See below for explanation of email flow through log file.
The transactions in the log when an email is received and processed to a local user with no errors:
03:19 03:22 SMTPD(00180250) [192.168.1.131] connect 209.221.59.70 port 2539
03:19 03:22 SMTPD(00180250) [209.221.59.70] EHLO jetbn.net
03:19 03:22 SMTPD(00180250) [209.221.59.70] MAIL FROM:<info-jjgcdshx@infostreet.us>
03:19 03:22 SMTPD(00180250) [209.221.59.70] RCPT To:<user@domain.com>
03:19 03:22 SMTPD(00180250) [209.221.59.70] C:\IMail\spool\D28de0018025017cd.SMD 3827
03:19 03:22 SMTP-(00000260) processing C:\IMail\spool\Q28de0018025017cd.SMD
03:19 03:22 SMTP-(00000260) ldeliver mail.domain.com user (1) <info-jjgcdshx@infostreet.us> 2354
03:19 03:22 SMTP-(00000260) finished C:\IMail\spool\Q28de0018025017cd.SMD status=1
At this point your mail server establishes a connection and receives the email:
Date Time Process Connection # Server IP Connecting Server Port #
03:19 03:22 SMTPD (00180250) [192.168.1.131] connect 209.221.59.70 port 2539
Connecting Server Name
03:19 03:22 SMTPD (00180250) [209.221.59.70] EHLO jetbn.net
Who is Sending the email
03:19 03:22 SMTPD (00180250) [209.221.59.70] MAIL FROM:<info-jjgcdshx@infostreet.us>
Who the email is for
03:19 03:22 SMTPD (00180250) [209.221.59.70] RCPT To:<user@domain.com>
File created for this message in the spool Msg Size Bytes
03:19 03:22 SMTPD (00180250) [209.221.59.70] C:\IMail\spool\D28de0018025017cd.SMD 3827
From this point forward your server has the message and is processing it for delivery to the mailbox of the recipient:
What Process is doing File that is being processed
03:19 03:22 SMTP- (00000260) processing C:\IMail\spool\Q28de0018025017cd.SMD
Who received the email Who sent the email Deliv. Size
03:19 03:22 SMTP- (00000260) ldeliver mail.domain.com user (1) <info-jjgcdshx@infostreet.us> 2354
SMTP finishes processing the email Status of Process
03:19 03:22 SMTP- (00000260) finished C:\IMail\spool\Q28de0018025017cd.SMD status=1
The transactions in the log when a message is processed and sent to a remote user with no errors:
Date Tme Server IP Process Conn# Server Connecting to ServerIP Port
20030325 102649 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) Connect todomain.com [65.45.210.46: 25] (1)
Recipient Server Hello Message
20030325 102649 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) 220 What? Mail for Me??? X1
Sending user name
20030325 102649 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) >EHLO fromdomain.com
Recipient Server Hello Response
20030325 102650 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) 250-mail.todomain.com says hello
20030325 102650 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) 250-SIZE 0
20030325 102650 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) 250-8BITMIME
20030325 102650 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) 250-DSN
20030325 102650 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) 250-ETRN
20030325 102650 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) 250-AUTH LOGIN CRAM-MD5
20030325 102650 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) 250-AUTH=LOGIN
20030325 102650 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) 250 EXPN
Who sent the message
20030325 102650 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) >MAIL FROM:sender@fromdomain.com
20030325 102650 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) 250 ok
Who is to receive the message
20030325 102650 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) >RCPT To:<recipient@todomain.com>
Receiving server's permission to accept mail
20030325 102650 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) 250 ok its for recipient@todomain.com
Beginning of message data send
20030325 102650 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) >DATA
20030325 102651 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) 354 ok, send it; end with <CRLF>.<CRLF>
End of data send
20030325 102651 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) >.
Message Queued for delivery
20030325 102651 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) 250 Message queued
Message received by server and placed in recipients mailbox
20030325 102651 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) rdeliver todomain.com recipient@todomain.com (1) <sender@fromdomain.com> 356
Closing connection to receiving server
20030325 102651 127.0.0.1 SMTP (2292) >QUIT
See the following articles:
IMail - Spool directory - an explanation of files
IMail - status=3 in SMTP log files
IMail - What do ldeliver and rdeliver mean?
IMail - What are the numbers after SMTPD (queue run)?
IMail Server 8.2 User's Guide - Mail Server Log Files