I need a way of tracing e-mails between one of our clients and ourselves.

Both have Exchange/Outlook systems, using SMTP connectors to transfer mail via the net.

I need a way of showing both the route the e-mail took on it's way to us and the time it arrived at each destination.

Is this possible or already a function?

Stefan

 

Probably a much easier way but cant you use 'tracert' IP add?

 

Not sure what you mean Mo

I can use tracert to trace the route to an IP address, but I need proof how long an e-mail took to be delivered.

Something like a delivery receipt ain't enough either; I need a way (through logs files or whatever) to show an e-mail went from client A @ 09:10, to server B @ 09:11, to server C.......

Some users have been getting flack for not responding to e-mails, but I've shown management that we've had no problems receiving mail from other sources when these so called problems were happening. I strongly believe that the problems is with their system, but I need to prove this.

We already have a 2Mb dedicated link with this client, but their IT people won't allow us to use this for mail as it's seen as a "security risk"

The simple fact that I can port scan their network if I wanted to doesn't seem to warrant their attention too much

Stefan

 

Ozzy,

Quick test would be to send an email to a non-user on their server and time how long the bounce message takes to come back.

I.e. mail to nosuchuser@clientmailserver.com

and wait for the bounce message.

If you do this with a script once every 30 minutes or so for a couple of days, you will be able to prove that there is a delay. But then you'll have to prove where the delay is in the system.

You could also take a look at the headers of a few suspected late emails and see if all the information is in the header. Most mails I get have the time it passed through systems on its way to me within the headers. So you might see a large delay between when it left the client mail server until it arrived on you server etc.

Cheers

Ian

[Edited by IWatkins - 8/20/2002 10:56:49 AM]

 

Hi Ian,

I've been doing just that recently, but their Internet connection is in an office branch in England and both our offices are here in Scotland.

If I send an e-mail to no_such_user@theirdomain.com, then it comes back and is some help, but this only tests up to the English branch office. What I need is a way of testing right up to the end-users mailbox.

Stefan

 

Ian,

How can you read the full mail header to see that info?

Stefan

 

Can't you just set delivery and read receipts when you send the messages?

Cheers
Rob

 

Stefan,

In Outlook, select open an email and then on its menu select View | Options. This shows a text box with lots of info on where the mail has been. However, I do know that some email servers (and I think some firewalls) can strip this information.

Cheers

Ian

 

... and some links on info how to decode the header:

http://help.mindspring.com/docs/006/...ilheaders.php3

http://www.stopspam.org/email/headers/headers.html

Cheers

Ian

 

Rob,

Delivery receipt is good, but a lot of users don't want it on all the time and often forget to turn it on when it's needed. There's also no incentive for the other party to turn it on, especially when I'm blaming them for the delays

As for Read receipts, well the 3rd party's turned them off too

Ian,

Mail headers looks like the best solution. I've check some mail from the client and it shows all the servers it's passed through.

Thanks for your help,

Stefan

 

No probs