Groupwise 5.5 - SMTP Issue

[nwoliver]

I have Groupwise 5.5 running here in a private address (192.168.10.xxx) environment. I also have some independent contractors that are NOT logging onto my network and not using Groupwise. They are only using my network for internet access. They prefer to use Outlook as their e-mail client (as opposed to a web based tool). They are able to receive e-mails properly, but cannot e-mail out.

I have seen this problem in the past and believe that it has to do with Groupwise and its SMTP setup. The problem seems to be somewhat inconsistant, so would like to see if anyone else has seen this. Can anyone shed any light on this problem?
nwo

 

[LawnBoy]

You must be running the GWIA to handle SMPT. Or, you could point them at an open relay on the 'net... (believe it or not, there are still some out there).

 

[LawnBoy]

err, make that SMTP.

 

[nwoliver]

You are correct. I am running the GWIA.

I have been stung by open relay in the past.. I try to avoid that like the plague.

The odd thing is that I can use Thunderbird out through my gmail smtp server, but she cannot get out to her (the contractor) smtp server. I wonder if it has to do more with rules at the accepting smtp server.

 

[marvhuffaker]

Nick, I don't recall if GW5.5 can do this, but i know you're moving to 6.5 soon.... so this is worth mentioning.

With the 6.5 GWIA, you can prevent relaying from the outside but enable it for internal addresses. For example, you'd set it up to allow relaying from 192.168.0.x and then setup your Outlook clients to bounce it off of the GWIA. Works great, especially when you have 3rd party apps that try to mail stuff independently of GroupWise and can't get out of your network. I set this up for clients all the time.

Marvin

Marvin Huffaker, MCNE

http://www.redjuju.com

 

[nwoliver]

Thanks Marvin. I will probably have to standardize on that when I get the new box up and running. In the meantime I'll have to do something like aliasing the e-mail address off of an smtp server that will take the forwarding.
nwo

 

[BigShyBear]

The first part of the problem - the contractors not being able to send mail out is probably a firewall configuration issue. Check your firewall settings and see if outbound port 25 is only being allowed from the Groupwise mail server.
Check with Telnet by specifying port 25
e.g.
telnet mail.contractorsmail.com 25

 

[nwoliver]

That was the first thing I did. I assigned a static address to this machine then allowed it port 25. No go insofar as her normal smtp server was concerned. If it is her smtp server that has the restriction, I am going to go around it by giving her a gmail account and then alias her "from" address. That should work until I can get GW6.5 onboard.

 

[michigan]

nwoliver,
As a contractor, I'm sure he/she has used thier outlook client at other locations very similar to yours (only using it for the internet - no network). I would ask them if they've had this problem before. If they come back with "Oh yeah . . . happens all the time" I bet it's on their side.

However, if they come back with "You know your location is the only one we can never send from" I would lean towards your firewall settings. I have seen firewalls (symantec) where not only are ports opened/assigned, but where it's expecting SMTP from specific harware or particular IP addresses. Perhaps your firewall is only looking for SMTP (directional) from your server?

I know this isn't a fix, but may help narrow down what isn't the problem.

Good Luck.