Question

When encountering the error "5.4.14 hop count exceeded - possible mail loop," what might be the issue?

a) Network congestion
b) Email server misconfiguration
c) Virus attack
d) Hardware failure

Answer 1

The error message "5.4.14 hop count exceeded - possible mail loop" typically indicates an email server misconfiguration as the cause. It occurs when emails are being forwarded between servers and the number of hops exceeds a certain limit. To address this error, check the email server configuration settings and adjust the maximum hop count if needed.

Step-by-step explanation:

The error message "5.4.14 hop count exceeded - possible mail loop" typically indicates an email server misconfiguration as the cause. This error occurs when emails are being forwarded between servers and the number of hops (or jumps) exceeds a certain limit, which is often set by the administrator.

For example, if an email server is set to allow a maximum of 30 hops and a particular email reaches the 31st hop, the server will reject it and generate the error message. This helps prevent mail loops, where emails continuously bounce between servers without reaching their intended recipients.

It is important to address this error by checking the email server configuration settings, such as the maximum hop count allowed, and adjust it if necessary. This can help ensure smooth email delivery without encountering the "hop count exceeded" error.