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snowsteve

113 posts

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#76991 9-Feb-2011 13:36
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Hi all,

I’m not entirely sure this is the correct forum for this.

Our exchange server (on server 2003 sp2) is sending and receiving messages fine apart from sending and receiving to (and from) Gmail address,

So the process goes, I send an email to a Gmail address from a client on my network and according to my server (if I  look up the message) the message has been sent ~ unfortunately it can take up to four hours to show up in Gmail ~ and the reverse (Gmail to my server) is the same.

I’m using 2003 exchange pop3 connector to receive emails from our hosting company

Sending is done through Telstra’s smtp.clear.net.nz

I have absolutely no idea what to do as I’m not receiving any errors as the messages are eventually sending (and of course all other messages including hotmail address work just fine)

I would really appreciate any ideas 

Cheers in advance 

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Ragnor
8218 posts

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  #437274 9-Feb-2011 13:59
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Sounds quite likely that Telstra's smtp server is causing this issue, have you logged a job/ticket with them?

What type of connection is the exchange server on:
Telstraclear business adsl? Static ip address? Is port 25 blocked to 3rd party smtp servers or for sending directly from exchange?



snowsteve

113 posts

Master Geek


  #437285 9-Feb-2011 14:11
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Hi Ragnor,

Thanks for the super quick reply,

I havent logged a job with them as i didnt want to waste there time if it was my own stupidity lol

The connection the exchange server is on is Telstras Biz boardband swift, with a static IP.

As for port 25 wouldnt that cause issues with all outgoing emails, or am i wrong ?

i checked port 25 from my server by doing the following (edited of course):
telnet mail.contoso.com 25, and it connected fine.

Thanks

snowsteve

113 posts

Master Geek


  #437288 9-Feb-2011 14:15
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Hmm I also just noticed,
If i bypass sending/receiving mail through the server but still use the same telstra ISP details that are also in the server, so basically just sending/receiving on a computer just like a home user without a server it goes through without delay as well !!

So it must be my server or setting ~ just weird that it only has an issue with gmail addresses.




Ragnor
8218 posts

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  #437299 9-Feb-2011 14:37
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Doesn't make sense to me to use Telstra's smtp server to send on behalf of your domain when you have Exchange on a dedicated internet connection with a static ip.

Try telnet from the exchange server to an external mail server to test if outgoing port 25 is open... eg:

Xnet's mail server
telnet 58.28.4.121 25

Gmail.com
telnet 74.125.67.27 25

If those connect fine, I would switch over the smtp connector in exchange to send directly rather than via clear.





snowsteve

113 posts

Master Geek


  #437305 9-Feb-2011 14:53
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So just to clarify, can i still use the pop3 connector but send emails out directly rather than using Telstra?s smtp service ?

I know a lot of people knock the pop3 connector but it does provide a form of redundancy in my view.

Will try telneting as you suggested now,

Thanks

snowsteve

113 posts

Master Geek


  #437307 9-Feb-2011 15:00
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Both telnet command completed fine (220) response.


snowsteve

113 posts

Master Geek


  #437308 9-Feb-2011 15:00
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Both telnet command completed fine (220) response.


 
 
 

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snowsteve

113 posts

Master Geek


  #437544 9-Feb-2011 22:31
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Guess i could just Host email myself and have a backup MX host to provide redundancy ?

Any Ideas ?

Ragnor
8218 posts

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  #437831 10-Feb-2011 16:22
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So currently your mx record points to some external mail server, then you pull that mail into Exchange with a pop connector and then for sending Exchange uses telstraclear's smtp server.

Hmm who is the mx record pointing to currently ie the external mail provider that your pop connector connects to? If it's not telstraclear can you use their smtp server and see if it has the same problem with gmail?

It does seem a bit of of a waste to have exchange on a dedicated ip and not receive and send directly.

However, on the other hand you have to deal with spam filtering incoming mail if you decide to take mail directly.

So I wouldn't receive mail directly unless you have a good mail filtering solution in place for spam, however changing over the SMTP virtual server to send directly is an easy change (easy to revert back to using clear's smtp server too).



Zeon
3916 posts

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  #437868 10-Feb-2011 17:15
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TBH I would just handle the sending and receiving of mail directly from your server rather than downloading off external pop3 and smtp providers. You can track the communication directly then.




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snowsteve

113 posts

Master Geek


  #437900 10-Feb-2011 18:11
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Hi all, im going to try hosting ourselves and see how that goes, i don't mind having to get extra software for spam etc as i would rather just have working email.

Once i have changed it over, and its (hopefully)working i will then get a backup mx record/service added for piece of mind,

Will let you know how it goes, many thanks guys

wsnz
649 posts

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  #438203 11-Feb-2011 10:17
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Ragnor: Doesn't make sense to me to use Telstra's smtp server to send on behalf of your domain when you have Exchange on a dedicated internet connection with a static ip.


Unless TC require outbound mail to be sent via their SMTP servers as part of their anti-spam procedures.

I've noticed a lot of SBS sites using Telecom for their broadband have a smarthost set up to send via Xtra's SMTP servers.

Ragnor
8218 posts

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  #438231 11-Feb-2011 11:28
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wsnz:
Ragnor: Doesn't make sense to me to use Telstra's smtp server to send on behalf of your domain when you have Exchange on a dedicated internet connection with a static ip.


Unless TC require outbound mail to be sent via their SMTP servers as part of their anti-spam procedures.

I've noticed a lot of SBS sites using Telecom for their broadband have a smarthost set up to send via Xtra's SMTP servers.


Yeah that's why I got him to check telnet on port 25 to Xnet and Gmail mail servers a few posts back.

Port 25 doesn't appear to be blocked on his connection so it shouldn't be a problem

Ragnor
8218 posts

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  #438232 11-Feb-2011 11:32
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snowsteve: Hi all, im going to try hosting ourselves and see how that goes, i don't mind having to get extra software for spam etc as i would rather just have working email.

Once i have changed it over, and its (hopefully)working i will then get a backup mx record/service added for piece of mind,

Will let you know how it goes, many thanks guys


Try sending directly first, it's an easy change to the smtp connector setting.  Just note down the current settings so you can change back if needed.

Receiving email directly is more work:

1: You want to have a mail filtering / anti spam solution in place.
2: Some of the Exchange 2003 defaults for message delivery should be tweaked eg: enable recipient filtering so you don't send out NDR's that contribute to backscatter etc.
3: You want to add best practice things to dns for your domain like SPF
etc
4:  You need to allow port 25 through your firewall to the Exchange server from the WAN etc

Buff up on your best practices for Exchange setup before receiving mail directly imo.

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