Re: [cobalt-users] Majordomo 552 errors

[Larry Smith <lesmith@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Thursday 11 December 2003 17:37, Tim Walter wrote:
> In message <200312111324.06978.blists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Jeff Lasman
> <blists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes
>
> >On Tuesday 09 December 2003 05:14 pm, Tim Walter wrote:
> >> Hi,  I have developed problems with majordomo, on a RAQ4
> >
> >No problem with majordomo; it's operating as it's supposed to operate.
> >
> >> Whilst I sort of understand the gist of the info I can't tell if the
> >> problem is local or nhs.uk refusing such a large influx of messages
> >> from a single domain (as an anti-spam measure)
> >
> >It looks as if nhs.uk refuses delivery of a single message with lots of
> >recipients.  If so, they do it as an anti-spam measure and have made
> >the decision that the tradeoff (mailing lists don't get through) is
> >worth it to them and their users.
>
> It has got worse lately so whether deliberate or accidental is open to
> debate...
>
> >> Any info as to the problem, and more importantly the solution!
> >
> >There's a program you can install to "help" majordomo handle delivery of
> >lots of mesages to single domains; the program is called something like
> >"bulk_mailer".  You should make sure you haven't got it installed; if
> >you do, it's exacerbating the problem.
> >
> >That failing, you can try contacting the postmaster at nhs.uk to see if
> >they can whitelist your list.
> >
> >There are some other mailing list programs (I believe mailman fits this
> >category) that can be told to send individual messages.  Perhaps you
> >can find another mailing list program you can use.
> >
> >(Qmail, used in place of sendmail, doesn't "bunch up" multiple
> >recipients at a domain, but it's a sendmail replacement and won't work
> >on a RaQ.)
> >
> >Jeff
>
> Many thanks Jeff, I agree, my understanding is that nhs.uk is doing the
> blocking.
>
> Trouble is that whilst getting email through is a problem, getting
> through to speak to the helpdesk is even more tricky!!!!
>
> Waiting for a callback
>
> Thanks for the confirmation
>
> Tim

Tim,

  It appears to be a "two" sided issue.  The actual error message that you are 
getting appears that nhs.uk is limiting the number of recipients per message 
(as I do on my domains).  It would appear from earlier messages that their 
limit is something under 65 RCPT TO lines in a single message.  Problem is 
that majordomo will attempt to "sort" all "like" names (same domain) and send 
them in one (1 big) message list.  This appears to be exceeding their limit - 
and is _not_ in that respect a "whitelist" or "blacklist" issue.  Believe 
this is a server wide setting (know it is on my servers) - meaning that to 
change it for you, would change it for everyone and open them up to other 
possible issues.

Better bet is to research a method to break-down your list and send in 
"pieces" (eg a smaller number of RCPT TO entries) per physical message, _but_ 
an initial look at the majordomo site does not list anyway to do this within 
majordomo.....

-- 
Larry Smith
SysAd ECSIS.NET
sysad@xxxxxxxxx