LISTSERV Error Messages & Delivery Issues

Message characteristics may cause delivery delay/issue:

• Issue: An attachment or embedded image in the message is causing failure.

  • Solution: Upload attached file to OneDrive and sending a link to the attachment.

• Issue: Subscriber of LISTSERV does not have permission to send messages.

  • Solution: Confirm/change subscriber privileges by checking list configuration settings:

1. Log into the LISTSERV at lists.bgsu.edu.
2. Select the list you want to edit.
3. Select the List Management dropdown. 
4. Select List Configuration.
5. Select the Subscriptions button. 
6. Review the setting for the Send area. 

• Issue: The message may still be processing.

  • Solution: Large subscriber lists and sending from off campus locations may delay delivery.   Emails will be delivered. 

The maximum size limit is 2 MBs (megabytes) for all attachments. If you receive an error sending messages, verify your attachment size. Most often, errors in sending are caused by trying to send too large of an attachment. 

By default, the LISTSERV server does not treat list owners as subscribers. The owner sending the message will receive a copy of the message sent, but only others listed as subscribers will also receive the message. To review current list subscribers or to add new subscribers, follow these steps:

1. Log into the LISTSERV web application at lists.bgsu.edu.
2. Select the list you want to edit.
3. Select the List Management dropdown.
4. Select Subscriber Reports.
5. Review a full list of subscribers
6. To add a new subscriber, enter their email address and name into the Add New Subscriber box and select Add Subscriber. 

If your list is not sending messages and it is not configured to hold messages for confirmation, release the Hold Status of the list:

*Note: List owner must complete these steps. 

1. Login to lists.bgsu.edu.
2. Select the list you want to edit.
3. Select the List Management dropdown.
4. Select LISTSERV Command.
5. Type the following into the Command line: free listname
   • Listname above refers to the name of your specific list.
6. Select Submit. 
7. This will free the list and allow old messages to be sent. 

Follow the steps below to verify the user is authorized to send to the list.

1. Login to lists.bgsu.edu. 
2. Select the list you want to verify.
3. Select the List Management dropdown.
4. Select Subscriber Reports. 
5. Verify that the correct email address is listed.
   • LISTSERV does not recognize older BGSU email addresses (ex: bgnet.bgsu.edu).
6. Select List Configuration.
7. Select the Subscriptions button. 
8. Review the setting for the Send area. 
9. Verify that they have authorization to send.
10. Select Update. 
11. Verify (after 10-15 minutes) that the user can now send to the LISTSERV.

This error message is signifying that your message is too large. If your message includes images or attachments, try storing the file in something like OneDrive or SharePoint and include a link to the file rather than directly attaching. 

If a recipient is receiving error messages from a list and does not wish to receive them, follow these instructions. 

By default, error messages are sent to the first listed list owner. 

1. Log into the LISTSERV at lists.bgsu.edu.
2. Select the list you want to edit.
3. Select the List Management dropdown. 
4. Select List Configuration.
5. Select the Error Handling button. 
6. Review the Errors-To= dropdown to select who should receive the messages.
   • Note: specific users can be added here using the Specify option.
7. To confirm who is listed as an account owner:
   • Select the Administrators button. 
   • The top owner listed in the Owner= box is the official list owner; the remaining are considered owners.

This type of error is caused by email bounce-backs from list subscribers. To remove those subscribers:

1. Open the attachment on the email error report.
2. Read through the attachment until you find the list of errored email addresses. 
3. Confirm that the email addresses are:
   1. Spelled correctly.
   2. Valid/active.
   3. Using the correct domain.
4. If they are incorrect or invalid, update them within the LISTSERV web application.
5. Login to the LISTSERV web application at lists.bgsu.edu. 
6. Select the list you want to edit.
7. Select the List Management dropdown.
8. Select Subscriber Reports.
9. To update a subscriber's information: Click on the subcriber's name
10. To Remove a subscriber: Check box beside the subscriber and Click Delete Subscribers Button