On Etch, with exim4 and mailx, I want to allow popularity contest to
send it's report but haven't been successful configuring exim4 to send
it to my ISP's pop3 server. All other attempts produce more problems and
no success (Malformed URL, loss of local mail ability although it is
chosen). The message never leaves the computer. Have 9 "Message is
frozen" items in queue.

So, I *completely* removed the default installed software via Synaptic
and re-installed it for a fresh start. Now, I'm back to local mail, and
of course, no remote mailing ("Mailing to remote domains not supported").

This is where I am after reading several posts on the Debian Forum
(http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.p...ghlight=exim4),
Googling and RTFM (which has 1146 lines and
file:///usr/share/doc/exim4-base/README.Debian.html#id2478689) as it
pertains to dpkg-reconfigure exim4-config (2.1.1. The Debconf
questions to 2.1.1.11.).

Have seen that there are steps in the Forum, such as editing the
*.template and adding MAIN_TLS_ENABLE = yes (and other items which I'm
not even aware I need), which seem to be missing in the instructions
pertaining to dpkg-reconfigure exim4-config ... or I've gotten so
baffled I don't recall.

Frankly, I just don't understand how to accomplish this reportedly
"simple" task of configuration. More I read the less I think I'm being
fully informed.

Sent my ISP an email requesting if they support/permit smarthost and
what the mail server's IP is. I tried the mail server's DNS and IP,
which I got via ping -c1 <myserver>, but they're "Malformed URL".

.... this just in from my ISP ! :

1. No, we are unable to support smarthost protocol. We use the standard
pop3 for incoming and SMTP for outgoing.

2. There are 3 email server ip's. The one you have is for our webmail or
portal access. The incoming mail server is 69.145.248.1. The outgoing
mail server is 69.145.248.57.

Will some kind soul please assist me to get a what should be a simple
stand alone DHCP system to send/receive pop3 email with local mail still
permitted?

Thank you,
--
sk8r-365

sk8r-365 wrote:
> On Etch, with exim4 and mailx, I want to allow popularity contest to
> send it's report but haven't been successful configuring exim4 to send
> it to my ISP's pop3 server. All other attempts produce more problems and
> no success (Malformed URL, loss of local mail ability although it is
> chosen). The message never leaves the computer. Have 9 "Message is
> frozen" items in queue.
>
> So, I *completely* removed the default installed software via Synaptic
> and re-installed it for a fresh start. Now, I'm back to local mail, and
> of course, no remote mailing ("Mailing to remote domains not supported").
>
> This is where I am after reading several posts on the Debian Forum
> (http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.p...ghlight=exim4),
> Googling and RTFM (which has 1146 lines and
> file:///usr/share/doc/exim4-base/README.Debian.html#id2478689) as it
> pertains to dpkg-reconfigure exim4-config (2.1.1. The Debconf
> questions to 2.1.1.11.).
>
> Have seen that there are steps in the Forum, such as editing the
> *.template and adding MAIN_TLS_ENABLE = yes (and other items which I'm
> not even aware I need), which seem to be missing in the instructions
> pertaining to dpkg-reconfigure exim4-config ... or I've gotten so
> baffled I don't recall.
>
> Frankly, I just don't understand how to accomplish this reportedly
> "simple" task of configuration. More I read the less I think I'm being
> fully informed.
>
> Sent my ISP an email requesting if they support/permit smarthost and
> what the mail server's IP is. I tried the mail server's DNS and IP,
> which I got via ping -c1 <myserver>, but they're "Malformed URL".
>
> ... this just in from my ISP ! :
>
> 1. No, we are unable to support smarthost protocol. We use the standard
> pop3 for incoming and SMTP for outgoing.
>
> 2. There are 3 email server ip's. The one you have is for our webmail or
> portal access. The incoming mail server is 69.145.248.1. The outgoing
> mail server is 69.145.248.57.
>
> Will some kind soul please assist me to get a what should be a simple
> stand alone DHCP system to send/receive pop3 email with local mail still
> permitted?
>
> Thank you,
>


You need Exim configured to use a smarthost, which is your ISP's SMTP
server.

Or you can configure Exim to be an Internet server. This "could" allow
incoming mail (or spam relaying). Use dpkg-reconfigure exim4-config to
select the Internet Server option, or the second one down on the list.

You don't "send" POP3. That is a MDA (Mail Delivery Agent) like an IMAP
server would be.

Exim is an MTA (Mail Transfer Agent), and only sends mail outbound (it
can also relay), using SMTP, but it is not an incoming MDA mailbox. That
is performed with mailx, Dovecot, Courier, etc.

You may have a problem using DHCP on a server. It should be behind a
router, so you can use a static IP assignment, and let the router play
DHCP with your ISP. I'd highly suggest you use a static IP to eliminate
resolving problems with the mail server software, etc. Plus get and use
a FQDN, which you can get free from places like http://www.no-ip.com or
buy a cheap one from GoDaddy and point the IP to your ISP-assigned WAN IP.

Check that your hosts file doesn't contain an entry
localhost.localdomain which causes problems.

Here's mine from a Sarge box:


127.0.0.1 localhost optima7
192.168.89.31 optima7.my.net optima7

# The following lines are desirable for IPv6 capable hosts
fe00::0 ip6-localnet
ff00::0 ip6-mcastprefix
ff02::1 ip6-allnodes
ff02::2 ip6-allrouters
ff02::3 ip6-allhosts
hosts (END)


And from an Etch box:


127.0.0.1 localhost
127.0.0.1 optima3.my.other.org optima3

# The following lines are desirable for IPv6 capable hosts
::1 ip6-localhost ip6-loopback
fe00::0 ip6-localnet
ff00::0 ip6-mcastprefix
ff02::1 ip6-allnodes
ff02::2 ip6-allrouters
ff02::3 ip6-allhosts


Put the FQDN before the hostname (127.0.0.1 hostname.domain.name.tld
hostname)

I realize the above two are different, and probably need editing, but
they do work. So if it ain't broke, I don't fix it! ;-)

Be sure your /etc/aliases file is correct. Here is what mine looks like
on a Debian Sarge box which is running Exim4 and INN (root alias munged
to protect the innocent):


# /etc/aliases
mailer-daemon: postmaster
postmaster: root
nobody: root
hostmaster: root
usenet: root
news: root
webmaster: root
www: root
ftp: root
abuse: root
noc: root
security: root
root: john@mail.mydomain.net


This causes Exim to forward all mail to my own mail server (on a
different computer). It could be forwarded to anybody@some.isp.com just
as easy.

This alias configuration would likely eliminate all local delivery into
your mbox though.

Here's a Debian Etch box that hasn't been too highly configured. It
appears cnews did its own addition though. Notice the mail all winds up
going to root, then that goes to user john, so I can easily access it
without sudoing to root. You will need to edit aliases to add the user
who is the addressee for the contest.

# /etc/aliases
mailer-daemon: postmaster
postmaster: root
nobody: root
hostmaster: root
usenet: root
news: root
webmaster: root
www: root
ftp: root
abuse: root
noc: root
security: root
root: john
#-- cnews begin
newsmaster: root
newscrisis: root
#-- cnews end


Interesting.... I just entered the mail command (as john) and found 63
messages!

They were all old cron failures reporting an old broken symlink, so not
important. d 1-63 took care of them. ;-)

This emphasizes the need to check mail regularly. This particular Etch
box runs forever. I don't ever shutdown, so I don't get any "You have
mail" announcement that displays when logging into a session. So I
should "forward" the mail using the aliases file to my mail server where
I will normally check it every few hours from a different PC.


HTH.

--
John

No Microsoft, Apple, Intel, Novell, Trend Micro, nor Ford products were used in the preparation or transmission of this message.

The EULA sounds like it was written by a team of lawyers who want to tell me what I can't do. The GPL sounds like it was written by a human being, who wants me to know what I can do.

sk8r-365 wrote:

> ... this just in from my ISP ! :
>
> 1. No, we are unable to support smarthost protocol. We use the standard
> pop3 for incoming and SMTP for outgoing.
>
> 2. There are 3 email server ip's. The one you have is for our webmail or
> portal access. The incoming mail server is 69.145.248.1. The outgoing
> mail server is 69.145.248.57.


#1 above demonstrates the ignorance of the ISP. "Smarthost protocol"! Ha!

The smart host is your ISP's SMTP server, which he called the "outgoing
server" at the 69.145.248.57 IP. It has a FQDN, maybe

I cannot telnet into it because they won't allow someone off of their
network to access it for fear of a spammer trying to relay spam through
it. They would have another SMTP server for their incoming mail from
other MTAs on the Internet, and I don't know that IP.

I could access their POP3 server though, so that proved the use of the
terms "incoming" and "outgoing" seem to be correct.

john@ubuntu6.06:~$ telnet 69.145.248.1 110
Trying 69.145.248.1...
Connected to 69.145.248.1.
Escape character is '^]'.
+OK POP3 Server 5.1.16-4 ready
<17892989.1214015501@fe-4.cluster1.bresnan.net>
quit
+OK POP3 Server connection closed
Connection closed by foreign host.
john@ubuntu6.06:~$

A little hunch investigation....


john@ubuntu6.06:~$ ping mail.bresnan.net
PING mail.bresnan.net (69.145.248.18) 56(84) bytes of data.


This would be the incoming SMTP server for the Internet, not your
"outgoing" SMTP server. They are different due to firewalling, spam and
virus filtering, etc. Here's a telnet session into it:


john@ubuntu6.06:~$ telnet mail.bresnan.net 25
Trying 69.145.248.18...
Connected to mail.bresnan.net.
Escape character is '^]'.
220 mail.bresnan.net ESMTP 5.1.16-4
quit
221 fe-4.cluster1.bresnan.net Closing SMTP connection
Connection closed by foreign host.
john@ubuntu6.06:~$



That 5.1.16 indicates a CommuniGate Pro server. http://login.stalker.com

I've been running the Stalker Internet Mail Server (SIMS) on a PowerMac
8500 since 1998 or so. Its days are numbered though, ans I have a
Postfix + Dovecot server cooking in the basement on Ubuntu 8.04LTS
Server Edition. I may finalize it on Debian Etch. At the speed I'm
going, it just might be Debian 5.0. ;-)

Now, curiosity has the best of me:


john@ubuntu6.06:~$ whois bresnan.net

Whois Server Version 2.0

Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net
for detailed information.

Domain Name: BRESNAN.NET
Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com
Name Server: DNS1.BRESNAN.NET
Name Server: DNS2.BRESNAN.NET
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Updated Date: 19-jul-2007
Creation Date: 21-jan-1997
Expiration Date: 22-jan-2010

>>> Last update of whois database: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:36:00 EDT <<<

NOTICE: The expiration date displayed in this record is the date the
registrar's sponsorship of the domain name registration in the registry is
currently set to expire. This date does not necessarily reflect the
expiration
date of the domain name registrant's agreement with the sponsoring
registrar. Users may consult the sponsoring registrar's Whois database to
view the registrar's reported date of expiration for this registration.

TERMS OF USE: You are not authorized to access or query our Whois
database through the use of electronic processes that are high-volume and
automated except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or
modify existing registrations; the Data in VeriSign Global Registry
Services' ("VeriSign") Whois database is provided by VeriSign for
information purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information
about or related to a domain name registration record. VeriSign does not
guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a Whois query, you agree to abide
by the following terms of use: You agree that you may use this Data only
for lawful purposes and that under no circumstances will you use this Data
to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass
unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via e-mail, telephone,
or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes
that apply to VeriSign (or its computer systems). The compilation,
repackaging, dissemination or other use of this Data is expressly
prohibited without the prior written consent of VeriSign. You agree not to
use electronic processes that are automated and high-volume to access or
query the Whois database except as reasonably necessary to register
domain names or modify existing registrations. VeriSign reserves the right
to restrict your access to the Whois database in its sole discretion to
ensure
operational stability. VeriSign may restrict or terminate your access
to the
Whois database for failure to abide by these terms of use. VeriSign
reserves the right to modify these terms at any time.

The Registry database contains ONLY .COM, .NET, .EDU domains and
Registrars.NOTICE AND TERMS OF USE: You are not authorized to access or
query our WHOIS
database through the use of high-volume, automated, electronic
processes. The
Data in Network Solutions' WHOIS database is provided by Network
Solutions for information
purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information about or
related
to a domain name registration record. Network Solutions does not
guarantee its accuracy.
By submitting a WHOIS query, you agree to abide by the following terms
of use:
You agree that you may use this Data only for lawful purposes and that
under no
circumstances will you use this Data to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise
supportthe transmission of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or
solicitations
via e-mail, telephone, or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated,
electronic processes that apply to Network Solutions (or its computer
systems). The
compilation, repackaging, dissemination or other use of this Data is
expressly
prohibited without the prior written consent of Network Solutions. You
agree not to use
high-volume, automated, electronic processes to access or query the WHOIS
database. Network Solutions reserves the right to terminate your access
to the WHOIS
database in its sole discretion, including without limitation, for excessive
querying of the WHOIS database or for failure to otherwise abide by this
policy.Network Solutions reserves the right to modify these terms at any
time.

Get a FREE domain name registration, transfer, or renewal with any
annual hosting package.

http://www.networksolutions.com

Visit AboutUs.org for more information about BRESNAN.NET
<a href="http://www.aboutus.org/BRESNAN.NET">AboutUs: BRESNAN.NET </a>

Registrant:
Bresnan Communications
1 Manhattanville Rd
Purchase, NY 10577
US

Domain Name: BRESNAN.NET

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Promote your business to millions of viewers for only $1 a month
Learn how you can get an Enhanced Business Listing here for your
domain name. Learn more at http://www.NetworkSolutions.com/
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Administrative Contact:
Bresnan Communications admin@bresnan.com
1 Manhattanville Rd
Purchase, NY 10577
US
(914) 641-3300 fax: 999 999 9999

Technical Contact:
Admin, Sys admin@bresnan.com
Bresnan Communications
1 Manhattanville Rd
Purchase, NY 10577
US
914-641-3300 fax: (914) 641-3301

Record expires on 22-Jan-2010.
Record created on 21-Jan-1997.
Database last updated on 20-Jun-2008 22:35:24 EDT.

Domain servers in listed order:

DNS1.BRESNAN.NET 69.145.248.3
DNS2.BRESNAN.NET 69.145.232.3

john@ubuntu6.06:~$



--
John

No Microsoft, Apple, Intel, Novell, Trend Micro, nor Ford products were used in the preparation or transmission of this message.

The EULA sounds like it was written by a team of lawyers who want to tell me what I can't do. The GPL sounds like it was written by a human being, who wants me to know what I can do.

On Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:30:11 -0500, sk8r-365 wrote:

> On Etch, with exim4 and mailx, I want to allow popularity contest to
> send it's report but haven't been successful configuring exim4 to send
> it to my ISP's pop3 server.

popcon either works via SMTP or via HTTP, at least since 1.30 or
something. I thought that HTTP was even default from etch on, but
maybe I'm wrong.

anyway:
/etc/popularity-contest.conf
....
USEHTTP="yes"
....

Cf. also
/usr/share/popularity-contest/default.conf
/usr/share/doc/popularity-contest/FAQ.gz


gregor
--
.''`. http://info.comodo.priv.at/ | gpg key ID: 0x00F3CFE4
: :' : debian gnu/linux user, admin & developer - http://www.debian.org/
`. `' member of https://www.vibe.at/ | how to reply: http://got.to/quote/
`- NP: Rod Stewart

Feverishly pounding upon a keyboard John F. Morse typed:

> You need Exim configured to use a smarthost, which is your ISP's SMTP
> server.
>
> Or you can configure Exim to be an Internet server. This "could" allow
> incoming mail (or spam relaying). Use dpkg-reconfigure exim4-config to
> select the Internet Server option, or the second one down on the list.
>
> You don't "send" POP3. That is a MDA (Mail Delivery Agent) like an IMAP
> server would be.
>
> Exim is an MTA (Mail Transfer Agent), and only sends mail outbound (it
> can also relay), using SMTP, but it is not an incoming MDA mailbox. That
> is performed with mailx, Dovecot, Courier, etc.
>
> You may have a problem using DHCP on a server. It should be behind a
> router, so you can use a static IP assignment, and let the router play
> DHCP with your ISP. I'd highly suggest you use a static IP to eliminate
> resolving problems with the mail server software, etc. Plus get and use
> a FQDN, which you can get free from places like http://www.no-ip.com or
> buy a cheap one from GoDaddy and point the IP to your ISP-assigned WAN IP.
>
> Check that your hosts file doesn't contain an entry
> localhost.localdomain which causes problems.

Would have replied sooner, but I'm on call and have been away. Good part
of it has been long windshield time which permitted opportunity to
consider my wants.

John, Yours' is an excellent and complete reply. Certainly among the
best I've seen in newsgroups for a long period! Know it required some
time to post, especially if you type a slowly as I <g>. You have my
_gratitude_.

Still, that's quite a bit to go through to allow popcon to establish a
connection, tho'. I'm gonna do as another mentioned and edit popcon conf
for HTTP. Nonetheless, I have printed your two posts for saving because
they are the *best* treatise on the topic I've seen /anywhere/. When the
need becomes such that I should send other reports to the world, I'll
implement your lessons.

<snip>
> Interesting.... I just entered the mail command (as john) and found 63
> messages!
>
> They were all old cron failures reporting an old broken symlink, so not
> important. d 1-63 took care of them. ;-)
>
> This emphasizes the need to check mail regularly. This particular Etch
> box runs forever. I don't ever shutdown, so I don't get any "You have
> mail" announcement that displays when logging into a session. So I
> should "forward" the mail using the aliases file to my mail server where
> I will normally check it every few hours from a different PC.

If you're on GUI for said machine(s), I use and recommend
mail-notification as an applet:

Description: mail notification in system tray
mail-notification works with system trays implementing the
freedesktop.org System Tray Specification, such as the GNOME Panel
Notification Area, the xfce4 Notification Area and the KDE System Tray.

Kudos, dude!

--
sk8r-365
But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before
my Father which is in heaven. -- Matthew 10:33

Feverishly pounding upon a keyboard gregor herrmann typed:
> On Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:30:11 -0500, sk8r-365 wrote:
>
>> On Etch, with exim4 and mailx, I want to allow popularity contest to
>> send it's report but haven't been successful configuring exim4 to send
>> it to my ISP's pop3 server.
>
> popcon either works via SMTP or via HTTP, at least since 1.30 or
> something. I thought that HTTP was even default from etch on, but
> maybe I'm wrong.
>
> anyway:
> /etc/popularity-contest.conf
> ...
> USEHTTP="yes"
> ...
>
> Cf. also
> /usr/share/popularity-contest/default.conf
> /usr/share/doc/popularity-contest/FAQ.gz

Super idea! Never occurred to me to check the config - didn't know to
look for one. Something to bear in mind, for sure. It seems to be SMTP
by default. When first logging on to the virgin system, exim4 reported
the error. Next mistake was on my part; I assumed popcon hadn't been
tried again being that the system is only two weeks old - guessed popcon
was a monthly issue. When I went to edit the file mentioned 'HTTP' had
been inserted, again assuming, by the system upon the SMTP failure. If
so, nice going dev guys!

Thank you for your time,
--
sk8r-365
And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of
you shall betray me. -- Matthew 26:21

sk8r-365 wrote:
> Feverishly pounding upon a keyboard John F. Morse typed:
>
>
>> You need Exim configured to use a smarthost, which is your ISP's SMTP
>> server.
>>
>> Or you can configure Exim to be an Internet server. This "could" allow
>> incoming mail (or spam relaying). Use dpkg-reconfigure exim4-config to
>> select the Internet Server option, or the second one down on the list.
>>
>> You don't "send" POP3. That is a MDA (Mail Delivery Agent) like an IMAP
>> server would be.
>>
>> Exim is an MTA (Mail Transfer Agent), and only sends mail outbound (it
>> can also relay), using SMTP, but it is not an incoming MDA mailbox. That
>> is performed with mailx, Dovecot, Courier, etc.
>>
>> You may have a problem using DHCP on a server. It should be behind a
>> router, so you can use a static IP assignment, and let the router play
>> DHCP with your ISP. I'd highly suggest you use a static IP to eliminate
>> resolving problems with the mail server software, etc. Plus get and use
>> a FQDN, which you can get free from places like http://www.no-ip.com or
>> buy a cheap one from GoDaddy and point the IP to your ISP-assigned WAN IP.
>>
>> Check that your hosts file doesn't contain an entry
>> localhost.localdomain which causes problems.
>>
>
> Would have replied sooner, but I'm on call and have been away. Good part
> of it has been long windshield time which permitted opportunity to
> consider my wants.
>
> John, Yours' is an excellent and complete reply. Certainly among the
> best I've seen in newsgroups for a long period! Know it required some
> time to post, especially if you type a slowly as I <g>. You have my
> _gratitude_.
>
> Still, that's quite a bit to go through to allow popcon to establish a
> connection, tho'. I'm gonna do as another mentioned and edit popcon conf
> for HTTP. Nonetheless, I have printed your two posts for saving because
> they are the *best* treatise on the topic I've seen /anywhere/. When the
> need becomes such that I should send other reports to the world, I'll
> implement your lessons.
>


Thank you, kind sir. I hope some of it may help.

I'm in the middle of a Postfix+Dovecot install right now. It's causing a
small loss of hair. ;-)


> If you're on GUI for said machine(s), I use and recommend
> mail-notification as an applet:
>
> Description: mail notification in system tray
> mail-notification works with system trays implementing the
> freedesktop.org System Tray Specification, such as the GNOME Panel
> Notification Area, the xfce4 Notification Area and the KDE System Tray.
>


I had something along those lines and found it to be more trouble that
simply checking the mail occasionally. I actually checked mail more
frequently than the applet, and I have the top and bottom panels hidden
for more usable screen real estate. It is called korn and is available
in Synaptic.

It wouldn't do much good when a remote server drops a message in their
mbox (/var/mail/{username}). I'd need to be there to see it. I don't
think it would work with mailx anyway.

I run GNOME, but still use quite a few KDE things. Here's korn's
description:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Korn is a KDE mail checker that can display a small summary in the Kicker
tray. It supports checking mbox, pop3, imap4, and nntp sources.

Once mail is received you can have Korn run a third party program or change
the color/icon of the Kicker display. In addition to this you can have
Korn run a program once you click on the docked icon in Kicker.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

I may have another look at it and see if it could be any help. What I
really need to do is forward the remote servers using their /etc/aliases
file so all mail goes to a mailbox on my main mail server where I can
frequently access it.

--
John

No Microsoft, Apple, Intel, Novell, Trend Micro, nor Ford products were used in the preparation or transmission of this message.

The EULA sounds like it was written by a team of lawyers who want to tell me what I can't do. The GPL sounds like it was written by a human being, who wants me to know what I can do.