554 5.4.6 hop count exceeded possible mail loop exchange 2013

A classic Exchange error!

The error message "554 5.4.6 Hop count exceeded" is a temporary failure message that indicates that the email message has exceeded the maximum number of hops (or relay points) allowed by the receiving mail server.

Here's a breakdown of the error message:

In Exchange 2013, the default maximum hop count is 30. This means that the email message is not allowed to pass through more than 30 relay points (or mail servers) before it reaches its final destination.

There are a few possible causes for this error:

  1. Email loop: The email message is stuck in a loop, where it's being relayed back and forth between multiple mail servers, causing the hop count to exceed the maximum allowed.
  2. Misconfigured mail server: One of the mail servers in the relay chain is misconfigured, causing the message to be relayed excessively.
  3. Network issue: There's a network issue that's causing the email message to be delayed or stuck in transit, resulting in an excessive number of hops.

To resolve this issue, you can try the following:

  1. Check the email message headers: Use a tool like Microsoft Message Analyzer or Wireshark to inspect the email message headers and identify the relay chain. This can help you determine where the issue is occurring.
  2. Verify mail server configurations: Check the configurations of the mail servers involved in the relay chain to ensure that they're properly configured and not causing the issue.
  3. Contact the sending mail server: Reach out to the sending mail server administrator to ask them to investigate the issue and resolve any potential email loop or misconfiguration.
  4. Configure the receiving mail server: If the issue is specific to the receiving mail server, you can try configuring it to allow a higher maximum hop count or to use a different relay chain.