Win2000 SMTP won't email to AOL users 1

[TurboAdam12]

I've recently discovered a rather odd, but serious problem with my outgoing mail. I have Windows 2000 Server SP3 set up in my home. I'm running the SMTP service, and have been for a while, so that all the computers in the house can use a local SMTP server.

Well, everything works like a charm, but I recently discovered that everyone I know who uses AOL isn't getting my messages. I'm certain the server is sending them out, and I'm not getting any error messages, but every AOL user in my address book is unable to receive email from any machine in the house.

Just to ease any suspicions, we're not spamming out of here. Never have, never will. It's just a convencience since Verizon DSL makes it difficult to route through their server unless you're using an email address at verizon.

The only change in my setup lately is that after more than two years of my "dynamic" IP address never changing, Verizon finally switched the IP address.

Is it possible AOL is blocking email from this address? That seems quite unlikely, but I have no other explanation for this problem

 

[ashpp]

Hi Adam,

Have you tried look your IP addresses up on

http://www.ordb.org/lookup/

If the IP addresses is listed it may AOL may be blocking it (due to it being a previous open relay).

HTH

Ash.

 

[TurboAdam12]

Hi Ash,

Thanks for the quick response. I just went to that site and ran a lookup on my current and previous IP's. Neither are registered there.

Is there any technical explanation for this problem, or am I just somehow blocked?

 

[ashpp]

Hi,

I've found this URL which may be of use

http://members.aol.com/adamkb/aol/mailfaq/dropped-mail.html#pfaq

It descirbes when AOL will silently drop mail.

HTH

Ash.

 

[TurboAdam12]

Thanks again. That's one heck of an endorsement for AOL. In further testing, I've been able to send a mail using mail2web.com. So apparently it's a definate problem with the machine in my house.

Are there any obvious things that coule have gone wrong with the 2000 SMTP service? I probably added Service Pack 3 lately, but I wouldn't expect that to break JUST aol mails.

 

[nhidalgo]

I had the same problem. Aol blocks your ip if your mail server has an open relay. To test if they are blocking you telnet into one of the mail servers and see if you get a message saying you are blocked.

telnet mailin-04.mx.aol.com port 25

If you are blocked there is a web address that will give you instructions on how to remove the block. It take about 2 days though.

Let me know if this helps

 

[TurboAdam12]

Thanks for the help. Here's the response I got from the telnet session...there isn't a web page listed here though. Do you happen to remember where it is?

220-rly-xi05.mx.aol.com ESMTP mail_relay_in-xi5.1; Wed, 02 Oct 2002 13:39:12 -0400
220-American Online (AOL) and its affiliated companies do not
220- authorize the use of its proprietary computers and computer
220- networks to accept, transmit, or distribute unsolicited bulk
220- e-mail sent from the internet.

 

[ashpp]

Hi again Adam,

Okay so the telnet has proved that mail isn't going through because AOL is blocking you.

I've got a feeling its the rDNS is not working on your IP address...

If I telnet in its says the first line and then does a rDNS on my IP address. (It works out my domainname from my IP).

It appears from the telnet it has failed to rDNS your IP (or its in a spamblock list) - so instantly blocks you. Normal ISPs don't block because of this - but like I said AOL is rather special

To test rDNS is not working go here

http://remote.12dt.com/rns/

and stick in your IP address do you get a doman name out?

If nothing comes out you need to go to your ISP and get them to correct the PTR records on that IP address. If thats okay, then your IP is on a open relay list somewhere

Let me know
Good luck!

 

[TurboAdam12]

Hi Ashley. Thanks so much for all the help. I feel like I'm closer to fixing this now.

I went to the above address and punched in my public IP address -- ie. the one my router gets through DHCP from Verizon DSL. The reverse lookup came up with the following:
lsanca1-ar2-4-60-008-212.lsanca1.dsl-verizon.net

So if I interpret your last message correctly, then my IP is listed somewhere as an open relay and is as a result blocked by AOL. I guess the only question left to ask is: Is it worth it to bother with this, or should I just call Verizon and ask them if they can give me another IP?

 

[TurboAdam12]

UPDATE: I called Verizon DSL and asked if they could force my system to get a different IP address, and nobody there can figure out how to do that. Going to a static IP isn't an option because it's a whole new expensive process. I really need to fix this now...even if I eventually do get assigned a new IP, then the next poor sucker who gets this IP won't be able to mail AOL users.

So the only solution to my problem, it seems, is to get their system to take me off their list of open relays. I've reviewed the postmaster info on the page linked above, and queried my ip. Their information says that they'll send a mail to root@YourIpAddress and postmaster@YourIPAddress. My problem now is that I know I won't get those emails...they'll go to Verizon.

Am I fixable?