SMTP 250 OK vs 503 Bad Sequence
SMTP 250 (OK) is a 2xx Positive Completion response, while 503 (Bad Sequence) is a 5xx Permanent Negative response. 250 indicates that the requested mail action has been completed successfully. This is the most common positive response in SMTP, returned after HELO/EHLO, MAIL FROM, RCPT TO, and DATA completion. In contrast, 503 means that the commands were sent in the wrong order. SMTP requires a specific command sequence (EHLO, MAIL FROM, RCPT TO, DATA) and this error indicates a step was skipped or repeated.
Описание
The requested mail action has been completed successfully. This is the most common positive response in SMTP, returned after HELO/EHLO, MAIL FROM, RCPT TO, and DATA completion.
Когда вы это видите
After nearly every successful SMTP command — greeting, specifying sender, adding recipients, or completing message delivery. This is the standard success confirmation.
Как исправить
No fix needed — the command was accepted. If a command that should succeed returns a different code, check the command syntax and server policies.
Описание
The commands were sent in the wrong order. SMTP requires a specific command sequence (EHLO, MAIL FROM, RCPT TO, DATA) and this error indicates a step was skipped or repeated.
Когда вы это видите
When sending DATA before RCPT TO, or MAIL FROM before EHLO. The server enforces the correct SMTP command sequence and you have sent a command out of order.
Как исправить
Follow the proper SMTP command sequence: EHLO/HELO first, then MAIL FROM, then RCPT TO (one or more), then DATA. Reset with RSET if you need to start over.
Ключевые различия
250 is a 2xx Positive Completion response, while 503 is a 5xx Permanent Negative response.
SMTP 250: The requested mail action has been completed successfully. This is the most common positive response in SMTP, returned after HELO/EHLO, MAIL FROM, RCPT TO, and DATA completion.
SMTP 503: The commands were sent in the wrong order. SMTP requires a specific command sequence (EHLO, MAIL FROM, RCPT TO, DATA) and this error indicates a step was skipped or repeated.
You encounter 250 when after nearly every successful SMTP command — greeting, specifying sender, adding recipients, or completing message delivery. This is the standard success confirmation.
You encounter 503 when when sending DATA before RCPT TO, or MAIL FROM before EHLO. The server enforces the correct SMTP command sequence and you have sent a command out of order.
Когда что использовать
For 250 (OK): No fix needed — the command was accepted. If a command that should succeed returns a different code, check the command syntax and server policies. For 503 (Bad Sequence): Follow the proper SMTP command sequence: EHLO/HELO first, then MAIL FROM, then RCPT TO (one or more), then DATA. Reset with RSET if you need to start over.