SMTP Sending Problem

[dynaken]

I'm trying to setup a mail server for my domain but having a little problem. Hope that someone could help me.

I have a domain called xy.net for example, and its A Record and MX Record pointing to the right IP address, which is my external IP.

I have setup my mail server, I'm trying both Exchange 2003 and Kerio Mail Server 6 and having the same problem. I can receive mail from anybody. I know so because I've used my Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail accounts and send it to my mail server and it works fine. However, I'm not able to send out mail to anybody with @yahoo.com, @hotmail.com, etc. However, I was able to send mail to @gmail.com for some reason.

Could anybody tell me what am I missing?

I don't want to use my mail server, like bellsouth.net for example, to relay the mails for me. I want my mail server to relay other servers directly instead of using my bellsouth's mail server.

Thanks in advanced for any help.

 

[fuego007]

Have you tried the Exchange 2003 forum? Sounds like a DNS problem to me.

When all else fails, READ THE DAMN BOOK!

 

[DistressedDes]

Hi dynaken

Just two things you might want to check.

go on to

http://www.dnsstuff.com

and check the following

1) reverse DNS lookup
Check to ensure the reverse dns entry for your mail servers IP resolves properly to your A and MX records for your mail server. Many mail servers do a reverse lookup to ensure the connecting mail server is who it says it is.

2) do a spam database lookup
Check to see if you have been unlucky enough to find your way on to a blacklist.

hope this is of some use.

cheers

 

[dynaken]

Thanks DistressedDes for your helpful reply,

It seems that my mails that I sent out goes straight to the Spam Folder in yahoo or any other mail servers. I don't understsand why.

Anybody have any idea why? What I need to change in my mail server software?

 

[DistressedDes]

dynaken,

In the absence of specific examples, you'll understand it's hard to diagnose. However, how did the dnsstuff checks go. The fact that the mail is reaching the inbox / spam folder, i.e. being accepted by the destination server tends to indicate that the problem is not at the lower SMTP / DNS communication level, but that the contents of the header or the message body is triggering some higher level anti-spam filter software.

However, I stress, 'tends to indicate' in the above. I'm not an expert, but I would start looking in the direction of hearder contents. It would be great if you could examine the full header details of one of your mails as retrieved from the spam folder. It may contain some clue behind why it was identified as spam.

Good luck, am let me know how your dnsstuff checks went.

 

[dynaken]

Thanks DistressedDes again for the info,

I will try to examine the header content and see why. I doubt I could figure out why, but hey. At least I know that my mail server is working

My DNS Lookup is fine. Nothing wrong, all desitinations reached.