Telecom retiring SMTP server end of September 2014

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Telecom retiring SMTP server end of September 2014

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#1088922 14-Jul-2014 22:14

never use your "FREE xtra.co.nz email address."

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vortexnz

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#1088931 14-Jul-2014 22:35

Hey question: I run a 2010 exchange server and am currently using smtp.xtra.co.nz on port 25 as smart host. When I tried updating this to send.xtra.co.nz it wouldn't send mail as it defaulted to port 25. I also tried TLS for auth and even changing the port manually in exchange powershell to 465 but still no go - is it really as easy as peppery suggested to just update the smart host considering the auth required for the new send.xtra.co.nz server? I did verify the credentials I was using were correct but no dice.... any ideas?

Cheers,

Jono

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#1089134 15-Jul-2014 10:25

vortexnz: Hey question: I run a 2010 exchange server and am currently using smtp.xtra.co.nz on port 25 as smart host. When I tried updating this to send.xtra.co.nz it wouldn't send mail as it defaulted to port 25. I also tried TLS for auth and even changing the port manually in exchange powershell to 465 but still no go - is it really as easy as peppery suggested to just update the smart host considering the auth required for the new send.xtra.co.nz server? I did verify the credentials I was using were correct but no dice.... any ideas?

The send.xtra.co.nz server is a Yahoo server and it is tied up reasonably tight in terms of which addresses can send out via that server. Assuming you can get Exchange 2010 to authenticate to it (I've never tried - it is a crappy consumer-level service), every FROM address you use must be pre-registered which is a PITA.

Is this for a commercial setup or your home setup?

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vortexnz

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#1089138 15-Jul-2014 10:32

Thanks for that - sounds like its not going to work how I want it to so will just sit tight sending mail directly via mx records and hope that hotmail stops marking my mail as spam once reputation increases.

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#1089141 15-Jul-2014 10:35

vortexnz: Thanks for that - sounds like its not going to work how I want it to so will just sit tight sending mail directly via mx records and hope that hotmail stops marking my mail as spam once reputation increases.

Have you got a PTR record in place on your static IP? This is a reverse DNS record put in place by your ISP not your domain name DNS provider.

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vortexnz

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#1089143 15-Jul-2014 10:42

Yep PTR, SPF, runs through MXtoolbox.com fine only error that comes up is the smtp response time as a result of the tarpit configured. I registered for SDNS and JMRP as well.

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#1089145 15-Jul-2014 10:44

vortexnz: Yep PTR, SPF, runs through MXtoolbox.com fine only error that comes up is the smtp response time as a result of the tarpit configured. I registered for SDNS and JMRP as well.

Ahhhh well I won't accuse you of being a n00b with SMTP server setup any time soon then. :)

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vortexnz

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#1089146 15-Jul-2014 10:45

I'm flattered :)

Daylo

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#1089231 15-Jul-2014 12:53

Given the posts above, I also run an SMTP server for my personal domain and haven't bothered with organising updating of any DNS pointer records - I've been lazy and solely use the Xtra SMTP server as a smart host. I've also received an email regarding the use of said systm as a relay for my domain, and how it's demise is forthcoming.

Now that I'm at the point of doing things the best way via DNS, how does a Telecom customer go about requesting a PTR record be created for my mail host against my static IP address? (short of me looking on Telecom's site).

Cheers,
Daylo

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#1089239 15-Jul-2014 13:02

Daylo: Given the posts above, I also run an SMTP server for my personal domain and haven't bothered with organising updating of any DNS pointer records - I've been lazy and solely use the Xtra SMTP server as a smart host. I've also received an email regarding the use of said systm as a relay for my domain, and how it's demise is forthcoming.

Now that I'm at the point of doing things the best way via DNS, how does a Telecom customer go about requesting a PTR record be created for my mail host against my static IP address? (short of me looking on Telecom's site)

Call Telecom's DNS team and give them your account number, static IP, and the FQDN entry required for the PTR. This needs to match the name your email server declares for itself. The way I test this is to telnet to the mail server on port 25 and check the banner that reports when the telnet session connects. This should be something like mail.yourdomain.co.nz (a legit domain name, not something like mail.yourdomain.local).

"Hello Telecom. I need a new PTR record on IP address x.x.x.x for mail.mydomain.co.nz"

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Daylo

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#1089242 15-Jul-2014 13:11

Call Telecom's DNS team and give them your account number, static IP, and the FQDN entry required for the PTR. This needs to match the name your email server declares for itself. The way I test this is to telnet to the mail server on port 25 and check the banner that reports when the telnet session connects. This should be something like mail.yourdomain.co.nz (a legit domain name, not something like mail.yourdomain.local).

"Hello Telecom. I need a new PTR record on IP address x.x.x.x for mail.mydomain.co.nz"

Cheers. I'm quite familiar with the fabulous world of ICT :) But a huge thank you for your prompt answer. Much appreciated! Now off to try and navigate my way through the Telecom phone support jungle to get to this team!

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#1089274 15-Jul-2014 14:06

Sorry guys, while you can set up all the correct settings to run your own SMTP servers, the fact that they are sitting in an ISP BB customer pool is going to mean you're never going to get a solid, reliable score with respect to never being marked as spam.

Your best bet is a paid smarthost option.

Cheers -N

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bonkas

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#1090541 17-Jul-2014 11:04

Does anyone have clients or manage server running Exchange 2003 or SBS 2003 with telecom configured as a smart host currently smtp.xtra.co.nz

What has been your solution to the telecom changes as I beleive Exchange 2003 does not allow authentication and SSL for it's smart host.

Talkiet

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#1090543 17-Jul-2014 11:08

bonkas: Does anyone have clients or manage server running Exchange 2003 or SBS 2003 with telecom configured as a smart host currently smtp.xtra.co.nz

What has been your solution to the telecom changes as I beleive Exchange 2003 does not allow authentication and SSL for it's smart host.

To be fair, that server software is over 10 years old...

Quite a few people seem to use Stunnel as a solution... One of the best descriptions I have seen is here:

http://serverfault.com/questions/72761/ssl-for-exchange-2003-smtp

Additionally, are you aware that Exchange Server 2003 appears to be out of support?

http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/search/?alpha=Exchange+Server
Cheers - N

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Dynamic

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#1090548 17-Jul-2014 11:12

Or use SMTP2GO.com who have solutions that are secured by methods other than authentication.

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