Topic: I don't receive e-mails

[mien]

I just installed and configured SME server. I get the following problem:

I can send e-mails (from webmail, I only tested webmail), but I don't receive e-mails that where send from outside. The e-mails just don't appear in the INBOX (and I get no failure message back to the mail account from witch I am sending). I tried to send from the SME-Server to itself and it works fine! The Web server work fine as well!

Any idea of what is wrong?

My configuration is:

Server-only mode (Behind router/firewall ZyXEL Prestige 334, with all ports rediriged to the SME-Server).

E-mail retrieval mode   Standard (SMTP)
E-mail to unknown users   Return to sender
Public POP3 server access   Disabled
Public IMAP server access   Disabled
SMTP Authentication   Disabled
Enable/Disable Webmail   Enabled (secure HTTPS access only - recommended)

Thanks for help.

[beakersloco]

What dns service are you using. .... because the server can send email out all day long but is the mail server at hotmail does not have your external ip of your sme server then the mail that gets sent to your sme server will never reach it.


My setup
Im using sme server as my firewall and gateway sitting right behind a bridged dsl modem on a dynamic connection. When my ip changes and it updates dyndns with my new ip address.  I had a similar issue when I was first learning how to use sme server


Your problem is more then likely that you need to set up a dyndns account and find a client to run on your windows machine that will contact dyndns at specific intervals and that is how it gets your new ip when it changes.

For simplicity I would recommend putting the server right behind your modem and then bridge your modem and then run the pppoe on your sme server. This way is simpler IMHO and when your ip changes the dns info populates quicker then using a windows client. A friend of mine was using a sme server behind a router and running a windows client to update his dyndns info and it at times took 10 -30 mins to update.

[mien]

Thanks for your help.

>What dns service are you using.
I use a quite "normal" dns service. I have a permanent IP-Number, and permanent connection (I don't use PPPoE). I have an account at the Danish TDC (my domain name is englert.dk) wich points to my permanent IP-Number.

Question: I tested the DNS/Permanent IP-Number before ever installing the sme server, by putting a Mac as web server, and is worked fine for the web. But what about the e-mail? can I expect the domain name to work for e-mail if it works for the web, or is there something else for the mail that my dns provider should configure?

I tried to take a second domain name (using dyndns: englert.dynalias.net), but the result is the same: web works but e-mail not.

Now (3 days after having send the first test e-mail), I got a failure message (on the sending (external) account) here it is:


Delivery Failure Report
Your message:   Re: Ceci est de deuxième test.
was not delivered to:   michel@englert.dk
because:   The original message was received at Mon, 8 May 2006 10:28:53 +0100
from d06nrmr1407.portsmouth.uk.ibm.com [9.149.38.185]
 
   ----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
<michel@englert.dk>
 
   ----- Transcript of session follows -----
<michel@englert.dk>... Deferred: Connection timed out with mail.englert.dk.
Message could not be delivered for 3 days
Message will be deleted from queue


This all makes me think that the problem is in my SME-Server or perhaps in the router. Note: all the entering services are routed to my SME-Server, including the SMTP (port 25) and the POP3 (110).

Can you help more?

[kozel]

It could be that your provider is blocking port 25.  They do that to me.

[mien]

>It could be that your provider is blocking port 25. They do that to me.
 
YES!
That was it!

They do that to have some control over the spam. To solve the problem, they didn't open the port 25 but provided an other solution: They have to use a kind of "front end smtp server". The DNS must be configured to send mail to that server, wich in turn sends it to my server.

So now it works!!! Thank you for your help!!!

I must say as a beginner in the Web/Mail server's world, I had many problems to make it work, with the DNS, Router, Firewall, Connection, but NOTHING was due to SME-Server. It just works with no problems.