Topic: Callout for SMTP delivery breaks catch-all for e-mails

[Beast]

Hi All

Have resently moved a server to a new ISP. To my surprise my catch-all of e-mails (E-mail to unknown users) was not working any more!

After some investigation I have found out that the ISP have implemented a procedure called "callout" where they check if a RCPT (To address) in an e-mail is valid on the target server before actually making the delivery.

This means that any e-mail to unknown users is never delivered but returned to the sender with an error message.

You can see a description here:

http://www.postfix.org/ADDRESS_VERIFICATION_README.html

Is there an easy way to make the server accept all unknown addresses - this may also be a valid change to future releases of the server software (make "E-mail to unknown users" work again with this type of check).

Regards
Beast

[raem]

Beast

> Is there an easy way to make the server accept all > unknown addresses


I know you said you have a catch-all, but why do you want to do that ?
 
People have spent considerable effort to get sme to reject email to unknown (invalid) addresses.

[CharlieBrady]

Is there an easy way to make the server accept all unknown addresses ...

By default that's what the server does, for versions < 7.0beta. Have you added a contrib to change that behaviour?

Have you asked your ISP to stop the callback for your domain?

[Beast]

I know you said you have a catch-all, but why do you want to do that ?
 
People have spent considerable effort to get sme to reject email to unknown (invalid) addresses.

There is an option in the Server-manager panel under e-mail that states "E-mail to unknown users". This is the build-in catch-all feature of the server!

I use this because when I deliver an e-mail address on the web I invent a new one that describe the site where I use it. If I lather on get spam I can very easy detect where it came from and it is also very easy for me to disable this specific "unknown" e-mail address with the "e-mail blocking" contrib panel.

Have not tried this with any of the beta releases. Use 6.01-01 on this server.

Because of the callout check this does not work anymore - I like to make it work again !!

[raem]

Beast

> ..when I deliver an e-mail address on the web I
> invent a new one that describe the site

So just create that address in sme server as a pseudonym and forward it to admin or yourself.

> ...it is also very easy for me to disable this
> specific "unknown" e-mail address with the "e-mail > blocking" contrib panel.

Just delete the pseudonym.


> Because of the callout check this does not work
> anymore - I like to make it work again

The problem is NOT with sme server, it's a combination of how you are using the system and your ISP.
As Charlie has suggested, you need to get your ISP to stop doing that check or use my suggestion above.

[Beast]

> ..when I deliver an e-mail address on the web I
> invent a new one that describe the site

So just create that address in sme server as a pseudonym and forward it to yourself.

> ...it is also very easy for me to disable this
> specific "unknown" e-mail address with the "e-mail > blocking" contrib panel.

Just delete the pseudonym.

Know this is possible - but it takes time! Time is not what I have most of

Also think about the number of times you have to give away an e-maill address!

> Because of the callout check this does not work
> anymore - I like to make it work again

The problem is NOT with sme server, it's a combination of how you are using the system and your ISP.
As Charlie has suggested, you need to get your ISP to stop doing that check or use my suggestion above.

I do think it is a problem with the sme server, but also a special combination of problems that cause this!

I have tried to get the ISP to change this behavior with no luck yet - I am just a very small fish in this respect!

If this is situation you can meet out there then I think SME need to handle it. I have seen it at least!
It is for sure that the feature in the server-manager panel does not work as intended when you have this callout implemented from the ISP side.

[raem]

Beast

> It is for sure that the feature in the server-
> manager panel does not work as intended when you
> have this callout implemented from the ISP side.

Are you kidding me !
How can the sme server deliver a message when it NEVER gets that message in the first place ?

If your ISP lets those messages get delivered to sme server them it will behave as designed.

I suggest you change ISP's.

I do give out email addresses and I do create additional addresses when necessary, so my suggested method will work.

[Beast]

Are you kidding me !
How can the sme server deliver a message when it NEVER gets that message in the first place ?

What I suggest is just to let the SME server accept the callout (test for valid e-mail address) when the server that shall deliver the message test the address on the SME server (only when "E-mail to unknown users" is active)

In this way it will recieve the message!

[raem]

Beast

> What I suggest is just to let the SME server accept the callout (test for valid e-mail address)...


Then that is a New Feature Request (NFR).
You best post that to the bug tracker, but I doubt it is something that anyone will do anything about.

[CharlieBrady]

Beast

> What I suggest is just to let the SME server accept the callout (test for valid e-mail address)...


Then that is a New Feature Request (NFR).
You best post that to the bug tracker, but I doubt it is something that anyone will do anything about.

Accepting all mail is a *standard* feature of SME 6.0.

OP should have his ISP disable the callout for his domain. Or he needs to investigate exactly what the callout is doing - what appears in /var/log/smtpfront-qmail/current when the callout test takes place?

[raem]

Hi Charlie

It must be way past your bedtime by now !
Is it too cold to sleep !

Regards from Sydney

[CharlieBrady]

Hi Charlie

Hi Ray.

It must be way past your bedtime by now !
Is it too cold to sleep !

Sunny and warm here, in Bendigo, where I'm visiting the in-laws.

Sunny too, with a nice blanket of fresh snow back in Ottawa, I'm told.