Mail app will not connect to server today - Only .Mac webmail available.

Question

Level 2

289 points

Mail app will not connect to server today - Only .Mac webmail available.

This morning I woke to an exclamation icon by my inbox. I have seen this before, and it usually happens when my internet or wireless signal gets interrupted. All I usually have to do is click on the icon and it reconnects to the mail server and all is good.

However, today everything is hanging up. All progress bars in the Activity window are at a standstill. It acts as if there is no internet connection, but by browser can go to any webpage just fine.

I can access al my mail via the .Mac webpage, so I know at least the mail system is working.

Not sure what to do about this.. never had this problem before. I also tried restarting Mail and also the computer.

Mac Pro (2x3 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon), MacBook Pro (2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo), Mac OS X (10.5.2), 14 GB RAM, 2 GB RAM

Posted on Mar 25, 2008 8:24 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Frozo Author

Level 2

289 points

Mar 25, 2008 8:48 AM in response to Frozo

When clicking on the Exclamation icon, I get the following error:

There may be a problem with the mail server or network. Check the settings for account “.Mac Account” or try again. The server error encountered was: The connection to the server “mail.mac.com” on port 993 timed out.

My other computer can get mail just fine.

Reply

Answer 2

Mar 25, 2008 8:54 AM in response to Frozo

You are not alone Frozo. I am experiencing this exact problem today. I don't think I've ever had this particular issue before today.

Reply

Answer 3

Frozo Author

Level 2

289 points

Mar 25, 2008 8:59 AM in response to benny.ferguson

Same error too?

It's strange that my other computer is working fine though. All the software is updated on both... the only difference is that the problem computer is using ethernet connection, while the working one is using Airport.

Reply

Answer 4

Mar 25, 2008 9:15 AM in response to Frozo

Yeah, same error (993).
I have 2 other accounts that I use w/ mail that are online and working great.

Like you say, the webmail works, but not through the mail application.

I haven't tried it on my iMac at home, I'm here at work w/ my MBP.

Reply

Answer 5

Mar 25, 2008 9:20 AM in response to Frozo

See:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1458039&tstart=0

Seems to be a problem with the .Mac servers in some areas.

Ernie

Reply

Answer 6

Frozo Author

Level 2

289 points

Mar 25, 2008 9:20 AM in response to Frozo

OK, I just tried my MBP, and it's not working either. So the ONLY computer that is working is my girlfriend's MacBook. So that makes me wonder if it's a problem with a setting or corruption in my account in general.

Definitely a strange one....

Reply

Answer 7

Frozo Author

Level 2

289 points

Mar 25, 2008 9:23 AM in response to Ernie Stamper

Yeah I saw that. It's actually a completely different issue.. well the symptoms are anyway.

And if the servers are having problems, why would my one account on my network be ok but not the other?

Reply

Answer 8

Mar 25, 2008 9:26 AM in response to Frozo

Are all your accounts setup to use Port 993 and SSL vs Port 143 and no SSL?

Ernie

Reply

Answer 9

Frozo Author

Level 2

289 points

Mar 25, 2008 9:32 AM in response to Ernie Stamper

Yes, all of them.. the working and the broken = 993, SSL on.

Reply

Answer 10

Frozo Author

Level 2

289 points

Mar 25, 2008 9:35 AM in response to Frozo

OK, so I just noticed that my iPhone is hanging up too! It has to be an Apple-side server problem.

I cant get in touch with my girlfriend right now, but I suspect hers will be fine.

Reply

Answer 11

Mar 25, 2008 10:14 AM in response to Frozo

It's almost 1 PM (eastern) and I'm STILL encountering this issue. I have not been able, at all today, to get my .Mac mail from my 10.5.2 MBP, however from a 10.4 Powermac it seems to be connecting fine.

If the issue is on Apple's side, then why does one computer work and the other doesn't??
(I even checked to verify on both machines the host mail.mac.com evaluates to the same IP)

UPDATE: Well...just tried again and it's working fine now. Not sure if any issue on Apple's side was fixed, or if my MBP was previously using a different IP, of which there are 5 possible ones.

So to anyone still experiencing problem, try "dscacheutil -flushcache" (on Leopard) to see if Mail will pick a new IP address that it can connect to. That may or may not work for you but it's worth a shot.

Message was edited by: Chris Gordon3

Reply

Answer 12

Frozo Author

Level 2

289 points

Mar 25, 2008 10:07 AM in response to Chris Gordon3

Now my iPhone and MBP are working again.. just not my Mac Pro now. W-T-F?

Reply

Answer 13

Frozo Author

Level 2

289 points

Mar 25, 2008 11:44 AM in response to Frozo

OK, everything finally seems to be back up and running.

Just wish Apple's .Mac status indicators were actually reliable.

Reply