Its a different exception. "The transport failed to connect to the server"

^when I specify my ip address as the server(the smtp server shows that it connects but then closes the connection immediately).

"The message could not be sent to the smtp server. The transport error code was 0x80040217. The server response was unavailable."
^when I comment out the system.web.mail.smtpserver line

Its curious because the server is showing that my ip address is connecting but I get that error and the server shows that its closing the connection.

Now I have set up a server running windows server 2000 and set up the virtual smtp server. I specified the server in my code as the ip address of the server. I am getting the same exceptions. Whats the deal?

I met the same problem this morning.

In my case, my boss changed the Smtp server in my machine but I didn't realize it. After I changed to the correct SmtpServer. My code works AGAIN!

MailMessage objEmail = new MailMessage();
// Make sure you have appropriate replying permissions from your local system
SmtpMail.SmtpServer = "REAL SMTPSERVER"

If you can send email using Outlook, you can find your SmtpServer at tools->Email Accounts -> Outbox server.

Hope you don't make the same mistake.