What does a 421 Service not available error mean and how to resolve it?
Summary
What email marketers say9Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Stack Overflow explains that a 421 error is a temporary failure and could mean the server is too busy. He suggests implementing retry logic in the email sending application to handle these temporary failures gracefully.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum shares that 421 errors can sometimes be triggered by aggressive sending practices that lead to temporary throttling by the receiving server. He recommends gradually increasing sending volume to avoid triggering these limits.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains the error message indicates a problem at the recipient's MX, specifically a temporary 4xx series error. He suggests waiting for 12 hours before retrying delivery and notes that such errors can sometimes be related to spam filtering, but likely not a concern if the sending reputation is good.
Email marketer from Reddit shares that if the 421 error persists, it may indicate a deeper issue, such as problems with the sending server's configuration or IP reputation. They suggest contacting the recipient's email provider or IT support to investigate further.
Email marketer from Mailjet says a 421 error indicates a temporary problem with the receiving server, often due to overload or maintenance. They suggest the sender should retry sending the email later, as the issue is usually resolved without intervention.
Email marketer from MXToolbox suggests that to diagnose a 421 error, one should check the sending server's IP address against blacklists, verify reverse DNS records are properly configured, and ensure that SPF and DKIM records are correctly set up to avoid being flagged as a potential spam source.
Email marketer from Litmus explains that 421 errors are temporary and usually require no immediate action. They advise implementing a system that automatically retries sending emails after a delay to handle such transient issues effectively.
Email marketer from Superuser community suggests that reasons for 421 errors are usually temporary overloads. However, some email providers might return a 421 if they suspect spam, and they suggest ensuring proper email authentication and list hygiene.
Email marketer from Email on Acid explains that a 421 error signifies a temporary service unavailability at the server end. They recommend checking the server's status and retrying sending the email after a reasonable delay, while also monitoring bounce rates.
What the experts say1Expert opinion
Expert from Word to the Wise suggests that 421 errors can be a result of aggressive greylisting techniques employed by receiving servers. She advises senders to implement proper retry mechanisms and adhere to established best practices for email sending volume and reputation to mitigate these issues.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from Exim Wiki explains that a 421 error often indicates that the server is temporarily unable to process requests due to resource constraints or maintenance. It suggests checking server logs for specific reasons and trying again later.
Documentation from RFC 5321 clarifies that the 421 SMTP reply code means the service is not available, usually due to a temporary overload, and provides guidance on how clients should handle such responses by delaying and retrying the message later.
Documentation from Postfix explains that handling 421 errors properly is key. Postfix recommends setting up queue management to retry failed deliveries automatically, with appropriate backoff intervals, to avoid overwhelming the receiving server.
Documentation from Microsoft explains that in Exchange Server, a 421 error can arise if the server is experiencing high load or if there are network connectivity issues. It advises checking the server's performance metrics and network configuration, and ensuring that the server's resources are adequately provisioned.