I am using a Mac G4, OS X 10.4.2, although this issue goes back to the days of 10.3 without resolution.

When I switched from Sp@mX 4.1.7 to 4.2.2, I started getting the message, "error locating SMTP server ..." and my SMTP server's name, every time Sp@mX processed any spam. For that reason, I continued to use 4.1.7, which does not give me this problem.

Tried 4.2.5, same thing happens. I'd like to upgrade, but I do not have time to mess with an application that is constantly giving me error messages to dismiss.

If memory serves, I complained of this issue when 4.2.2 came out, but no joy.

Spam-fighting is not a hobby for me; I do not have time to tinker. If anybody knows why this would happen, please advise.

The way that Sp@mX communicates with your SMTP server has not changed between version 4.1.7 and 4.2.n. The message box is new. A handful of people were telling me that "Sp@mX was not working to reduce spam", and looking at there log files made it clear that the abuse complaints were not going out. Hence the message box.

Please use 4.2.5, and double check the name of your SMTP server.

A quick check is to ping the server by name. e.g.


ping smtp.myservername.com

If you can't ping it, then Sp@mX is not going to be able to find it either....

Please let me know if you continue to have trouble.

Per usual, chalk this up to "user error." It was a goofy typo on my part. I have two different accounts on separate services. One of them is entitled smtp-server.myserver ... the other is smtp.myserver ...

The name of the server needed to be the hyphenated one. Duh.

Looks like everything is going well. I've noticed that the "Total Spam Reported" count changed, so evidently 4.17 was just getting the error and not telling me.

Anyway, I'll stop griping now. I'm interested in checking out your upcoming screening software.

Thanks!