E-mail doesn't get sent (still)

I have a fairly typical cable-modem setup -- I have a Linux box
(RH7.2) attached to a "cable/dsl router" attached to a cable modem,
attached to a cable internet provider which blocks all connections to
port 25 except those to port 25 on their own SMTP server.

I'd like to send mail using traditional text-based clients using
sendmail. My problem is, I can't get sendmail to work correctly. I'm
trying to use the "smarthost" configuration to route all outbound mail
through my cable ISP's SMTP server (smtp.east.cox.net), but for some
reason, no matter how I configure it, sendmail tries to send through a
host I have never heard of (XXX.homeip.net) which is apparently a
dynamic DNS user in Japan. I have no connection with this host, never
heard of him/her/it, and have no desire to route mail that way -- and
I can't for the life of me figure out where sendmail heard of it,
either.

I *DO* use the homeip.net dynamic dns service, but I use it for
inbound ssh only, and sendmail doesn't know about it. I don't really
care how sendmail masquerades, but I have a personal domain I could
use, or I could use my own dynamic domain YYY.homeip.net), but I don't
care as long as it works.

Any ideas? I have appended my sendmail.mc file and a few lines from
maillog below.

All help greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

--Robert



# cat /etc/mail/sendmail.mc
divert(-1)
dnl This is the sendmail macro config file. If you make changes to
this file,
dnl you need the sendmail-cf rpm installed and then have to generate a
dnl new /etc/sendmail.cf by running the following command:
dnl
dnl m4 /etc/mail/sendmail.mc > /etc/sendmail.cf
dnl
include(`/usr/share/sendmail-cf/m4/cf.m4')dnl
define(`SMART_HOST', `smtp.east.cox.net')dnl
OSTYPE(`linux')dnl
MAILER(smtp)dnl
MASQUERADE_AS(YYY.homeip.net)dnl [Also tried using MYDOMAIN.org]
FEATURE(`allmasquerade')dnl
FEATURE(`masquerade_envelope')dnl



# tail -2 /var/log/maillog [blank lines separate, sorry for the
auto-wrap]

Sep 25 17:56:20 melody sendmail[2610]: h8PLgJG01984:
to=(E-Mail Removed), ctladdr=rbook (500/500), delay=00:14:01,
xdelay=00:03:09, mailer=relay, pri=210094, relay=XXX.homeip.net.
[211.13.115.55], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with
XXX.homeip.net.

Sep 25 17:56:20 melody sendmail[2610]: h8PLiYm02161:
to=(E-Mail Removed), ctladdr=rbook (500/500), delay=00:11:46,
xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=relay, pri=210111, relay=XXX.homeip.net.,
dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with XXX.homeip.net.

"Robert Book" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) m

> I'd like to send mail using traditional text-based clients using
> sendmail. My problem is, I can't get sendmail to work correctly. I'm
> trying to use the "smarthost" configuration to route all outbound mail
> through my cable ISP's SMTP server (smtp.east.cox.net), but for some
> reason, no matter how I configure it, sendmail tries to send through a
> host I have never heard of (XXX.homeip.net) which is apparently a
> dynamic DNS user in Japan. I have no connection with this host, never
> heard of him/her/it, and have no desire to route mail that way -- and
> I can't for the life of me figure out where sendmail heard of it,
> either.
>
> I *DO* use the homeip.net dynamic dns service, but I use it for
> inbound ssh only, and sendmail doesn't know about it. I don't really
> care how sendmail masquerades, but I have a personal domain I could
> use, or I could use my own dynamic domain YYY.homeip.net), but I don't
> care as long as it works.
>
> Any ideas? I have appended my sendmail.mc file and a few lines from
> maillog below.
[...]
> include(`/usr/share/sendmail-cf/m4/cf.m4')dnl
> define(`SMART_HOST', `smtp.east.cox.net')dnl
> OSTYPE(`linux')dnl
> MAILER(smtp)dnl
> MASQUERADE_AS(YYY.homeip.net)dnl [Also tried using MYDOMAIN.org]
> FEATURE(`allmasquerade')dnl
> FEATURE(`masquerade_envelope')dnl

The MAILER() statement(s) *must* be at the end of the .mc file, but before
any LOCAL_CONFIG and LOCAL_RULESETS. Your .mc file above is in error, and
is probably the cause of your problems.

You'll want to MASQUERADE_AS( MYDOMAIN.org ) so that all address fields
reflect your return information, otherwise return mail will go to
(E-Mail Removed).

What is the result of:

nslookup -sil smtp.east.cox.net

If it's

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: smtp.east.cox.net
Address: 68.1.17.4

then the DNS is successful at least.


tony

--
use hotmail com for any email replies



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On 25 Sep 2003 15:13:55 -0700, Robert Book <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>

Sendmail is a nightmare. I use ssmtp, which is a tiny 'sendmail-emulator'
and works perfectly. Has an equally tiny configuration file.

You're up 24-7? Then no problem. If not, I have a script that will allow
you to queue mail for posting without sendmail, and with ssmtp, which
doesn't have that functionaliity.

Ssmtp is pretty verstatile. If I want to send a mail without my mail client, I
can just make a file like so:

To: (E-Mail Removed)
From: Joe Blow <(E-Mail Removed)>
Subject: foo

jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Joe


and send it with cat filename | /usr/sbin/ssmtp -t

(If only I could figure out a way to get system mail from cron and such!)

--
Later, Alan C
take control of your mailbox ----- elrav1 ----- http://tinyurl.com/l55a
spammers hate this program because they can't beat it

"Alan Connor" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:nGKcb.3327$(E-Mail Removed) k.net...
> On 25 Sep 2003 15:13:55 -0700, Robert Book <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >
>
> Sendmail is a nightmare.

And then I had my twelth birthday.



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.521 / Virus Database: 319 - Release Date: 23/09/2003

"Robert Book" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) m...
> I have a fairly typical cable-modem setup -- I have a Linux box
> (RH7.2) attached to a "cable/dsl router" attached to a cable modem,
> attached to a cable internet provider which blocks all connections to
> port 25 except those to port 25 on their own SMTP server.
>
> I'd like to send mail using traditional text-based clients using
> sendmail. My problem is, I can't get sendmail to work correctly. I'm
> trying to use the "smarthost" configuration to route all outbound mail
> through my cable ISP's SMTP server (smtp.east.cox.net), but for some
> reason, no matter how I configure it, sendmail tries to send through a
> host I have never heard of (XXX.homeip.net) which is apparently a
> dynamic DNS user in Japan. I have no connection with this host, never
> heard of him/her/it, and have no desire to route mail that way -- and
> I can't for the life of me figure out where sendmail heard of it,
> either.
>
> I *DO* use the homeip.net dynamic dns service, but I use it for
> inbound ssh only, and sendmail doesn't know about it. I don't really
> care how sendmail masquerades, but I have a personal domain I could
> use, or I could use my own dynamic domain YYY.homeip.net), but I don't
> care as long as it works.
>
> Any ideas? I have appended my sendmail.mc file and a few lines from
> maillog below.
>
> All help greatly appreciated!
>
> Thanks,
>
> --Robert
>
>
>
> # cat /etc/mail/sendmail.mc
> divert(-1)
> dnl This is the sendmail macro config file. If you make changes to
> this file,
> dnl you need the sendmail-cf rpm installed and then have to generate a
> dnl new /etc/sendmail.cf by running the following command:
> dnl
> dnl m4 /etc/mail/sendmail.mc > /etc/sendmail.cf
> dnl
> include(`/usr/share/sendmail-cf/m4/cf.m4')dnl
> define(`SMART_HOST', `smtp.east.cox.net')dnl
> OSTYPE(`linux')dnl
> MAILER(smtp)dnl
> MASQUERADE_AS(YYY.homeip.net)dnl [Also tried using MYDOMAIN.org]
> FEATURE(`allmasquerade')dnl
> FEATURE(`masquerade_envelope')dnl


Turn off the masquerading. it will only cause you trouble.
Its archaic - masquearding is for when you have N machines AND you have
people using shells on them AND they send mail from the SHELL and their mail
programmes arent bright enough to get the email address right. A very of
archaic situation!

I think the problem was occuring because the masquerading rule told it that
there was a server for homeip.net and it did an mx lookup to get the server
and so it got XXX.homeip.net as the server to send stuff to.


All you have to do is use the standard cf file and go in and edit the
smarthost entry.
You dont need to build the cf from an mc file to add the smarthost.




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.521 / Virus Database: 319 - Release Date: 23/09/2003

On Mon, 29 Sep 2003 15:08:54 +1000, Leon The Peon <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>
>
> "Alan Connor" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:nGKcb.3327$(E-Mail Removed) k.net...
>> On 25 Sep 2003 15:13:55 -0700, Robert Book <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> >
>>
>> Sendmail is a nightmare.
>
> And then I had my twelth birthday.
>
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.521 / Virus Database: 319 - Release Date: 23/09/2003
>
>

The world is fool of fools who take the hard way and look down on people
who are having a good time and accomplishing the same thing they are.

Those aren't jokes they are laughing at, it is YOU.

--
Later, Alan C
You can find my email address at the website:
elrav1.html --> ACKNOWLDEGEMENTS/CONTACT (20k or less, plain text)
take control of your mailbox ----- elrav1 ----- http://tinyurl.com/l55a

On Mon, 29 Sep 2003 16:09:19 GMT, Alan Connor <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>
> The world is fool of fools who take the hard way and look down on people
> who are having a good time and accomplishing the same thing they are.
>
> Those aren't jokes they are laughing at, it is YOU.
>

Gee, if a huge number of people didn't think sendmail was an overly-complex
DRAG, good only for keeping old sysadmins in work, then why have so many
substitutes for it been created and are currently more popular than the
original?

--
Later, Alan C
You can find my email address at the website:
elrav1.html --> ACKNOWLDEGEMENTS/CONTACT (20k or less, plain text)
take control of your mailbox ----- elrav1 ----- http://tinyurl.com/l55a

ynotssor wrote:
>
> "Robert Book" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed) m
>
> > I'd like to send mail using traditional text-based clients using
> > sendmail. My problem is, I can't get sendmail to work correctly. I'm
> > trying to use the "smarthost" configuration to route all outbound mail
> > through my cable ISP's SMTP server (smtp.east.cox.net), but for some
> > reason, no matter how I configure it, sendmail tries to send through a
> > host I have never heard of (XXX.homeip.net) which is apparently a
> > dynamic DNS user in Japan. I have no connection with this host, never
> > heard of him/her/it, and have no desire to route mail that way -- and
> > I can't for the life of me figure out where sendmail heard of it,
> > either.
> >
> > I *DO* use the homeip.net dynamic dns service, but I use it for
> > inbound ssh only, and sendmail doesn't know about it. I don't really
> > care how sendmail masquerades, but I have a personal domain I could
> > use, or I could use my own dynamic domain YYY.homeip.net), but I don't
> > care as long as it works.
> >
> > Any ideas? I have appended my sendmail.mc file and a few lines from
> > maillog below.
> [...]
> > include(`/usr/share/sendmail-cf/m4/cf.m4')dnl
> > define(`SMART_HOST', `smtp.east.cox.net')dnl
> > OSTYPE(`linux')dnl
> > MAILER(smtp)dnl
> > MASQUERADE_AS(YYY.homeip.net)dnl [Also tried using MYDOMAIN.org]
> > FEATURE(`allmasquerade')dnl
> > FEATURE(`masquerade_envelope')dnl
>
> The MAILER() statement(s) *must* be at the end of the .mc file, but before
> any LOCAL_CONFIG and LOCAL_RULESETS. Your .mc file above is in error, and
> is probably the cause of your problems.

OK, I moved it to the end.


> You'll want to MASQUERADE_AS( MYDOMAIN.org ) so that all address fields
> reflect your return information, otherwise return mail will go to
> (E-Mail Removed).

Changed that, too.

Same (lack of) results as before!


> What is the result of:
>
> nslookup -sil smtp.east.cox.net

nslookup: Unknown option -sil

However, using nslookup in interactive mode produces a result that looks
right.

I probably should have mentioned this before, but "telnet
smtp.east.cox.net 25" works fine ... but that's not the way I prefer to
send mail. ;-)

I also tried going back to the original sendmail.cf file and just adding
a smarthost entry and (when that didn't work) a masquerade entry.

I then tried changing the hostname FQDN on my local machine to
mydomain.org instead of homeip.net, and instead of trying to connect to
net.ehomeip.net tried to connect to the MX server for mydomain.org.
Since my cable ISP blocks all port-25 access except to its own smtp
server, that hangs just as badly as the other one.

It seems that for some reason sendmail is looking at it's own domain
name, then looking up the MX host for that domain, and trying to send
there. Now I'd understand if it were looking up the MX host for the
RECIPIENT's domain, but it isn't doing that. It's just being weird.

Thanks very much for looking at this. Any more ideas?


--Robert

"Robert A. Book" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)

> It seems that for some reason sendmail is looking at it's own domain
> name, then looking up the MX host for that domain, and trying to send
> there. Now I'd understand if it were looking up the MX host for the
> RECIPIENT's domain, but it isn't doing that. It's just being weird.
>
> Thanks very much for looking at this. Any more ideas?

sendmail doesn't have a domain name. sendmail is just a program to transport
mail according to your configuration.

Please post your sendmail.mc file (NOT sendmail.cf) so that the
configuration directives can be examined. X out any private information if
you like, but dont delete anything except for lines _starting_ with "dnl".

--
use hotmail com for any email replies



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-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----

ynotssor wrote:
>
> "Robert A. Book" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)
>
> > It seems that for some reason sendmail is looking at it's own domain
> > name, then looking up the MX host for that domain, and trying to send
> > there. Now I'd understand if it were looking up the MX host for the
> > RECIPIENT's domain, but it isn't doing that. It's just being weird.
> >
> > Thanks very much for looking at this. Any more ideas?
>
> sendmail doesn't have a domain name. sendmail is just a program to transport
> mail according to your configuration.

Right -- I meant "sendmail is looking at the domain of the computer it's
running on."

Sorry for the sloppy verbiage.



> Please post your sendmail.mc file (NOT sendmail.cf) so that the
> configuration directives can be examined. X out any private information if
> you like, but dont delete anything except for lines _starting_ with "dnl".


sendmail.mc is below.

Thanks again!

--Robert



divert(-1)
dnl This is the sendmail macro config file. If you make changes to this
file,
dnl you need the sendmail-cf rpm installed and then have to generate a
dnl new /etc/sendmail.cf by running the following command:
dnl
dnl m4 /etc/mail/sendmail.mc > /etc/sendmail.cf
dnl
include(`/usr/share/sendmail-cf/m4/cf.m4')dnl
define(`SMART_HOST', `smtp.east.cox.net')dnl
OSTYPE(`linux')dnl
MASQUERADE_AS( MYDOMAIN.org )dnl
FEATURE(`allmasquerade')dnl
FEATURE(`masquerade_envelope')dnl
MAILER(smtp)dnl