Can Send external mail, but cannot recieve external mail 1

[samueladams040]

I have an exchange 2000 box that was running fine until a couple of days ago. No changes were made to the system. (I am the only one with access to the server.) I can send mail internally both directions with no problem. I can send mail to external sites also. However, I cannot receive any mail from external sites.

If I run nslookup from an external site, I see my MX record, and the domain.com with its appropriate IP address.
I have searched around, but cannot seem to find an answer to this. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Marcs41]

Try a Telnet to your server:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q153119

Marc
_{If 'something' 'somewhere' gives 'some' error, expect random guesses or no replies at all. Please specify details.
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[samueladams040]

Thanks Marc

I telnet to the server from the server as in the KB article.
I used the notify=success,failure. The email was received at the external site and a notification was sent to the local exchange account from the postmaster. All seems to be working here according to the KB article.

Next I went to the external site and tried to send to the local exchange account. I sent one from a free netscape account also. Neither were received.

I also checked in System Manager to see if they were queued and I did not see them. (Perhaps I am not looking in the right place.)

 

[Marcs41]

You may need to check with your ISP (or whoever handles your MX and SMTP feed).

 

[samueladams040]

Sure enough. Cox Communications has started to block ports 25 and 80 unless you have a commercial account.

 

[Marcs41]

There you go.
What you can do, or try better, is to ask to push to another port, like 2525, and change the SMTP port on the server as well.
Now, if the MX records are handled with the blocking ISP, you will be out of luck of course.

 

[doomhamur]

if you are a comercial cox user(they opened them for me easy), they will unblock the ports. call the support number and ask to speak to business support, dont bother with first level.

Doomhamur
Network Engineer
"Certifications? we dont need no stinking certifiaction."
yahoo IM handle: greater_vortex