Mail problems

[gogalthorp]

All has been working for several years. Today I suddenly could not send email. Seems like all smtp functions are blocked. All other Internet functions work, Web,SVN,Skype, pop email,etc. Just no smtp

I have two machines 1 runs Suse 10.2 the other Win98. I have both kmail and Thunderbird on Linux (Thunderbird is my normal client) on Win98 there is SeaMonkey and Express. I connect through a D-Link router to a cable modem (ISP provided) a Scientific Atlanta. I tried all the clients on both machines same problem can receive email can not send it. Connected the Win98 direct to the modem with express. Same problem. ISP claims not their problem. But I have 4 different email clients on two different machines running two different OS's all showing the same behavior and I have eliminated the router. I got a gmail account just as a test and set up pop/smtp on it. Same thing.....Arrrrg

I can ping the suddenlink smtp server?????

So anyone got a clue? I hate to think of using a webclient. BTW the Suddenlink web client does work so I'm not out of business yet.

Thanks
gogalthorp

[HROAdmin26]

Are you trying to send mail from your local machine to the destination mail server directly? (IE, your local machine has mail for blah@mail4.com, so it's trying to connect directly to port 25 on mail4.com.) If so, this is a common spamming technique that's blocked by many ISP's. These ISP's require you to use their mail server to relay/send any mail.

I have even seen some ISP's where they won't send your mail unless you're using the mail username *they assigned* to your cable modem account in the "Sender" field.

You can check to see if this is blocked by trying to telnet to SMTP on a receiving mail server.

Check the MX record for mail4.com and then:

telnet mail_server.mail4.com 25

Connection failed = Outgoing port 25 blocked. Maybe that helps...

[gogalthorp]

No just using the ISPs mail server as usual. But I'm blocked on port 25 everywhere. There was no change on my part from one day to the next. I only tried gmail as an experiment.

telnet fails to connect (timeout) The smtp.suddenlink.net resolved to an ip address then it just timed out like my mail clients.

Because I run Linux and WIn98 the ISP is saying it is my problem. Even though I've been a customer for 7 years, been running Suse for 2+ and and have had no trouble until yesterday.

[HROAdmin26]

Maybe they have changed their mail server address and it's not smtp.suddenlink.net anymore?

Maybe it's now something like mail.suddenlink.net? (Had that happen to me once...)

(Edit: Might try getting the ISP HD on the phone and asking what server address is providing SMTP - then with them on the phone, try to telnet to port 25. If it fails, give 'em hell. =)

[gogalthorp]

Did that last night. They say it is smtp.suddenlink.net I can ping that address but not connect.

I just tried to call the ISP's support and their phone system is down....hmmmm