as well, even with all the permits and best accountants you can hire.

I'm waiting for my citizenship papers and without a passport I can't really do anything where I live. So the time is on my side in that sense.
It's gonna take another half a year or so to get it done (hopefully). Therefore my local wife supports me at the moment and I won't ask her for money to pay 3rd parties to help me to run my business (even if technology wasn't my hobby).
Those are all personal things, but since you cared to know... Now you know.

[tangor]

Oddly enough, I have the occasional problem with Yahoo web mail as well on a members only email list. Glad to know I'm not the only one!