smtp problems

Hi,

I am running a Redhat 9.0 system.

When i try sending a message (thru my smtp server) using Mozzilla Mail
, i get the following message

=>

Sending of message failed. Unable to connect to smtp server .The
server may be down or incorrectly configured.Please verify that your
mail/news settings are correct and try again.


In sendmail.mc , i had made the following changes before creating
sendmail.cf using m4 processor,

commented out the following

dnl DAEMON_OPTIONS('Port=smtp, Addr=127.0.0.1,Name= MTA')dnl

Replaced LOCAL_DOMAIN('localhost.localdomain') with
LOCAL_DOMAIN('polychip.net')

Uncommented FEATURE(relay_based_on_MX)

Also the following is specified
MAILER(procmail)dnl

i can telnet to smtp port from the same machine..but when i telnet
from some other machine it just hangs..

Also,


I can ping or browse certain sites like www.google.com

but if i ping www.hotmail.com, i get the following line

PING www.hotmail.com(207.168.172.239) 56(84) bytes of data

Then it just hangs..

I was wondering if there is any correlation between the these above
two.


Can any one help me out,
thanks..
ann

On Thu, 18 Dec 2003 14:44:42 -0800, Ann wrote:

snip

>
> I can ping or browse certain sites like www.google.com
>
> but if i ping www.hotmail.com, i get the following line
>
> PING www.hotmail.com(207.168.172.239) 56(84) bytes of data
>
> Then it just hangs..
>

All Microsoft's servers are configured to "blackhole" pings.
(i.e. they do not respond at all)

Regards
Gordon

On Thu, 18 Dec 2003 14:44:42 -0800, Ann thoughtfully wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I am running a Redhat 9.0 system.
>
> When i try sending a message (thru my smtp server) using Mozzilla Mail , i
> get the following message
>
> =>
>
> Sending of message failed. Unable to connect to smtp server .The server
> may be down or incorrectly configured.Please verify that your mail/news
> settings are correct and try again.
>
>
> In sendmail.mc , i had made the following changes before creating
> sendmail.cf using m4 processor,
>
> commented out the following
>
> dnl DAEMON_OPTIONS('Port=smtp, Addr=127.0.0.1,Name= MTA')dnl
>
> Replaced LOCAL_DOMAIN('localhost.localdomain') with
> LOCAL_DOMAIN('polychip.net')
>
> Uncommented FEATURE(relay_based_on_MX)
>
> Also the following is specified
> MAILER(procmail)dnl
>
> i can telnet to smtp port from the same machine..but when i telnet from
> some other machine it just hangs..
>
> Also,
>
>
> I can ping or browse certain sites like www.google.com
>
> but if i ping www.hotmail.com, i get the following line
>
> PING www.hotmail.com(207.168.172.239) 56(84) bytes of data
>
> Then it just hangs..
>
> I was wondering if there is any correlation between the these above two.
>
>
> Can any one help me out,
> thanks..
> ann

Multiple sites die? Try traceroute to www.hotmail.com, www.yahoo.com or
www.dispatch.com if it dies sounds like a mtu size issue but I'm not sure.

test with ifconfig eth0 down, ifconfig eth0 192.168.0.2 mtu 1454,
ifconfig eth0 up, ping www.hotmal.com -n 25

Test increments of 8 if you must from mtu 1500 to mtu 576 until you get
all pings. When my mtu size is off I can't hit www.dispatch.com.

Ann wrote:
> i can telnet to smtp port from the same machine..but when i telnet
> from some other machine it just hangs..

Check that sendmail is actually listening on the appropriate interfaces
(e.g. has the .cf file been built from the .mc file and was sendmail
restarted?):
netstat -a | grep smtp

Also, what is the firewall setup:
iptables -L


> I was wondering if there is any correlation between the these above
> two.

Unlikely.

Paul

On 18 Dec 2003 14:44:42 -0800, Ann wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I am running a Redhat 9.0 system.
>
> When i try sending a message (thru my smtp server) using Mozzilla Mail
> , i get the following message
>
> =>
>
> Sending of message failed. Unable to connect to smtp server .The
> server may be down or incorrectly configured.Please verify that your
> mail/news settings are correct and try again.
>
>
> In sendmail.mc , i had made the following changes before creating
> sendmail.cf using m4 processor,
>
> commented out the following
>
> dnl DAEMON_OPTIONS('Port=smtp, Addr=127.0.0.1,Name= MTA')dnl
>
> Replaced LOCAL_DOMAIN('localhost.localdomain') with
> LOCAL_DOMAIN('polychip.net')
>
> Uncommented FEATURE(relay_based_on_MX)
>
> Also the following is specified
> MAILER(procmail)dnl
>
> i can telnet to smtp port from the same machine..but when i telnet
> from some other machine it just hangs..
I assume you are running Mozilla on the other machine?
Is the firewall running? Could be blocking incoming smtp
iptables -L

On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 13:45:10 +0000, John Armstrong thoughtfully wrote:

> On 18 Dec 2003 14:44:42 -0800, Ann wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I am running a Redhat 9.0 system.
>>
>> When i try sending a message (thru my smtp server) using Mozzilla Mail ,
>> i get the following message
>>
>> =>
>>
>> Sending of message failed. Unable to connect to smtp server .The server
>> may be down or incorrectly configured.Please verify that your mail/news
>> settings are correct and try again.
>>
>>
>> In sendmail.mc , i had made the following changes before creating
>> sendmail.cf using m4 processor,
>>
>> commented out the following
>>
>> dnl DAEMON_OPTIONS('Port=smtp, Addr=127.0.0.1,Name= MTA')dnl
>>
>> Replaced LOCAL_DOMAIN('localhost.localdomain') with
>> LOCAL_DOMAIN('polychip.net')
>>
>> Uncommented FEATURE(relay_based_on_MX)
>>
>> Also the following is specified
>> MAILER(procmail)dnl
>>
>> i can telnet to smtp port from the same machine..but when i telnet from
>> some other machine it just hangs..
> I assume you are running Mozilla on the other machine? Is the firewall
> running? Could be blocking incoming smtp iptables -L

Maybe the OP made too many changes? OP should try original settings for
LOCAL_DOMAIN and FEATURE(relay-based_on_MX)
Mozilla server should be pointed to smtp server name (server.polychip.net?)
Maybe use the MASQUERADE options to send mail out as (E-Mail Removed)?

hey every one,

Thanks for the reply...Yeah i had tried every thing that was suggested
woith out any luck...

but i came across smthg helpful..i did the following 2 steps to fix
the problem:

1) edited /etc/sysconfig/network

HOSTNAME = myserver.com (instead of localhost.localdomain)

2)edited /etc/hosts

127.0.0.1 myserver.com myserver

And now it's working..


I have one more problem tho' on checking my domain on
www.dnsreport.com, I came across the following

WARNING: Acceptance of domain literals
WARN: One or more of your mailservers does not accept mail in the
domain literal format (user@[0.0.0.0]). Mailservers are technically
required RFC1123 5.2.17 to accept mail to domain literals for any of
its IP addresses. Not accepting domain literals can make it more
difficult to test your mailserver, and can prevent you from receiving
E-mail from people reporting problems with your mailserver. However,
it is unlikely that any problems will occur if the domain literals are
not accepted.

www.myserver.com postmaster@[68.88.110.209] response:
>>> RCPT TO: <postmaster@[68.88.110.209]>
<<< 550 5.7.1 ... Relaying denied

I could not find a solution for this..Any one , please?

Thanks,
Ann










Noi <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<(E-Mail Removed)>...
> On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 13:45:10 +0000, John Armstrong thoughtfully wrote:
>
> > On 18 Dec 2003 14:44:42 -0800, Ann wrote:
> >
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> I am running a Redhat 9.0 system.
> >>
> >> When i try sending a message (thru my smtp server) using Mozzilla Mail ,
> >> i get the following message
> >>
> >> =>
> >>
> >> Sending of message failed. Unable to connect to smtp server .The server
> >> may be down or incorrectly configured.Please verify that your mail/news
> >> settings are correct and try again.
> >>
> >>
> >> In sendmail.mc , i had made the following changes before creating
> >> sendmail.cf using m4 processor,
> >>
> >> commented out the following
> >>
> >> dnl DAEMON_OPTIONS('Port=smtp, Addr=127.0.0.1,Name= MTA')dnl
> >>
> >> Replaced LOCAL_DOMAIN('localhost.localdomain') with
> >> LOCAL_DOMAIN('polychip.net')
> >>
> >> Uncommented FEATURE(relay_based_on_MX)
> >>
> >> Also the following is specified
> >> MAILER(procmail)dnl
> >>
> >> i can telnet to smtp port from the same machine..but when i telnet from
> >> some other machine it just hangs..
> > I assume you are running Mozilla on the other machine? Is the firewall
> > running? Could be blocking incoming smtp iptables -L
>
> Maybe the OP made too many changes? OP should try original settings for
> LOCAL_DOMAIN and FEATURE(relay-based_on_MX)
> Mozilla server should be pointed to smtp server name (server.polychip.net?)
> Maybe use the MASQUERADE options to send mail out as (E-Mail Removed)?

On 22 Dec 2003 14:42:45 -0800, Ann <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>

If you'll bottompost and trim your posts, there will be a lot more people
that will help you.

AC

Sure Alan..Sorry abt that...Ann

(E-Mail Removed) (Ann) wrote in message news:<(E-Mail Removed). com>...
....

> I have one more problem tho' on checking my domain on
> www.dnsreport.com, I came across the following
>
> WARNING: Acceptance of domain literals
> WARN: One or more of your mailservers does not accept mail in the
> domain literal format (user@[0.0.0.0]). Mailservers are technically
> required RFC1123 5.2.17 to accept mail to domain literals for any of
> its IP addresses. Not accepting domain literals can make it more
> difficult to test your mailserver, and can prevent you from receiving
> E-mail from people reporting problems with your mailserver. However,
> it is unlikely that any problems will occur if the domain literals are
> not accepted.

Screw the RFCs. RFC whatever were designed when there were less spams
on the net. Spammers like to use mail relays without domains. Force
them to have
domains and you will get less spams. Another good RFC violation is to
enforce HELO/EHLO verify (cut down 30% of my spams). Block all mail
servers from Cable/DSL without domains and you will cut out 80% of
spams.


>
> www.myserver.com postmaster@[68.88.110.209] response:
> >>> RCPT TO: <postmaster@[68.88.110.209]>
> <<< 550 5.7.1 ... Relaying denied
>
> I could not find a solution for this..Any one , please?
>
> Thanks,
> Ann
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Noi <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<(E-Mail Removed)>...
> > On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 13:45:10 +0000, John Armstrong thoughtfully wrote:
> >
> > > On 18 Dec 2003 14:44:42 -0800, Ann wrote:
> > >
> > >> Hi,
> > >>
> > >> I am running a Redhat 9.0 system.
> > >>
> > >> When i try sending a message (thru my smtp server) using Mozzilla Mail ,
> > >> i get the following message
> > >>
> > >> =>
> > >>
> > >> Sending of message failed. Unable to connect to smtp server .The server
> > >> may be down or incorrectly configured.Please verify that your mail/news
> > >> settings are correct and try again.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> In sendmail.mc , i had made the following changes before creating
> > >> sendmail.cf using m4 processor,
> > >>
> > >> commented out the following
> > >>
> > >> dnl DAEMON_OPTIONS('Port=smtp, Addr=127.0.0.1,Name= MTA')dnl
> > >>
> > >> Replaced LOCAL_DOMAIN('localhost.localdomain') with
> > >> LOCAL_DOMAIN('polychip.net')
> > >>
> > >> Uncommented FEATURE(relay_based_on_MX)
> > >>
> > >> Also the following is specified
> > >> MAILER(procmail)dnl
> > >>
> > >> i can telnet to smtp port from the same machine..but when i telnet from
> > >> some other machine it just hangs..
> > > I assume you are running Mozilla on the other machine? Is the firewall
> > > running? Could be blocking incoming smtp iptables -L
> >
> > Maybe the OP made too many changes? OP should try original settings for
> > LOCAL_DOMAIN and FEATURE(relay-based_on_MX)
> > Mozilla server should be pointed to smtp server name (server.polychip.net?)
> > Maybe use the MASQUERADE options to send mail out as (E-Mail Removed)?