[vps-mail] SMTP port 25

["Jim Smith" <maillists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A client of mine has been having lots of problems with SBC blocking SMTP
email. After numerous complaints and problems in which he complained to me
and then to SBC, he finally found from SBC that he could go into his SBC
settings and opt out of port 25 filtering. He did so and has not had any
problems since.

He sent me SBC's documentation on this and it said to use Port 587 which has
been the Internet standard (RFC2476) port for authenticated email submission
for mail clients and is supported by most major mail hosting providers. Now
I know we swap them to 5190 but should we be telling them to use Port 587
instead? Do we need to add that somewhere?

Here is SBC's Q&A related to this issue:

QUESTION:
Why am I unable to send email via other university, company or mail hosting
provider mail servers (Port 25 block) 
For All Applications, All Operating Systems, and All Domains

ANSWER: 
SBC Internet Services (SBCIS) is taking positive steps to help combat junk
email and spam. In addition to network upgrades, free spam filtering and
anti-virus software, SBCIS is implementing outbound email SMTP port controls
to ensure that its network is as reliable as possible for our Members.

As announced in the September 2004 Member newsletters, SBCIS began filtering
direct outgoing email connections using Port 25 (SMTP) to non-SBCIS/Yahoo
mail servers from Members using dynamic DSL and Dialup connections. Port 25
filters are widely used by many ISPs to combat junk email and spam from
mis-configured and virus-infected computers.

SBCIS Members using SBCIS or Yahoo! mail servers for outgoing email are not
impacted by this filter. Incoming email connections are also not affected.
Members using a private company, university or hosting provider mail server
will not be able to send outgoing email from dynamic DSL and Dialup
connections until one of the following actions are taken:

1. Contact your mail hosting provider for information about using Port 587
for sending authenticated outgoing email. Since December 1998, Port 587 has
been the Internet standard (RFC2476) port for authenticated email submission
for mail clients and is supported by most major mail hosting providers.

2. Contact your mail hosting provider for information about using other
alternative access methods to connect to their mail server, such as VPN, Web
mail or Outlook Web Access to send outgoing email.

3. SBCIS Members may send outgoing mail messages through SBCIS mail servers,
even if they use other email domains in their mail address, by converting
their Outgoing mail (SMTP) to use SBC mail servers. Members should not
change their Incoming mail server (POP3/IMAP).

4. SBCIS Members who can not use any of the preceding alternatives may
request that SBCIS remove the SMTP port 25 filter from the Member's account.

To request removal of the filter, use the Abuse of Service form at
http://help.sbcglobal.net/servabuse.php to contact our Abuse team and choose
the "Opt-Out  Port 25" under Abuse Type. Enter your account Member ID (also
called your SBCIS PPPOE Login ID or User ID) to opt-out. If you have
multiple SBCIS accounts you want to opt-out, please submit a separate form
for each Member ID. Do not enter your email addresses from the other mail
hosting provider. You should expect that it will take SBCIS 12-24 hours to
process your request.

After receiving a confirmation email, sent to the SBCIS Member account ID
being opted-out, you will need to logoff the SBCIS network and turn off your
DSL router or modem for 1 minute to remove the filter. You should then turn
your modem and system back on and log in using the normal procedure.
The SMTP Port 25 filter does not affect Members using Web mail to any mail
provider, VPN connections to a private company or university mail server,
dedicated (e.g. T1/T3 or Frame-Relay) or "static" IP addresses.
 

======================================================================
This is <vps-mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>       <http://www.perlcode.org/lists/>
Before posting a question, please search the archives (see above URL).