Spark renders non-SSL printer useless

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plambrechtsen

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Reply # 1197608 15-Dec-2014 10:33

onetapu:
clinty: Just to confirm:

The brother printer is connected to a network that uses Spark as an ISP.

You are trying to email the faxes to an @xtra.co.nz address

If this is correct I can sort out a stunnel INI file for you tmrw at work

Clint

That is correct, Clint. And the email address of the printer is the same as my email address. How does the stunnel work?

STunnel is a piece of software that run's on your computer which will mean you need to keep your PC on for the printer to be able to send emails.

http://www.messageops.com/office-365-tech-tips/connecting-non-ssl-pop3-and-smtp-clients-to-microsoft-online/

Basically you are looking to do what is documented here, but instead of to Microsoft it would connect to the Yahoo SMTP servers.

It means that the Printer connects to your PC, then the PC creates the SSL connection to Yahoo to allow it to send the email. Rather than the printer talking directly to the now retired Xtra SMTP servers.

You will need to be able to put a username and password into the brother printer to login to the SMTP server.

----
# GLOBAL OPTIONS
client = yes
output = stunnel-log.txt
debug=4
taskbar=yes

[SMTP Outgoing] #Accept connections on port 25 and send to Yahoo on port 587 over TLS
protocol = smtp
accept = 0.0.0.0:25
connect = send.xtra.co.nz:465
----

That should sort you out, as long as you can put in your xtra username and password into the Brother MFC.

raytaylor

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Reply # 1198170 15-Dec-2014 23:20

I have set up an email account for the printer on our server that accepts authentication without ssl on a port other than 25
Will see if it works for the op - i have a few small businesses using it on their brother printers because i cant be bothered remembering where i have stunnel operating.

I would normally suggest the stunnel idea as a solution however for a small business, keeping records of how such a program is set up and on which computer can be a pain - replacing one machine and then a few days later finding out the printer no longer works - if IT staff change there wont really be much of a chain to know why the printer stopped.
I have dealt with this issue before and i do it to myself - replace a file server and suddenly realise how many little things i had on the old one patching solutions together.
So in these cases, i just let the customer relay through our smtp server which is always on and dedicated to the task which i think is a better solution.

Edit: I assume the op will let us know if he takes up my offer and tell us if it works for them.

Ray Taylor
Taylor Broadband (rural hawkes bay)
www.ruralkiwi.com

There is no place like localhost
For my general guide to extending your wireless network Click Here

mattwnz

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Reply # 1198172 15-Dec-2014 23:21

raytaylor: I have set up an email account for the printer on our server that accepts authentication without ssl on a port other than 25
Will see if it works for the op - i have a few small businesses using it on their brother printers because i cant be bothered remembering where i have stunnel operating.

I would normally suggest the stunnel idea as a solution however for a small business, keeping records of how such a program is set up and on which computer can be a pain - replacing one machine and then a few days later finding out the printer no longer works - if IT staff change there wont really be much of a chain to know why the printer stopped.
I have dealt with this issue before and i do it to myself - replace a file server and suddenly realise how many little things i had on the old one patching solutions together.
So in these cases, i just let the customer relay through our smtp server which is always on and dedicated to the task which i think is a better solution.

Edit: I assume the op will let us know if he takes up my offer and tell us if it works for them.

This is what I do, I have it running through port 26. Probably the easiest solution,.

raytaylor

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Reply # 1198337 16-Dec-2014 11:15

mattwnz:

This is what I do, I have it running through port 26. Probably the easiest solution,.

Thats great
FYI port 26 is officially earmarked as "encrypted smtp" while port 2525 is generally accepted as Smtp unencrypted alternate

Ray Taylor
Taylor Broadband (rural hawkes bay)
www.ruralkiwi.com

There is no place like localhost
For my general guide to extending your wireless network Click Here

onetapu

191 posts

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Reply # 1198977 17-Dec-2014 11:37

One person supports this post

raytaylor: I have set up an email account for the printer on our server that accepts authentication without ssl on a port other than 25
Will see if it works for the op - i have a few small businesses using it on their brother printers because i cant be bothered remembering where i have stunnel operating.

I would normally suggest the stunnel idea as a solution however for a small business, keeping records of how such a program is set up and on which computer can be a pain - replacing one machine and then a few days later finding out the printer no longer works - if IT staff change there wont really be much of a chain to know why the printer stopped.
I have dealt with this issue before and i do it to myself - replace a file server and suddenly realise how many little things i had on the old one patching solutions together.
So in these cases, i just let the customer relay through our smtp server which is always on and dedicated to the task which i think is a better solution.

Edit: I assume the op will let us know if he takes up my offer and tell us if it works for them.

Hello raytaylor: Hooray! I have just put all your settings into my printer and can hardly believe it - it's all working perfectly!! Have received my first fax which was immediately sent on to my email address no problem. So I can't thank you enough for allowing me to use your server, and a better solution than the stunnel which would require a PC running all the time if I was away from the office. So if and when you decide to kick me off, I will resort to that Plan B!

So thank you again for your kindness and thanks also to all the Geekzoners who helped. I investigated all the options suggested, including the Officmail one (which by the way Spark staff don't seem too familiar with) and stunnel, and this is definitely the best solution for me. I can now go away on holiday and continue to support my clients remotely.

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