Topic: New Guy Looking for help

[Mat87]

Hello to all,

First of all i'm hoping that this is the right forum to post?
If not, sorry :$

Allright,

I am new to the entire linux world and found out about SME server trough a magazine (C't)

I have installed the entire server without any problem.
Now i want to configure an email server on it.
Of course i am aware of the fact that there will be more than a few tutorials and howto's for this, though none of them seems to match my needs, since I am really new to this.

I am looking for some ppl who want to answer my (probably) stupid questions in order to learn

Here we go.

I want to create an email server for www.selleslach.be (domain i bought)
Since my ISP @ home only gives dynamic ip's i also have a dyndns domain regged selleslach.dyndns.org

Now,

http://selleslach.dyndn.org is working perfectly.

I have put an MX record (value 10) on selleslach.be pointing @ selleslach.dyndns.org

I also have opened my SMTP and POP3 port in router.

Now when i Send of try to recieve mails of course nothing happens.
What am i missing here?


Other problem:

I can't seem to acces my server-manager trough the internet?
I get the certificate and stuff but when i click, continue to website, I get an 403 error.
Probably a port that needs to be opened in my router?
Locally everything goes perfect.
What port would this be?

You can alse reacht me on MSN by: mat_s87@hotmail.com

Thanks a lot in advance for your replies.

Mathias

[imcintyre]

Not familiar with dyndn, so can't comment there.
Accessing server-manager over the internet is a large security risk but that is your decision. Did you enable remote access ssh in the server-manager?

[Mat87]

Yes i did, because with putty i can acces my server

[raem]

Mat87

You need to enable remote access specifically for server manager, and enter a remote static IP (or IP's) that you will be accessing from.
You will also need to forward port 443 (for secure https), through your router to the sme.

[Mat87]

Mat87

You need to enable remote access specifically for server manager, and enter a remote static IP (or IP's) that you will be accessing from.

Hmz i see...That could be a problem since i am accessing my server from multiple locations (work, girlfriends home, ...)
MayB it's just better to work with putty then

[warren]

Hello to all,


Allright,

I am new to the entire linux world and found out about SME server trough a magazine (C't)

I have installed the entire server without any problem.
Now i want to configure an email server on it.
Of course i am aware of the fact that there will be more than a few tutorials and howto's for this, though none of them seems to match my needs, since I am really new to this.
........

Thanks a lot in advance for your replies.

Mathias

Mathias, welcome to SME 

Firstly, read ( possibly 3 times ) SME Server Manuals http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Documentation

Also Look at the FAQ http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Documentation:FAQ

[Mat87]

Thanks a lot for the warm welcome

I will read the FAQ carefully tonight, since i saw an entire chapter on it
The clue is that i don't have any XP configging an email server in general.
So the terms Cnames, MX records and stuff are kind of confusing @ first.
Thats why i am looking for someone who has done it, and wants to help me find out how i can

Once again thanks for helping so far

[raem]

Mat87

If you want the GUI server manager, then connect via VPN and then access using
https://serverlocalIP/server-manager

or you can access a text version of server manager ie
connect via Putty
login as root
type
console
then select the option to access server manager

[Mat87]

Mat87

If you want the GUI server manager, then connect via VPN and then access using
https://serverlocalIP/server-manager

or you can access a text version of server manager ie
connect via Putty
login as root
type
console
then select the option to access server manager

Okay,

I'm not gonna use VPN, so now i was doing it trough putty then using the text based browser indeed.
Which i working fine so

Allright

I have also emailed my .be domain provider (whom i know) for some help to config te email

[william_syd]

MayB it's just better to work with putty then

Look at the configuration options for Putty.

Connection >> SSH >> Tunnels.

[raem]

Mat87

I want to create an email server for www.selleslach.be (domain i bought)
Since my ISP @ home only gives dynamic ip's i also have a dyndns domain regged selleslach.dyndns.org

http://selleslach.dyndn.org is working perfectly.
I have put an MX record (value 10) on selleslach.be pointing @ selleslach.dyndns.org
I also have opened my SMTP and POP3 port in router.
Now when i Send of try to recieve mails of course nothing happens.

I'm guessing your email issue may be an external configuration one, although internal settings need to be confirmed/checked.

I'm assuming here your current server is configured as server only (not a private server or server gateway)
First of all have you enabled mail access for external users, in server manager Email panel ?
You will need to forward appropriate ports to your sme server, not just open them in your router.

Is the dyndns domain & account setup correctly in sme server, ie in the admin console select Configure this server and on one of the screens enter details of your dyndns account and password ?

Enable webmail and see if you can access that from both internally (to test functionality) and then from externally (to test access etc). Use your dyndns domain for this.

I'm also assuming the server is set with the main domain being your dyndns domain.

Can you then send email to user@selleslach.dyndns.org
This will prove that the dyndns side of things is setup correctly and can talk to your server.

If all that does not work then there is a problem with your basic server configuration and/or dyndns configuration.
If it does work then there is a problem with how you have forwarded your MX record.

Let us know.

As a side comment, if you can, it will be easier to manage your server and network if you configure your server for server gateway mode, and reconfigure your router (which I assume is a router/modem) for bridged mode and disable all other services on the router eg DHCP, firewall etc. Bridged mode will simply pass all signals straight through to sme server.

[raem]

Mat87

If I try to access

http://selleslach.dyndns.org/

I get a page with

Selleslach.be
Testing

So web access to your server appears functional

If I do
ping mail.selleslach.dyndns.org
I get
Unknown host mail.selleslach.dyndns.org.

If I do
ping mail.selleslach.be

I get
Pinging mail.selleslach.be [85.255.208.117] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 85.255.208.117: bytes=32 time=344ms TTL=52
Reply from 85.255.208.117: bytes=32 time=350ms TTL=52
Reply from 85.255.208.117: bytes=32 time=355ms TTL=52
Reply from 85.255.208.117: bytes=32 time=355ms TTL=52

Ping statistics for 85.255.208.117:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 344ms, Maximum =  355ms, Average =  351ms


Is that your server IP ?

[william_syd]

Is the dyndns domain & account setup correctly in sme server, ie in the admin console select Configure this server and on one of the screens enter details of your dyndns account and password ?

If his SME is behind a NAT'd router, wont it always see a local IP address. Dyndns settings would have to be in his router.

As a side comment, if you can, it will be easier to manage your server and network if you configure your server for server gateway mode, and reconfigure your router (which I assume is a router/modem) for bridged mode and disable all other services on the router eg DHCP, firewall etc. Bridged mode will simply pass all signals straight through to sme server.

In bridge/server-gateway mode then SME could handle the dyndns service.

[Mat87]

Mat87

I'm guessing your email issue may be an external configuration one, although internal settings need to be confirmed/checked.

I'm assuming here your current server is configured as server only (not a private server or server gateway)

Server is set up as STANDALONE server

First of all have you enabled mail access for external users, in server manager Email panel ?
Check
You will need to forward appropriate ports to your sme server, not just open them in your router.
Check

Is the dyndns domain & account setup correctly in sme server, ie in the admin console select Configure this server and on one of the screens enter details of your dyndns account and password ?
Is it possible that this option is only available in Gateway and server mode and not in Standalone servermode? My Dyndns account is set up in my router [D-Link DSL-624T]

Enable webmail and see if you can access that from both internally (to test functionality) and then from externally (to test access etc). Use your dyndns domain for this.
Check

I'm also assuming the server is set with the main domain being your dyndns domain.
Oops i have put selleslach.be as primary (and only) domain
Can you then send email to user@selleslach.dyndns.org
This will prove that the dyndns side of things is setup correctly and can talk to your server.

If all that does not work then there is a problem with your basic server configuration and/or dyndns configuration.
If it does work then there is a problem with how you have forwarded your MX record.

Let us know.

As a side comment, if you can, it will be easier to manage your server and network if you configure your server for server gateway mode, and reconfigure your router (which I assume is a router/modem) for bridged mode and disable all other services on the router eg DHCP, firewall etc. Bridged mode will simply pass all signals straight through to sme server.
To be honest i prefer to keep my router because i have my entire family on this network, and they will kill me if internet goes down But if there is no other option i am of course willing to try so

All my replies are in bold

I have not setup an MX record @ dyndns. Do i need to?

@ Ray: the 85 ip is the ip of the provider from my .be domain.

[raem]

Mat87 & william_syd

I'm mixing up my thoughts/comments with different server modes.

Yes if the router is configured with the dyndns account details then OK, as long as all required ports for the various services are forwarded to sme.
Yes in server only mode the dyndns setup is not available in sme server.
You can use the ddclient add on contrib if you want to manage dynamic accounts on sme in server only mode.

@ Ray: the 85 ip is the ip of the provider from my .be domain.

http://85.255.208.117/
This just gives a blank page in my browser

I have not setup an MX record @ dyndns. Do i need to?

It seems like the mail is not reaching the mail server on sme, probably due to the MX record not being set appropriately.
Perhaps you do need to set a MX record at dyndns.

I'm not that familiar with the settings required to deliver mail from a real domain to a dyndns domain, perhaps someone else can advise.

[raem]

Mat87

From memory, dyndns.org has a paid for service to support "real" domains via a dynamic account with them.

[Mat87]

Thanks a lot for all replies!

What i am getting out of all this:

- My primary domain on SME, does this has to be selleslach.be or selleslach.dyndns.org?
- MX records; do i need to set them up @ selleslach.be only or on selleslach.dyndns.org of both? (and how?)

[william_syd]

Mat87

From memory, dyndns.org has a paid for service to support "real" domains via a dynamic account with them.

That's what I use - Custom Dns

Like SME, it just works.

[william_syd]

Thanks a lot for all replies!

What i am getting out of all this:

- My primary domain on SME, does this has to be selleslach.be or selleslach.dyndns.org?
- MX records; do i need to set them up @ selleslach.be only or on selleslach.dyndns.org of both? (and how?)

I use the Custom DNS service of Dyndns.org.

I'm no expert on this, but using thier dynamic service I would say the domain of your sme would be selleslach.dyndns.org and without a mx record at dyndns your mail would be like admin[AT]selleslach.dyndns.org

How you get your bought domain working with the dynamic service I don't know.

Before you consider the Custom DNS service, have a look at the other dynamic ip management providers that are now out there.

[raem]

Mat87

Also see this free but good service
http://zoneedit.com/
You can configure DNS records for your real domain and maybe use WebForward and MailForward functions.

Also see this one
http://www.no-ip.com/

[imcintyre]

I can recommend zoneedit as being good as well as free. There is a post here with a script for a cron job to update as often as you want.

[william_syd]

The OP's router probably has a few listed in it as well.

[Mat87]

Hi all,

I have been working on the sme almost non stop now (well the dns settings) with a collegue of mine.

According to him this should work:

selleslach.be

CNAMES for mail and www to selleslach.dyndns.org.
And an MX record to selleslach.dyndns.org

I have set up everything now and will be testing it today and tommorow.

Ill make sure to keep u guys posted.

As soon as i get this working I think i'll put it in a HOWTO, for other ppl.

[Mat87]

Hi Guys,

i haven't forgotten about u
next problem that showed up: My ISP is blocking port 25 for all incoming mails.
So i can send but can"t recieve.

I have found a friend of mine who has an isp that is not blocking port 25,
So hopefully i cant put my server there to get it up and running

Than as promised i'll write an howto

[raem]

Mat87

http://wiki.contribs.org/PortRedirect

[eastend99]

My ISP is blocking port 25 for all incoming mails. So i can send but can"t recieve.

If you don't expect to have a lot of e-mail traffic you can have a look at http://rollernet.us.
The service is free for small accounts. You have to configure a valid e-mail recipient list.
Remember that your mail is routed trough a server located in the US.

Yes it's not in the wiki. Still waiting patiantly for my wiki access request (nov. 2007).   

[Mat87]

If you don't expect to have a lot of e-mail traffic you can have a look at http://rollernet.us.
The service is free for small accounts. You have to configure a valid e-mail recipient list.
Remember that your mail is routed trough a server located in the US.

Yes it's not in the wiki. Still waiting patiantly for my wiki access request (nov. 2007).   

How does this work exactly?

I have regged an account...and now?

Sorry for the late reply but i've been really busy lately so i did not have the time to work on server.

[raem]

Mat87

Did you bother to read the link I posted
http://wiki.contribs.org/PortRedirect

It has the answer for the port 25 blocking issue, and is quite easy & quick to implement.

[Mat87]

Mat87

Did you bother to read the link I posted
http://wiki.contribs.org/PortRedirect

It has the answer for the port 25 blocking issue, and is quite easy & quick to implement.

Oops sorry ray, missed it.
Reading it right now and will try in weekend

Keep ya guys posted!
[edit]
Hmz this seems to be a paying method?
Not that it's a lot of money, but i was hoping on doing this free.
But i'm still thinking about doing it
[/edit]

[Mat87]

Just tried to make an acc on rollernet

This is how i think the mail forwarder should me cfgged.

Click for sreenshot

[cactus]

Yes it's not in the wiki. Still waiting patiantly for my wiki access request (nov. 2007).   

That is long, perhaps make a comment to the bug as it seems to have been forgotten or contact staff@contribs.org.

[Mat87]

Hmz i don't get the feeling that the rollernet is working.
i set up my rollernet acc to redirect to port 2525 but no luck.
Still not recieving.

I'm afraid the only option i have left is to put my server @ my friend's house.

[raem]

Mat87

I'm afraid the only option I have left is to put my server @ my friend's house.

Did you also make the required port forwards on sme server ?
You need to be in server gateway mode to use the port forward (& opening ) panel.

[Mat87]

Ray,

I am using sme in standalone mode.
The port forwarding is handled by my router

I setted up an smtp redirection @ rollernet (look at previous screenshot)
and this is my port forwarder for it.
Click here to view port forwarding rule to port 2525

[eastend99]

Hi Mat87,

How does this work exactly?

I have regged an account...and now?

This shows how it works (look at the picture at the bottom of the page): http://rollernet.us/services.php?smtp

I have rollernet SMTP redirection working with SME.

Domain config
The domains DNS MX records should be configured to point to the Rollernet email servers. In my case, I can edit the DNS zone records at my IPS's website. The IP adres of the rollernet email servers are found here: https://acc.rollernet.us/resources.php. (To use this url, you have to be log in first.) The SMTP server adresses should be entered as MX records for your domain.

You can check the e-mail delivery for your domain at the rollernet website.
Send an email to the domain and  select "queue status" on the rollernet website mail services page. You should see e-mail waiting in the queue. If not, it's already on your SME server or it has not been delivered at rollernets e-mail servers at all. .
Try the "mail logs" option to see email that has been send to the SME by rollernet. 

Rollernet
With the rollernet free account, you have to enter a "valid user table". Without this list, all e-mail wil be rejected by default by the rollernet servers. Make sure it's there.
Your "rollernet config" looks the same as mine (I looked at the screendump link  in the previous post).
I use an IP adress instead of a hostname. Try IP adres first and if things work fine, change the IP adres to a hostname.
In the queue status window, you can hit a button "Send ETRN". This forces the rollernet system to try to connect to the SME server (there has to be e-mail waiting in the queue).

SME server
At your SME server: if the server is in gateway mode and directly connected to the internet, make sure it is listening for e-mail on the right port (2525 in your case). I think this information is in the HowTo already mentioned here. If the server is behind a internet connected router (my configuration), configure the router to forward port 2525 to port 25 on the SME server on the internal LAN.

Good luck!
Marcel