SMTP stopped working again

Hi, I was trying to send emails to a mailing list using a third party client and it wouldn’t go, however, I tried changing some options in SMTP and it stopped working. I tried reloading Postfix Configuration, added SSL certs back to the domains and it still fails to send email. Server is not connecting with third party client. Would anyone have an idea what other module needs to be re-configured please?. Thanks

Operating system:
OS version:

Hey, guess what? You have to include some relevant lines from your maillog, and you have to include your OS and version.

Im sorry Joe. It went over my head. I’ve been trying to figure this thing out for about 4 hours now. I’m on Centos7. Where would I find the logs for the mail?. Ty

I found them. I’ll post them in a few min. Thanks

@Joe , I found the files while looking in var/log/mailog in Host domain. Here are the strings:
Jun 22 01:29:03 ns10 postfix/postscreen[336]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:29:09 ns10 postfix/postscreen[336]: CONNECT from [45.144.225.205]:53700 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:29:09 ns10 postfix/postscreen[336]: PASS OLD [45.144.225.205]:53700
Jun 22 01:29:09 ns10 postfix/postscreen[336]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:29:20 ns10 postfix/postscreen[336]: CONNECT from [31.210.20.41]:49498 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:29:20 ns10 postfix/postscreen[336]: PASS OLD [31.210.20.41]:49498
Jun 22 01:29:20 ns10 postfix/postscreen[336]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:31:02 ns10 postfix/postscreen[479]: CONNECT from [141.98.10.220]:63026 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:31:02 ns10 postfix/postscreen[479]: PREGREET 11 after 0.1 from [141.98.10.220]:63026: EHLO User\r\n
Jun 22 01:31:02 ns10 postfix/postscreen[479]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:31:02 ns10 postfix/postscreen[479]: DISCONNECT [141.98.10.220]:63026
Jun 22 01:32:09 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: connect from unknown[212.70.149.71]
Jun 22 01:32:46 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: warning: unknown[212.70.149.71]: SASL LOGIN authentication failed: authentication failure
Jun 22 01:32:51 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: lost connection after AUTH from unknown[212.70.149.71]
Jun 22 01:32:51 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: disconnect from unknown[212.70.149.71]
Jun 22 01:33:18 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: CONNECT from [45.144.225.54]:61873 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:33:18 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: PASS OLD [45.144.225.54]:61873
Jun 22 01:33:18 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:33:44 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: connect from unknown[212.70.149.71]
Jun 22 01:34:21 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: warning: unknown[212.70.149.71]: SASL LOGIN authentication failed: authentication failure
Jun 22 01:34:21 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: CONNECT from [141.98.10.147]:61858 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:34:22 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: PREGREET 11 after 0.11 from [141.98.10.147]:61858: EHLO User\r\n
Jun 22 01:34:22 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:34:22 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: DISCONNECT [141.98.10.147]:61858
Jun 22 01:34:26 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: lost connection after AUTH from unknown[212.70.149.71]
Jun 22 01:34:26 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: disconnect from unknown[212.70.149.71]
Jun 22 01:34:27 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: CONNECT from [141.98.10.41]:63183 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:34:27 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: PREGREET 11 after 0.1 from [141.98.10.41]:63183: EHLO User\r\n
Jun 22 01:34:27 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:34:27 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: DISCONNECT [141.98.10.41]:63183
Jun 22 01:35:20 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: connect from unknown[212.70.149.71]
Jun 22 01:35:41 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: CONNECT from [45.133.1.73]:50777 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:35:41 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: PASS OLD [45.133.1.73]:50777
Jun 22 01:35:41 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:35:57 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: warning: unknown[212.70.149.71]: SASL LOGIN authentication failed: authentication failure
Jun 22 01:36:02 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: lost connection after AUTH from unknown[212.70.149.71]
Jun 22 01:36:02 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: disconnect from unknown[212.70.149.71]
Jun 22 01:36:34 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: CONNECT from [45.133.1.127]:54671 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:36:34 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: PASS OLD [45.133.1.127]:54671
Jun 22 01:36:34 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:36:55 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: connect from unknown[212.70.149.71]
Jun 22 01:37:00 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: CONNECT from [141.98.10.154]:64945 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:37:00 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: PREGREET 11 after 0.1 from [141.98.10.154]:64945: EHLO User\r\n
Jun 22 01:37:00 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:37:00 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: DISCONNECT [141.98.10.154]:64945
Jun 22 01:37:14 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: CONNECT from [31.210.20.39]:59429 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:37:14 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: PASS OLD [31.210.20.39]:59429
Jun 22 01:37:14 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:37:15 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: CONNECT from [45.133.1.50]:49837 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:37:15 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: PASS OLD [45.133.1.50]:49837
Jun 22 01:37:15 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:37:25 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: CONNECT from [45.133.1.206]:62543 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:37:25 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: PASS OLD [45.133.1.206]:62543
Jun 22 01:37:25 ns10 postfix/postscreen[1166]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:37:27 ns10 postfix/smtpd[2733]: connect from unknown[185.167.98.154]
Jun 22 01:37:27 ns10 postfix/smtpd[2733]: lost connection after UNKNOWN from unknown[185.167.98.154]
Jun 22 01:37:27 ns10 postfix/cleanup[2736]: 344C7144EE6: message-id=20210622013727.344C7144EE6@ns10.intrelligentsystems.com
Jun 22 01:37:27 ns10 postfix/qmgr[12531]: 344C7144EE6: from=double-bounce@ns10.intrelligentsystems.com, size=838, nrcpt=1 (queue active)
Jun 22 01:37:27 ns10 postfix/smtpd[2733]: disconnect from unknown[185.167.98.154]
Jun 22 01:37:27 ns10 postfix/trivial-rewrite[2737]: warning: do not list domain intrelligentsystems.com in BOTH mydestination and virtual_alias_domains
Jun 22 01:37:33 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: warning: unknown[212.70.149.71]: SASL LOGIN authentication failed: authentication failure
Jun 22 01:37:38 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: lost connection after AUTH from unknown[212.70.149.71]
Jun 22 01:37:38 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: disconnect from unknown[212.70.149.71]
Jun 22 01:37:50 ns10 postfix/local[2738]: 344C7144EE6: to=intrelligentsystems@intrelligentsystems.com, orig_to=, relay=local, delay=23, delays=0.02/0.01/0/23, dsn=2.0.0, status=sent (delivered to command: /usr/bin/procmail-wrapper -o -a $DOMAIN -d $LOGNAME)
Jun 22 01:37:50 ns10 postfix/qmgr[12531]: 344C7144EE6: removed
Jun 22 01:38:31 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: connect from unknown[212.70.149.71]
Jun 22 01:39:08 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: warning: unknown[212.70.149.71]: SASL LOGIN authentication failed: authentication failure
Jun 22 01:39:13 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: lost connection after AUTH from unknown[212.70.149.71]
Jun 22 01:39:13 ns10 postfix/smtpd[1101]: disconnect from unknown[212.70.149.71]
Jun 22 01:40:13 ns10 postfix/postscreen[3417]: CONNECT from [31.210.21.62]:55056 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:40:13 ns10 postfix/postscreen[3417]: PASS OLD [31.210.21.62]:55056
Jun 22 01:40:13 ns10 postfix/postscreen[3417]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:41:27 ns10 postfix/postscreen[3417]: CONNECT from [136.144.41.181]:54849 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:41:27 ns10 postfix/postscreen[3417]: PASS OLD [136.144.41.181]:54849
Jun 22 01:41:27 ns10 postfix/postscreen[3417]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:42:09 ns10 postfix/postscreen[3417]: CONNECT from [31.210.21.82]:60110 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:42:09 ns10 postfix/postscreen[3417]: PASS OLD [31.210.21.82]:60110
Jun 22 01:42:09 ns10 postfix/postscreen[3417]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:42:18 ns10 postfix/anvil[1111]: statistics: max connection rate 1/60s for (smtps:212.70.149.71) at Jun 22 01:32:18
Jun 22 01:42:18 ns10 postfix/anvil[1111]: statistics: max connection count 1 for (smtps:212.70.149.71) at Jun 22 01:32:18
Jun 22 01:42:18 ns10 postfix/anvil[1111]: statistics: max cache size 2 at Jun 22 01:37:27
Jun 22 01:42:40 ns10 postfix/postscreen[3417]: CONNECT from [31.210.21.96]:57569 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:42:40 ns10 postfix/postscreen[3417]: PASS OLD [31.210.21.96]:57569
Jun 22 01:42:40 ns10 postfix/postscreen[3417]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:43:50 ns10 dovecot: imap-login: Login: user=info@dolorendyacon.com, method=PLAIN, rip=::1, lip=::1, mpid=4164, TLS, session=
Jun 22 01:43:50 ns10 dovecot: imap(info@dolorendyacon.com): Logged out in=217 out=1430
Jun 22 01:43:50 ns10 dovecot: imap-login: Login: user=info@dolorendyacon.com, method=PLAIN, rip=::1, lip=::1, mpid=4167, TLS, session=<KzP+61DFSooAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB>
Jun 22 01:43:50 ns10 dovecot: imap(info@dolorendyacon.com): Logged out in=264 out=1748
Jun 22 01:43:51 ns10 dovecot: imap-login: Login: user=info@dolorendyacon.com, method=PLAIN, rip=::1, lip=::1, mpid=4170, TLS, session=
Jun 22 01:43:51 ns10 dovecot: imap(info@dolorendyacon.com): Logged out in=60 out=822
Jun 22 01:44:24 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: CONNECT from [141.98.10.220]:55488 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:44:24 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: PREGREET 11 after 0.1 from [141.98.10.220]:55488: EHLO User\r\n
Jun 22 01:44:24 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:44:24 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: DISCONNECT [141.98.10.220]:55488
Jun 22 01:45:02 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: CONNECT from [::1]:33380 to [::1]:25
Jun 22 01:45:02 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: WHITELISTED [::1]:33380
Jun 22 01:45:02 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:45:59 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: CONNECT from [141.98.10.41]:63774 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:45:59 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: PREGREET 11 after 0.1 from [141.98.10.41]:63774: EHLO User\r\n
Jun 22 01:45:59 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:45:59 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: DISCONNECT [141.98.10.41]:63774
Jun 22 01:46:43 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: CONNECT from [141.98.10.147]:64815 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:46:43 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: PREGREET 11 after 0.1 from [141.98.10.147]:64815: EHLO User\r\n
Jun 22 01:46:43 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:46:43 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: DISCONNECT [141.98.10.147]:64815
Jun 22 01:48:04 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: CONNECT from [45.133.1.204]:52993 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:48:04 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: PASS OLD [45.133.1.204]:52993
Jun 22 01:48:04 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:48:06 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: CONNECT from [31.210.20.89]:63931 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:48:06 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: PASS OLD [31.210.20.89]:63931
Jun 22 01:48:06 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:49:01 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: CONNECT from [45.133.1.22]:50425 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:49:01 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: PASS OLD [45.133.1.22]:50425
Jun 22 01:49:01 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:49:20 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: CONNECT from [141.98.10.154]:63148 to [167.172.230.150]:25
Jun 22 01:49:20 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: PREGREET 11 after 0.1 from [141.98.10.154]:63148: EHLO User\r\n
Jun 22 01:49:20 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: warning: cannot connect to service private/smtpd: No such file or directory
Jun 22 01:49:20 ns10 postfix/postscreen[4198]: DISCONNECT [141.98.10.154]:63148
Jun 22 01:49:40 ns10 postfix/smtpd[5574]: connect from unknown[212.70.149.71]
Jun 22 01:50:18 ns10 postfix/smtpd[5574]: warning: unknown[212.70.149.71]: SASL LOGIN authentication failed: authentication failure

Thanks

This indicates a socket is missing, which probably means one of the Postfix daemons isn’t running.

Try restarting the postfix service (systemctl restart postfix). Pay attention to errors, if any, and check the service status and journal if so.

Ok. I’ll check and get back. Thanks Joe.

I’m sorry Joe but that didn’t work. And I get no errors either…
Any other suggestions?.. Thanks.

Hi Joe, thank you for you help. I finally got it working again.

@Joe , Postfix seems to be sending emails, however, now Dovecot is acting up. For some reason it’s not forwarding mail. mail is stuck in Queue with a Connection refused. Do you have any idea where I can look?. Thanks.

That’s not Dovecot.

But, I continue to not be able to guess at the solution to a problem given literally no information.

I’m sorry but, I have no errors in mail log… any other place Webmin keeps errors?

You’re right, it’s Postfix. but, I can’t find a solution for mail to to be stuck.

Webmin has nothing to do with mail problems.

O.K. From your experience with Postfix, would there be a reason, or is there something I’d need to configure?.. It was working prior to re-installing.

You can possibly get back to the default Virtualmin config (what you’d have after a fresh install…but also maybe not) by running:

# virtualmin config-system --include Postfix

But, I have no idea what’s broken, you keep making new problems. :wink:

Thanks. I think is Postfix with issues. I tried running your string and I got a warning.

virtualmin config-system --include Postfix
[1/2] Configuring Net [ :heavy_check_mark: ]
[2/2] Configuring Postfix ██▒▒▒▒▒/ usr/sbin/postconf: warning: /etc/postfix/master.cf: undefined parameter: mua_sen der_restrictions
/usr/sbin/postconf: warning: /etc/postfix/master.cf: undefined parameter: mua_cl ient_restrictions
/usr/sbin/postconf: warning: /etc/postfix/master.cf: undefined parameter: mua_he lo_restrictions [ :heavy_check_mark: ]

I’m so tired.

Your config file has a bunch of random spaces in it. Virtualmin/Webmin didn’t do that, and the system-config command didn’t do that.

Well, I’m out of options. All I wanted to do was send out email to a 25k list and it caused all these issues. I feel you on the tire. I’ve been at it since last night. Question, if I were to reset the server, would that make problems for the websites?.. Thanks, again

What do you mean “reset the server”?

When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

Just fix the configuration file. You broke it, you can fix it. Look at the errors from postconf above. It is very clear what’s wrong. Extra spaces in the parameter names. So fix that.