Was bedeutet hop count exceeded possible mail loop

A very specific and technical error message!

"Hop count exceeded" is a common error message in email systems, and "possible mail loop" is a related concept. Let's break it down:

Hop count exceeded:

In email routing, a "hop" refers to the number of times an email is forwarded from one mail server to another. Each time an email is forwarded, it's considered a "hop". The hop count is the total number of times an email is forwarded before it reaches its final destination.

When a mail server detects that the hop count has exceeded a certain threshold (usually around 30-40 hops), it may flag the email as undeliverable and return an error message, such as "Hop count exceeded". This is because the email has been forwarded too many times, and it's likely that the email is stuck in a loop or has become lost in transit.

Possible mail loop:

A "mail loop" occurs when an email is sent to a recipient, but the recipient's email server is configured to forward the email back to the original sender, creating a loop. This can happen when an email is sent to a recipient who has a forwarding rule set up, or when an email is sent to a recipient who is no longer active or has an invalid email address.

In the case of a "hop count exceeded" error, a possible mail loop is suspected because the email has been forwarded too many times, and it's likely that the email is stuck in a loop. The mail server may not be able to deliver the email because it's unable to determine the final destination or because the email is being forwarded back to the original sender.

What to do:

If you encounter a "Hop count exceeded" error, it's usually a sign that there's an issue with the email routing or the recipient's email configuration. Here are some possible solutions:

  1. Check the recipient's email address: Ensure that the recipient's email address is valid and not blocked by your email server.
  2. Verify the recipient's email configuration: Check if the recipient has a forwarding rule set up or if their email account is no longer active.
  3. Contact the recipient: Reach out to the recipient to confirm that they're receiving emails and to ask if they have any forwarding rules set up.
  4. Check your email server configuration: Verify that your email server is configured correctly and that there are no issues with email routing.

By investigating the issue and taking corrective action, you should be able to resolve the "Hop count exceeded" error and deliver the email successfully.