Topic Last Modified: 2007-05-17

When a message is undeliverable, the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) service returns it to the sender with a non-delivery report (NDR). You can also designate that copies of the NDR be sent to a location of your choice. If the NDR cannot be delivered to the sender, a copy of the message is put in the Badmail directory.

All NDRs follow the same delivery process as other messages, including attempts to resend the message. If the NDR has reached the retry limit and cannot be delivered to the sender, a copy of the message is put in the Badmail directory. Messages put in the Badmail directory cannot be delivered or returned.

Procedure

To set a storage location for NDRs

  1. In Microsoft Management Console, select the SMTP virtual server, and then click Properties on the Action menu.

  2. On the Messages tab, in Send copy of Non-Delivery Report to, type the e-mail address of the mailbox that you want to use to store copies of the NDRs. This can be any valid SMTP e-mail address, and is optional. To disable the feature, clear the text box.

  3. In Badmail directory, type the directory you want to use to store undeliverable messages. The default location is root:\inetpub\mailroot\Badmail. Click Browse to select a different folder. You can designate a different directory, provided it is located on the same computer as the SMTP service.

  • Setting the Recipient Limits
  • Deliver the Messages