<cfmail> and IT

[mullinam]

I have recently started working at a new company where <cfmail> functionality has never been used. The IT department is VERY strict here and is reluctant to provide me with the IP address of our mail server to set up in the ColdFusion administrator.

Unfortunately, I know programming and am not too great with network and server issues so I can't really argue too intelligently with their excuses for not wanting us to implement email functionality. I think, though, I am starting to figure out that they really don't know what I'm asking for--and certainly don't know anything about ColdFusion.

Can someone provide me with some arguments for this reason given to me as to why we can't use <cfmail>:

"We do not typically allow relaying as it puts us at risk of becoming black-listed as a SPAM relay".

We are just trying to send emails within our own company so I'm not sure who would be black-listing us???

What are the downsides of using <cfmail> functionality from an IT perspective and is there anything we can tell them to put them at ease?

 

[GUJUm0deL]

What was your argument of wanting the ability to use <cfmail>? What purpose will using <cfmail> have for the company?

In many cases, <cfmail> is used to:
1. Submit an email on as an error catching method. Like, send an email to the admin of <cfdump> for an issue that might occur during <cftry><cfcatch>

2. Allow your customers to fill out a form to submit questions and comments. Like, a CONTACT US page functionality.

3. E-mail reports to management or clients (more of an admin feature)



_____________________________
Just Imagine.

http://www.imajinarts.com

 

[TruthInSatire]

You, as a user probably aren't going to have any impact on IT, as you've seen.

You are going to have to talk to you supervisor and let the chain of command work for you. Present your supervisor with all the reasons you need to set up the smtp information. Your reasons need to be fact and include current examples.

supervisor,
In order to maximize our web applications we will need the ability to send email from our applications to users and ourselves as developers. Currently we need to email users in the event of {your reasons here}. Furthermore to increase customer support and reduce down time we will need to email ourselves in the event of an error with the error and users information. I have been unsuccessful in obtaining the information i need from IT in order to configure the email functionality within coldfusion. Please assist.

V/r,
webadmin guy

now, why are you managing a webserver outside of the IT department anyway??

 

[TruthInSatire]

"We do not typically allow relaying as it puts us at risk of becoming black-listed as a SPAM relay".

this isn't uncommon, we don't allow relay through our exchange server either.

If your server is within the intranet there shouldn't be any problems. if your web server is in the DMZ you may run into some issues. What we have done is enabled the smtp service to run on our web server to prevent our exchange server from being flagged.

hth

 

[mullinam]

Thank you all for your responses!

TruthInSatire, can you tell me more about enabling the smtp service on the web server? As far as the benefits of doing this, if it can cut down on risks, how it helps us avoid getting flagged--that sort of thing? Or let me know where I can research some of this information. Unfortunately, this group doesn't care about Customer Service or helping our users get their jobs done. I have to justify our needs from a technological standpoint.

 

[TruthInSatire]

Unfortunately, this group doesn't care about Customer Service or helping our users get their jobs done.

Maybe they need to be reminded they are most likely the largest cost center in the company and with out customers there is no way to pay the overhead...

Google loves you. of course you're free to do more searching than this, but it will get you started.

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=enable+smtp+service&btnG=Google+Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=exchange+relay&btnG=Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=dmz+smtp&btnG=Search

I would still recommend you talk to your supervisor and let him/her do the talking to the CIO or whoever. Maybe the CEO or COO. I don't know how big your company is or how many steps up the chain you need to go but i'm sure SOMEONE in the chain of command has to care about the customers and providing a good service...

 

[TruthInSatire]

have any other web apps been written in other languages? Possibly asp? see if they are using CDO or CDOSYS depending on the OS of the server. Or maybe the PHP mail() settings. You can use the same smtp service.

Good luck.

 

[TruthInSatire]

... 3 years later and there still isn't an edit button.

CDO or CDOSYS

should read
CDONTS or CDOSYS