I just had some fun with a new server I set up. I configured Database Mail but it wouldn't send mail. In the Database Log was an error message I've never had before: The mail could not be sent to the recipients because of the mail server failure. (Sending Mail using Account 1 (2010-02-15T16:58:54). Exception Message: Could not connect to mail server. (A non-recoverable error occurred during a database lookup). )

I looked around and found this forum thread: http://www.sqlteam.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=139909. I looked into the anti-virus software and firewall but neither of those helped. Then I noticed the last post where they original poster said "oops, I put an @ in the name of the SMTP server". How I laughed. What a ***! At least my problem isn't because I did something that careless. But then that little voice in my head said "Better check, just to be on the safe side". SMTP Server Name: smtp@domain. Who's the *** now?

So, rbarlow, thanks very much for making the same silly mistake first so I could find the answer. (And I'm sorry for thinking you were a ***!)