Topic: SMTP Server issues

[TCAdmin]

Good day,

We have been using SME Server 6.x for awhile now and recently upgraded to 7.0final.  We are running a CRM program which attaches to a SQL database on a fileserver, which then sends out information to all of our client base (600+) at a time.

Everything worked fine on the 6.x server but when we try to get it to talk to the 7.0 server, 9 out of 10 times it fails to connect to the SMTP.  We did a backup from 6.x and restore on the 7.0 and everything worked just fine.  We can send email internally no problem but for some reason the file server is having the issue for connection.

We even changed the server information back to the 6.x server (yes, we have 2 machines - one running 6.x which we will wipe once we are confident in 7.0 and another machine for 7.0) and the program worked flawlessly.

I read through the forums and noticed that somebody else had a similar issue with some accounting software and was pointed to Bug # 492.  I tried the same instructions:

mkdir -p /etc/e-smith/templates-custom/var/service/qpsmtpd/config/plugins/
cd /etc/e-smith/templates-custom/var/service/qpsmtpd/config/plugins/
touch 17check_basicheaders

Although a little more complex, it might be a good idea to make it obvious in
the output file:

echo "# 17check_basicheaders forcibly disabled" >17check_basicheaders

signal-event email-update

However, this did not work and we are still stuck with emails not being sent out from our CRM program.  

Here is some of the log information, hopefully this will help:

2006-07-17 22:16:25.665394500 31301 Accepted connection 0/40 from 10.10.10.6 / pc-00006.tcii.net
2006-07-17 22:16:25.665632500 31301 Connection from pc-00006.tcii.net [10.10.10.6]
2006-07-17 22:16:25.666235500 31301 running plugin (connect): check_earlytalker
2006-07-17 22:16:26.666803500 31301 check_earlytalker plugin: remote host said nothing spontaneous, proceeding
2006-07-17 22:16:26.667119500 31301 Plugin check_earlytalker, hook connect returned DECLINED,
2006-07-17 22:16:26.667253500 31301 running plugin (connect): check_relay
2006-07-17 22:16:26.667489500 31301 trying to get config for relayclients
2006-07-17 22:16:26.667919500 31301 trying to get config for morerelayclients
2006-07-17 22:16:26.668206500 31301 Plugin check_relay, hook connect returned DECLINED,
2006-07-17 22:16:26.668349500 31301 running plugin (connect): check_norelay
2006-07-17 22:16:26.668549500 31301 trying to get config for norelayclients
2006-07-17 22:16:26.668916500 31301 Plugin check_norelay, hook connect returned DECLINED,
2006-07-17 22:16:26.669048500 31301 running plugin (connect): dnsbl
2006-07-17 22:16:26.669294500 31301 dnsbl plugin: RBLSMTPD not set for 10.10.10.6
2006-07-17 22:16:26.669435500 31301 trying to get config for dnsbl_allow
2006-07-17 22:16:26.669898500 31301 Plugin dnsbl, hook connect returned DECLINED,
2006-07-17 22:16:26.670053500 31301 trying to get config for smtpgreeting
2006-07-17 22:16:26.670346500 31301 220 tci3-srv.tcii.net ESMTP
2006-07-17 22:16:26.670569500 31301 trying to get config for timeoutsmtpd
2006-07-17 22:16:26.670757500 31301 trying to get config for timeout
2006-07-17 22:16:26.674907500 31301 dispatching EHLO tci1-srv
2006-07-17 22:16:26.675214500 31301 running plugin (ehlo): check_spamhelo
2006-07-17 22:16:26.675432500 31301 trying to get config for badhelo
2006-07-17 22:16:26.675816500 31301 Plugin check_spamhelo, hook ehlo returned DECLINED,
2006-07-17 22:16:26.676090500 31301 trying to get config for me
2006-07-17 22:16:26.676383500 31301 trying to get config for databytes
2006-07-17 22:16:26.676668500 31301 trying to get config for databytes
2006-07-17 22:16:26.676818500 31301 250-tcii.net Hi pc-00006.tcii.net [10.10.10.6]
2006-07-17 22:16:26.676979500 31301 250-PIPELINING
2006-07-17 22:16:26.677108500 31301 250-8BITMIME
2006-07-17 22:16:26.677238500 31301 250-SIZE 15000000
2006-07-17 22:16:26.677366500 31301 250 AUTH PLAIN LOGIN
2006-07-17 22:16:26.844685500 31301 dispatching AUTH LOGIN
2006-07-17 22:16:26.845001500 31301 334 VXNlcm5hbWU6
2006-07-17 22:16:26.850522500 31301 334 UGFzc3dvcmQ6
2006-07-17 22:16:26.856399500 31301 running plugin (auth-login): auth::auth_cvm_unix_local
2006-07-17 22:16:26.856620500 31301 auth::auth_cvm_unix_local plugin: authcvm/login authentication attempt for: maxexchange
2006-07-17 22:16:26.858044500 31301 Plugin auth::auth_cvm_unix_local, hook auth-login returned OK, authcvm/login
2006-07-17 22:16:26.858214500 31301 235 Authentication successful for maxexchange - authcvm/login
2006-07-17 22:16:26.858399500 31301 Authentication successful for maxexchange - authcvm/login
2006-07-17 22:16:26.862264500 31301 dispatching QUIT
2006-07-17 22:16:26.862477500 31301 trying to get config for me
2006-07-17 22:16:26.862631500 31301 221 tcii.net closing connection. Have a wonderful day.
2006-07-17 22:16:26.862784500 31301 click, disconnecting
2006-07-17 22:16:26.862929500 31301 running plugin (disconnect): rhsbl
2006-07-17 22:16:26.863195500 31301 Plugin rhsbl, hook disconnect returned DECLINED,
2006-07-17 22:16:26.863327500 31301 running plugin (disconnect): dnsbl
2006-07-17 22:16:26.863549500 31301 Plugin dnsbl, hook disconnect returned DECLINED,
2006-07-17 22:16:27.663895500 3522 cleaning up after 31301

[raem]

listening to thread

[CharlieBrady]

We can send email internally no problem but for some reason the file server is having the issue for connection.

No. Based on your log file, the application is quitting (after authenticating) without sending any mail. You will have to find out why it is doing that.

[You should also change the password used by maxexchange, since you have posted the log of the authentication here.]

[TCAdmin]

Thanks Charlie, I'll follow up with the software company to see if they can offer any advice.  I'll continue to post with changes/workarounds for those following the thread.  Also will change the password

Thanks again!

Shayne

[TCAdmin]

Ok.  I spoke with the other IT guy here and he had a very valid question.  If nothing changed on the CRM software, why would it be that software stopping access to the SMTP server?  For example, server A (SME 6.x) is still running.  Server B (SME 7.0) is also running.  The CRM software when directed to server A sends mail no problem at all (I checked the smtpfront-qmail logs).  However, when the same software is directed with the exact same settings to server B, the CRM software cannot find the SMTP server.

Also, we have an issue with people trying to even do a telnet to our webserver on port 25 from outside the network.  Nothing.  Yet port 110 works fine.  However, if we do a telnet from within our LAN, both ports show as working.

Again, we redirect port 25 traffic to server A and now people outside the network can telnet in to port 25.  Redirect (again) to server B.  Nada.

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? (besides sledge hammers plz )

Thanks again!

Shayne

[duncan]

You need to do ssmtp and spop3 from outside the lan. Ports 465 and 995 respectively.

[duncan]

You need to do ssmtp and spop3 from outside the lan. Ports 465 and 995 respectively.

Actually - I have just tried this - and I can telnet a 7.0 machine remotely on port 25.

[mdo]

Shayne,

could it be that the CRM system is looking for a specific smtp welcome message? This message/string format will most likely be different between your SME6 and the SME7 server.

If you do a telnet "servername" 25 to both of those systems, you will see what individual message they show and it might be that the CRM checks for something specifically in that message?

Michael

[TCAdmin]

Ok.  I'll give the telnet and message suggestions a try.

Thx!

Shayne