How to Test SMTP Virtual Servers

The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is the Internet standard for sending electronic mail on the Internet. Email servers use SMPT to both send and receive email, whereas user client email programs such as Microsoft Outlook and Outlook express use SMTP only to send email and the Post office Protocol (POP) or Internet message Access Protocol (IMAP) to receive email. There are three common methods to test SMTP virtual server performance: 1--Use of an Email Client, 2--Pickup Directory, and 3--Telnet.

Things You'll Need

• Access to the Telnet protocol on your computer

Instructions

1. Download and install a third-party email client that can be used for testing your existing SMTP virtual server, such as "Yet Another Email Client," which is listed in References below. Send and email to your regular email address from the testing application, and then check your mail. If the email is received, then you know that your POP email server for receiving email is working correctly and there may be problems with your SMTP email server.

2. To further test your SMTP server, open your text editor and type a basic email text file in the following format:

   From: [e-mail]
   To: [e-mail]
   Subject: Test email

   My test email body.

3. Save the test email as a text file and place in the Pickup Directory where the SMTP server is intalled. This will be in a location similar to: \Program Files\Exchsrvr\Mailroot\Vsi 1\Pickup on Microsoft Exchange servers. By saving the file in this directory the email server should automatically send the email within a few minutes. If it does not, then your SMTP server may not be running or have been tripped offline. Attempt to restart the email server to verify receipt of the test email.

4. If the pickup method directory does not work, use TELNET to further test the SMTP server. Type telnet 25 at the DOS command prompt. If the SMTP server is online, then you will see a message header displayed indicating such. If this is the case, then enter a test email on the command prompt in the following format:

   mail from: admin@myemailaccount
   rcpt to: mytestemail@myother email
   subject: this is a test email
   Hi Javanx3d
   I'm testing my SMTP server

   XXX X.X.X Queued mail for delivery

   If the TELNET test is successful you will see the test email in your destination email account.

Resources

• Yet Another Email Client Download Location
• SMTP Protocol Definition