Error when processing orders-email related?

[HopeD]

We've had an issue with order processing lately. When customer's submit an order it does the "loading" image for 1-10 minutes. There's about a 50/50 percent chance of their card being charged, they don't get a confirmation regardless. I spoke with my web host, who said that it appeared to be an email issue. We were using VirtueMart 2.5, they said the outdated version was probably the issue. They said our email settings looked fine. We have since upgraded to VirtueMart 3.2.4. Unfortunately, the error is still happening.

Here's the text using Joomla Debug Console:

The following from address failed: info@****************.com
Call stack
#   Function   Location
1   JSite->dispatch()   JROOT/index.php:42
2   JComponentHelper::renderComponent()   JROOT/includes/application.php:194
3   JComponentHelper::executeComponent()   JROOT/libraries/joomla/application/component/helper.php:348
4   require_once()   JROOT/libraries/joomla/application/component/helper.php:380
5   JController->execute()   JROOT/components/com_virtuemart/virtuemart.php:116
6   VirtueMartControllerCart->confirm()   JROOT/libraries/joomla/application/component/controller.php:761
7   VirtueMartCart->confirmDone()   JROOT/components/com_virtuemart/controllers/cart.php:583
8   VirtueMartCart->confirmedOrder()   JROOT/components/com_virtuemart/helpers/cart.php:864
9   JDispatcher->trigger()   JROOT/components/com_virtuemart/helpers/cart.php:1183
10   JEvent->update()   JROOT/libraries/joomla/event/dispatcher.php:161
11   call_user_func_array()   JROOT/libraries/joomla/event/event.php:71
12   plgVmpaymentegrfirstdatae4->plgVmConfirmedOrder()   
13   VirtueMartModelOrders->updateStatusForOneOrder() JROOT/plugins/vmpayment/egrfirstdatae4/egrfirstdatae4.php:510
14   VirtueMartModelOrders->notifyCustomer() JROOT/administrator/components/com_virtuemart/models/orders.php:693
15   shopFunctionsF::renderMail()   JROOT/administrator/components/com_virtuemart/models/orders.php:1637
16   shopFunctionsF::sendVmMail()   JROOT/components/com_virtuemart/helpers/shopfunctionsf.php:252
17   JMail->Send()   JROOT/components/com_virtuemart/helpers/shopfunctionsf.php:418
18   JError::raiseNotice()   JROOT/libraries/joomla/mail/mail.php:86
19   JError::raise()   JROOT/libraries/joomla/error/error.php:300
JDatabaseMySQLi::query: 2006 - MySQL server has gone away SQL=SELECT * FROM `ato_virtuemart_invoices` WHERE `virtuemart_order_id`= "545"
Call stack
#   Function   Location
1   JSite->dispatch()   JROOT/index.php:42
2   JComponentHelper::renderComponent()   JROOT/includes/application.php:194
3   JComponentHelper::executeComponent()   JROOT/libraries/joomla/application/component/helper.php:348
4   require_once()   JROOT/libraries/joomla/application/component/helper.php:380
5   JController->execute()   JROOT/components/com_virtuemart/virtuemart.php:116
6   VirtueMartControllerCart->confirm()   JROOT/libraries/joomla/application/component/controller.php:761
7   VirtueMartCart->confirmDone()   JROOT/components/com_virtuemart/controllers/cart.php:583
8   VirtueMartCart->confirmedOrder()   JROOT/components/com_virtuemart/helpers/cart.php:864
9   JDispatcher->trigger()   JROOT/components/com_virtuemart/helpers/cart.php:1183
10   JEvent->update()   JROOT/libraries/joomla/event/dispatcher.php:161
11   call_user_func_array()   JROOT/libraries/joomla/event/event.php:71
12   plgVmpaymentegrfirstdatae4->plgVmConfirmedOrder()   
13   VirtueMartModelOrders->updateStatusForOneOrder() JROOT/plugins/vmpayment/egrfirstdatae4/egrfirstdatae4.php:510
14   VirtueMartModelOrders->notifyCustomer() JROOT/administrator/components/com_virtuemart/models/orders.php:693
15   shopFunctionsF::renderMail()   JROOT/administrator/components/com_virtuemart/models/orders.php:1637
16   shopFunctionsF::sendVmMail()   JROOT/components/com_virtuemart/helpers/shopfunctionsf.php:269
17   VirtuemartViewInvoice->renderMailLayout()   JROOT/components/com_virtuemart/helpers/shopfunctionsf.php:371
18   VirtuemartViewInvoice->display()   JROOT/components/com_virtuemart/views/invoice/view.html.php:296
19   VirtueMartModelOrders->createInvoiceNumber() JROOT/components/com_virtuemart/views/invoice/view.html.php:123
20   JDatabase->loadAssoc()   JROOT/administrator/components/com_virtuemart/models/orders.php:1491
21   JDatabaseMySQLi->execute()   JROOT/libraries/joomla/database/database.php:909
22   JError::raiseError()   JROOT/libraries/joomla/database/database/mysqli.php:396
23   JError::raise()   JROOT/libraries/joomla/error/error.php:251

[Studio 42]

Do not use SMTP, check with your server hoster how to use php mail or sendmail, this should solve your issue.
See for eg. https://www.cloudaccess.net/joomla-knowledgebase/107-joomla-3-1/global-configuration/553-e-mail-configuration-joomla-3-0.html
If you have this message time to time, it's certainly a server error not Joomla

[HopeD]

This fixed my issue-thank you SO much. You've totally made my day.