Whenever myself or a client sends e-mail from outlook there is a very long time as the connection to my e-mail server is established.

It's not a problem with outlook as I have tried other programs and get the same results and I have disabled all AV programs and tinkered with numerous settings.

Personally I can live with it but customers are complaining as sometimes it can take upto 1 minute before a e-mail can be sent.

Has anybody any ideas what is causing this?

name services misconfiguration, may lead to delays before your server is able to check your host identity, maybe pop before smtp, try looking at the logs while you test this situation

does it happen when sending e-mail only?

regards

Yes. Only happens when sending e-mail. Recieving is fine.

I get the same thing, I've seen this solution mentioned in a few places:
http://has.webnic.cc/plesk_reloaded_faqs_m...mailservice.htm
http://tyrannical.org/page-14
http://www.nexusportal.net/showthread/t-6765.html

Haven't tried it yet myself but it sounds promising.

Thanks http://tyrannical.org/page-14 works a treat.

plesk seems to be a different world indeed

Tell me about it.

I love the admin panel but some things just make you wonder.

Anyway, problem now solved. No more whinging customers.

Thanks guys