I have been running my server fine since December with out any major issues until now. I can usually figure out the solutions relatively easily, but now after a few days and nights of trying I am finally at my wits end.
Usually its either solved at one of the following layers...Domain Registrar DNS, Router Firewall, the Server, or the client side app.
I should note that I am using a router and dynamic DNS. Not that it should have any impact.
There are two recent events that may have something to do with the recent issue but I can't be certain.
1) I replaced my old Motorola SB5100 Cable Modem with a Motorola SBG6580 and turned off the router part of it and set it as a simple cable modem pass-through only. I am using it with my Dlink Dir-655 gateway router.
2) I accidentally turned off my power bar while the server was on. When it restarted it had some power management error message, and had to be restarted to get working again.
Since this I have done virtualmin restores of the server to before the issue started but the problem still exists.
I have confirmed that the port 25 is open on the router. I can email from the "Thunderbird" client on laptop to any other mailbox on the server, and I can email to external clients if I use Webmail, but I can not email to external clients from any device client app. i.e. cell phone, laptop, etc.
I get an error message "An error occurred while sending mail. The mail server responded: 5.7.1 paulcomtois@live.ca: Relay access denied. Please check the message recipient paulcomtois@live.ca and try again.
I can receive external emails without any problems.
I have tried playing with changes in the Postfix main.cf file that I read up on but nothing I do helps. I have tried changing the SMTP settings in the Thunderbird client but no success. I have made sure that my external ip address is that of my Router 192.168.0.2 as instructed for NAT use and everything is working except for the outgoing smtp service.
The mail log is showing something strange about my External IP Address too...
warning: 72.53.72.45: hostname 72-53-72-45.cpe.distributel.net verification failed: Name or service not known Mar 3 22:56:30 www postfix/smtpd[2617]: connect from unknown[72.53.72.45] Mar 3 22:56:30 www postfix/smtpd[2617]: NOQUEUE: reject: RCPT from unknown[72.53.72.45]: 554 5.7.1 paulcomtois@live.ca: Relay access denied; from=paul.comtois@promaxia.com to=paulcomtois@live.ca proto=ESMTP helo=<[192.168.0.197]> Mar 3 22:56:32 www postfix/smtpd[2617]: disconnect from unknown[72.53.72.45]
Any help solving this mystery would be greatly appreciated.
Here is my main.cf if it helps...
Global Postfix configuration file. This file lists only a subset of all parameters. For the syntax, and for a complete parameter list, see the postconf(5) manual page (command: "man 5 postconf").#
For common configuration examples, see BASIC_CONFIGURATION_README and STANDARD_CONFIGURATION_README. To find these documents, use the command "postconf html_directory readme_directory", or go to http://www.postfix.org/.#
For best results, change no more than 2-3 parameters at a time, and test if Postfix still works after every change. SOFT BOUNCE#
The soft_bounce parameter provides a limited safety net for testing. When soft_bounce is enabled, mail will remain queued that would otherwise bounce. This parameter disables locally-generated bounces, and prevents the SMTP server from rejecting mail permanently (by changing 5xx replies into 4xx replies). However, soft_bounce is no cure for address rewriting mistakes or mail routing mistakes.#
soft_bounce = no LOCAL PATHNAME INFORMATION#
The queue_directory specifies the location of the Postfix queue. This is also the root directory of Postfix daemons that run chrooted. See the files in examples/chroot-setup for setting up Postfix chroot environments on different UNIX systems.#
The command_directory parameter specifies the location of all postXXX commands.# command_directory = /usr/sbin
The daemon_directory parameter specifies the location of all Postfix daemon programs (i.e. programs listed in the master.cf file). This directory must be owned by root.# daemon_directory = /usr/libexec/postfix
The data_directory parameter specifies the location of Postfix-writable data files (caches, random numbers). This directory must be owned by the mail_owner account (see below).# data_directory = /var/lib/postfix
QUEUE AND PROCESS OWNERSHIP#
The mail_owner parameter specifies the owner of the Postfix queue and of most Postfix daemon processes. Specify the name of a user account THAT DOES NOT SHARE ITS USER OR GROUP ID WITH OTHER ACCOUNTS AND THAT OWNS NO OTHER FILES OR PROCESSES ON THE SYSTEM. In particular, don't specify nobody or daemon. PLEASE USE A DEDICATED USER.#
The default_privs parameter specifies the default rights used by the local delivery agent for delivery to external file or command. These rights are used in the absence of a recipient user context. DO NOT SPECIFY A PRIVILEGED USER OR THE POSTFIX OWNER.#
default_privs = nobody INTERNET HOST AND DOMAIN NAMES The myhostname parameter specifies the internet hostname of this mail system. The default is to use the fully-qualified domain name from gethostname(). $myhostname is used as a default value for many other configuration parameters.#
myhostname = host.domain.tld myhostname = virtual.domain.tld The mydomain parameter specifies the local internet domain name. The default is to use $myhostname minus the first component. $mydomain is used as a default value for many other configuration parameters.#
mydomain = domain.tld SENDING MAIL The myorigin parameter specifies the domain that locally-posted mail appears to come from. The default is to append $myhostname, which is fine for small sites. If you run a domain with multiple machines, you should (1) change this to $mydomain and (2) set up a domain-wide alias database that aliases each user to user@that.users.mailhost.#
For the sake of consistency between sender and recipient addresses, myorigin also specifies the default domain name that is appended to recipient addresses that have no @domain part.#
myorigin = $myhostname myorigin = $mydomain RECEIVING MAIL The inet_interfaces parameter specifies the network interface addresses that this mail system receives mail on. By default, the software claims all active interfaces on the machine. The parameter also controls delivery of mail to user@[ip.address].#
See also the proxy_interfaces parameter, for network addresses that are forwarded to us via a proxy or network address translator.#
Note: you need to stop/start Postfix when this parameter changes.#
inet_interfaces = all inet_interfaces = $myhostname inet_interfaces = $myhostname, localhost Enable IPv4, and IPv6 if supportedinet_protocols = all
The proxy_interfaces parameter specifies the network interface addresses that this mail system receives mail on by way of a proxy or network address translation unit. This setting extends the address list specified with the inet_interfaces parameter.#
You must specify your proxy/NAT addresses when your system is a backup MX host for other domains, otherwise mail delivery loops will happen when the primary MX host is down.#
proxy_interfaces = proxy_interfaces = 1.2.3.4 The mydestination parameter specifies the list of domains that this machine considers itself the final destination for.#
These domains are routed to the delivery agent specified with the local_transport parameter setting. By default, that is the UNIX compatible delivery agent that lookups all recipients in /etc/passwd and /etc/aliases or their equivalent.#
The default is $myhostname + localhost.$mydomain. On a mail domain gateway, you should also include $mydomain.#
Do not specify the names of virtual domains - those domains are specified elsewhere (see VIRTUAL_README).#
Do not specify the names of domains that this machine is backup MX host for. Specify those names via the relay_domains settings for the SMTP server, or use permit_mx_backup if you are lazy (see STANDARD_CONFIGURATION_README).#
The local machine is always the final destination for mail addressed to user@[the.net.work.address] of an interface that the mail system receives mail on (see the inet_interfaces parameter).#
Specify a list of host or domain names, /file/name or type:table patterns, separated by commas and/or whitespace. A /file/name pattern is replaced by its contents; a type:table is matched when a name matches a lookup key (the right-hand side is ignored). Continue long lines by starting the next line with whitespace.#
See also below, section "REJECTING MAIL FOR UNKNOWN LOCAL USERS".# mydestination = $myhostname, localhost.$mydomain, localhost, localhost.localdomain
mydestination = $myhostname, localhost.$mydomain, localhost, $mydomain mydestination = $myhostname, localhost.$mydomain, localhost, $mydomain, mail.$mydomain, www.$mydomain, ftp.$mydomain REJECTING MAIL FOR UNKNOWN LOCAL USERS#
The local_recipient_maps parameter specifies optional lookup tables with all names or addresses of users that are local with respect to $mydestination, $inet_interfaces or $proxy_interfaces.#
If this parameter is defined, then the SMTP server will reject mail for unknown local users. This parameter is defined by default.#
To turn off local recipient checking in the SMTP server, specify local_recipient_maps = (i.e. empty).#
The default setting assumes that you use the default Postfix local delivery agent for local delivery. You need to update the local_recipient_maps setting if:#
- You define $mydestination domain recipients in files other than /etc/passwd, /etc/aliases, or the $virtual_alias_maps files. For example, you define $mydestination domain recipients in the $virtual_mailbox_maps files.#
- You redefine the local delivery agent in master.cf.#
- You redefine the "local_transport" setting in main.cf.#
- You use the "luser_relay", "mailbox_transport", or "fallback_transport" feature of the Postfix local delivery agent (see local(8)).#
Details are described in the LOCAL_RECIPIENT_README file.#
Beware: if the Postfix SMTP server runs chrooted, you probably have to access the passwd file via the proxymap service, in order to overcome chroot restrictions. The alternative, having a copy of the system passwd file in the chroot jail is just not practical.#
The right-hand side of the lookup tables is conveniently ignored. In the left-hand side, specify a bare username, an @domain.tld wild-card, or specify a user@domain.tld address. local_recipient_maps = unix:passwd.byname $alias_maps local_recipient_maps = proxy:unix:passwd.byname $alias_maps local_recipient_maps = The unknown_local_recipient_reject_code specifies the SMTP server response code when a recipient domain matches $mydestination or ${proxy,inet}_interfaces, while $local_recipient_maps is non-empty and the recipient address or address local-part is not found.#
The default setting is 550 (reject mail) but it is safer to start with 450 (try again later) until you are certain that your local_recipient_maps settings are OK.# unknown_local_recipient_reject_code = 550
TRUST AND RELAY CONTROL The mynetworks parameter specifies the list of "trusted" SMTP clients that have more privileges than "strangers".#
In particular, "trusted" SMTP clients are allowed to relay mail through Postfix. See the smtpd_recipient_restrictions parameter in postconf(5).#
You can specify the list of "trusted" network addresses by hand or you can let Postfix do it for you (which is the default).#
By default (mynetworks_style = subnet), Postfix "trusts" SMTP clients in the same IP subnetworks as the local machine. On Linux, this does works correctly only with interfaces specified with the "ifconfig" command. Specify "mynetworks_style = class" when Postfix should "trust" SMTP clients in the same IP class A/B/C networks as the local machine. Don't do this with a dialup site - it would cause Postfix to "trust" your entire provider's network. Instead, specify an explicit mynetworks list by hand, as described below. Specify "mynetworks_style = host" when Postfix should "trust" only the local machine. mynetworks_style = class mynetworks_style = subnet mynetworks_style = host Alternatively, you can specify the mynetworks list by hand, in which case Postfix ignores the mynetworks_style setting.#
Specify an explicit list of network/netmask patterns, where the mask specifies the number of bits in the network part of a host address.#
You can also specify the absolute pathname of a pattern file instead of listing the patterns here. Specify type:table for table-based lookups (the value on the table right-hand side is not used).#
mynetworks = 168.100.189.0/28, 127.0.0.0/8 mynetworks = $config_directory/mynetworks mynetworks = hash:/etc/postfix/network_table The relay_domains parameter restricts what destinations this system will relay mail to. See the smtpd_recipient_restrictions description in postconf(5) for detailed information.#
By default, Postfix relays mail - from "trusted" clients (IP address matches $mynetworks) to any destination, - from "untrusted" clients to destinations that match $relay_domains or subdomains thereof, except addresses with sender-specified routing. The default relay_domains value is $mydestination. In addition to the above, the Postfix SMTP server by default accepts mail that Postfix is final destination for: - destinations that match $inet_interfaces or $proxy_interfaces, - destinations that match $mydestination - destinations that match $virtual_alias_domains, - destinations that match $virtual_mailbox_domains. These destinations do not need to be listed in $relay_domains. Specify a list of hosts or domains, /file/name patterns or type:name lookup tables, separated by commas and/or whitespace. Continue long lines by starting the next line with whitespace. A file name is replaced by its contents; a type:name table is matched when a (parent) domain appears as lookup key.#
NOTE: Postfix will not automatically forward mail for domains that list this system as their primary or backup MX host. See the permit_mx_backup restriction description in postconf(5).#
relay_domains = $mydestination INTERNET OR INTRANET The relayhost parameter specifies the default host to send mail to when no entry is matched in the optional transport(5) table. When no relayhost is given, mail is routed directly to the destination.#
On an intranet, specify the organizational domain name. If your internal DNS uses no MX records, specify the name of the intranet gateway host instead.#
In the case of SMTP, specify a domain, host, host:port, [host]:port, [address] or [address]:port; the form [host] turns off MX lookups.#
If you're connected via UUCP, see also the default_transport parameter.#
relayhost = $mydomain relayhost = [gateway.my.domain] relayhost = [mailserver.isp.tld] relayhost = uucphost relayhost = [an.ip.add.ress] REJECTING UNKNOWN RELAY USERS#
The relay_recipient_maps parameter specifies optional lookup tables with all addresses in the domains that match $relay_domains.#
If this parameter is defined, then the SMTP server will reject mail for unknown relay users. This feature is off by default.#
The right-hand side of the lookup tables is conveniently ignored. In the left-hand side, specify an @domain.tld wild-card, or specify a user@domain.tld address. relay_recipient_maps = hash:/etc/postfix/relay_recipients INPUT RATE CONTROL#
The in_flow_delay configuration parameter implements mail input flow control. This feature is turned on by default, although it still needs further development (it's disabled on SCO UNIX due to an SCO bug). A Postfix process will pause for $in_flow_delay seconds before accepting a new message, when the message arrival rate exceeds the message delivery rate. With the default 100 SMTP server process limit, this limits the mail inflow to 100 messages a second more than the number of messages delivered per second. Specify 0 to disable the feature. Valid delays are 0..10. in_flow_delay = 1s ADDRESS REWRITING#
The ADDRESS_REWRITING_README document gives information about address masquerading or other forms of address rewriting including username->Firstname.Lastname mapping. ADDRESS REDIRECTION (VIRTUAL DOMAIN)#
The VIRTUAL_README document gives information about the many forms of domain hosting that Postfix supports. "USER HAS MOVED" BOUNCE MESSAGES#
See the discussion in the ADDRESS_REWRITING_README document. TRANSPORT MAP#
See the discussion in the ADDRESS_REWRITING_README document. ALIAS DATABASE#
The alias_maps parameter specifies the list of alias databases used by the local delivery agent. The default list is system dependent.#
On systems with NIS, the default is to search the local alias database, then the NIS alias database. See aliases(5) for syntax details. If you change the alias database, run "postalias /etc/aliases" (or wherever your system stores the mail alias file), or simply run "newaliases" to build the necessary DBM or DB file.#
It will take a minute or so before changes become visible. Use "postfix reload" to eliminate the delay.#
alias_maps = dbm:/etc/aliasesalias_maps = hash:/etc/aliases
alias_maps = hash:/etc/aliases, nis:mail.aliases alias_maps = netinfo:/aliases The alias_database parameter specifies the alias database(s) that are built with "newaliases" or "sendmail -bi". This is a separate configuration parameter, because alias_maps (see above) may specify tables that are not necessarily all under control by Postfix.#
alias_database = dbm:/etc/aliases alias_database = dbm:/etc/mail/aliasesalias_database = hash:/etc/aliases
alias_database = hash:/etc/aliases, hash:/opt/majordomo/aliases ADDRESS EXTENSIONS (e.g., user+foo)#
The recipient_delimiter parameter specifies the separator between user names and address extensions (user+foo). See canonical(5), local(8), relocated(5) and virtual(5) for the effects this has on aliases, canonical, virtual, relocated and .forward file lookups. Basically, the software tries user+foo and .forward+foo before trying user and .forward.#
recipient_delimiter = + DELIVERY TO MAILBOX#
The home_mailbox parameter specifies the optional pathname of a mailbox file relative to a user's home directory. The default mailbox file is /var/spool/mail/user or /var/mail/user. Specify "Maildir/" for qmail-style delivery (the / is required).#
home_mailbox = Mailbox home_mailbox = Maildir/ The mail_spool_directory parameter specifies the directory where UNIX-style mailboxes are kept. The default setting depends on the system type.#
mail_spool_directory = /var/mail mail_spool_directory = /var/spool/mail The mailbox_command parameter specifies the optional external command to use instead of mailbox delivery. The command is run as the recipient with proper HOME, SHELL and LOGNAME environment settings. Exception: delivery for root is done as $default_user.#
Other environment variables of interest: USER (recipient username), EXTENSION (address extension), DOMAIN (domain part of address), and LOCAL (the address localpart).#
Unlike other Postfix configuration parameters, the mailbox_command parameter is not subjected to $parameter substitutions. This is to make it easier to specify shell syntax (see example below).#
Avoid shell meta characters because they will force Postfix to run an expensive shell process. Procmail alone is expensive enough.#
IF YOU USE THIS TO DELIVER MAIL SYSTEM-WIDE, YOU MUST SET UP AN ALIAS THAT FORWARDS MAIL FOR ROOT TO A REAL USER.#
mailbox_command = /some/where/procmail mailbox_command = /some/where/procmail -a "$EXTENSION" The mailbox_transport specifies the optional transport in master.cf to use after processing aliases and .forward files. This parameter has precedence over the mailbox_command, fallback_transport and luser_relay parameters.#
Specify a string of the form transport:nexthop, where transport is the name of a mail delivery transport defined in master.cf. The :nexthop part is optional. For more details see the sample transport configuration file.#
NOTE: if you use this feature for accounts not in the UNIX password file, then you must update the "local_recipient_maps" setting in the main.cf file, otherwise the SMTP server will reject mail for non-UNIX accounts with "User unknown in local recipient table".#
mailbox_transport = lmtp:unix:/var/lib/imap/socket/lmtp If using the cyrus-imapd IMAP server deliver local mail to the IMAP server using LMTP (Local Mail Transport Protocol), this is prefered over the older cyrus deliver program by setting the mailbox_transport as below:#
mailbox_transport = lmtp:unix:/var/lib/imap/socket/lmtp#
The efficiency of LMTP delivery for cyrus-imapd can be enhanced via these settings.#
local_destination_recipient_limit = 300 local_destination_concurrency_limit = 5#
Of course you should adjust these settings as appropriate for the capacity of the hardware you are using. The recipient limit setting can be used to take advantage of the single instance message store capability of Cyrus. The concurrency limit can be used to control how many simultaneous LMTP sessions will be permitted to the Cyrus message store.#
To use the old cyrus deliver program you have to set: mailbox_transport = cyrus The fallback_transport specifies the optional transport in master.cf to use for recipients that are not found in the UNIX passwd database. This parameter has precedence over the luser_relay parameter.#
Specify a string of the form transport:nexthop, where transport is the name of a mail delivery transport defined in master.cf. The :nexthop part is optional. For more details see the sample transport configuration file.#
NOTE: if you use this feature for accounts not in the UNIX password file, then you must update the "local_recipient_maps" setting in the main.cf file, otherwise the SMTP server will reject mail for non-UNIX accounts with "User unknown in local recipient table".#
fallback_transport = lmtp:unix:/var/lib/imap/socket/lmtp fallback_transport = The luser_relay parameter specifies an optional destination address for unknown recipients. By default, mail for unknown@$mydestination, unknown@[$inet_interfaces] or unknown@[$proxy_interfaces] is returned as undeliverable.#
The following expansions are done on luser_relay: $user (recipient username), $shell (recipient shell), $home (recipient home directory), $recipient (full recipient address), $extension (recipient address extension), $domain (recipient domain), $local (entire recipient localpart), $recipient_delimiter. Specify ${name?value} or ${name:value} to expand value only when $name does (does not) exist.#
luser_relay works only for the default Postfix local delivery agent.#
NOTE: if you use this feature for accounts not in the UNIX password file, then you must specify "local_recipient_maps =" (i.e. empty) in the main.cf file, otherwise the SMTP server will reject mail for non-UNIX accounts with "User unknown in local recipient table".#
luser_relay = $user@other.host luser_relay = $local@other.host luser_relay = admin+$local JUNK MAIL CONTROLS The controls listed here are only a very small subset. The file SMTPD_ACCESS_README provides an overview. The header_checks parameter specifies an optional table with patterns that each logical message header is matched against, including headers that span multiple physical lines.#
By default, these patterns also apply to MIME headers and to the headers of attached messages. With older Postfix versions, MIME and attached message headers were treated as body text.#
For details, see "man header_checks".#
header_checks = regexp:/etc/postfix/header_checks FAST ETRN SERVICE#
Postfix maintains per-destination logfiles with information about deferred mail, so that mail can be flushed quickly with the SMTP "ETRN domain.tld" command, or by executing "sendmail -qRdomain.tld". See the ETRN_README document for a detailed description. The fast_flush_domains parameter controls what destinations are eligible for this service. By default, they are all domains that this server is willing to relay mail to. fast_flush_domains = $relay_domains SHOW SOFTWARE VERSION OR NOT#
The smtpd_banner parameter specifies the text that follows the 220 code in the SMTP server's greeting banner. Some people like to see the mail version advertised. By default, Postfix shows no version.#
You MUST specify $myhostname at the start of the text. That is an RFC requirement. Postfix itself does not care.#
smtpd_banner = $myhostname ESMTP $mail_name smtpd_banner = $myhostname ESMTP $mail_name ($mail_version) PARALLEL DELIVERY TO THE SAME DESTINATION#
How many parallel deliveries to the same user or domain? With local delivery, it does not make sense to do massively parallel delivery to the same user, because mailbox updates must happen sequentially, and expensive pipelines in .forward files can cause disasters when too many are run at the same time. With SMTP deliveries, 10 simultaneous connections to the same domain could be sufficient to raise eyebrows. Each message delivery transport has its XXX_destination_concurrency_limit parameter. The default is $default_destination_concurrency_limit for most delivery transports. For the local delivery agent the default is 2. local_destination_concurrency_limit = 2 default_destination_concurrency_limit = 20 DEBUGGING CONTROL#
The debug_peer_level parameter specifies the increment in verbose logging level when an SMTP client or server host name or address matches a pattern in the debug_peer_list parameter.# debug_peer_level = 2
The debug_peer_list parameter specifies an optional list of domain or network patterns, /file/name patterns or type:name tables. When an SMTP client or server host name or address matches a pattern, increase the verbose logging level by the amount specified in the debug_peer_level parameter.#
debug_peer_list = 127.0.0.1 debug_peer_list = some.domain The debugger_command specifies the external command that is executed when a Postfix daemon program is run with the -D option.#
Use "command .. & sleep 5" so that the debugger can attach before the process marches on. If you use an X-based debugger, be sure to set up your XAUTHORITY environment variable before starting Postfix.# debugger_command = PATH=/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/X11R6/bin ddd $daemon_directory/$process_name $process_id & sleep 5
If you can't use X, use this to capture the call stack when a daemon crashes. The result is in a file in the configuration directory, and is named after the process name and the process ID.#
debugger_command = PATH=/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin; export PATH; (echo cont; echo where) | gdb $daemon_directory/$process_name $process_id 2>&1 >$config_directory/$process_name.$process_id.log & sleep 5#
Another possibility is to run gdb under a detached screen session. To attach to the screen sesssion, su root and run "screen -r " where uniquely matches one of the detached sessions (from "screen -list").#
debugger_command = PATH=/bin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/usr/sbin; export PATH; screen -dmS $process_name gdb $daemon_directory/$process_name $process_id & sleep 1 INSTALL-TIME CONFIGURATION INFORMATION#
The following parameters are used when installing a new Postfix version. sendmail_path: The full pathname of the Postfix sendmail command. This is the Sendmail-compatible mail posting interface.sendmail_path = /usr/sbin/sendmail.postfix
newaliases_path: The full pathname of the Postfix newaliases command. This is the Sendmail-compatible command to build alias databases.# newaliases_path = /usr/bin/newaliases.postfix
mailq_path: The full pathname of the Postfix mailq command. This is the Sendmail-compatible mail queue listing command.mailq_path = /usr/bin/mailq.postfix
setgid_group: The group for mail submission and queue management commands. This must be a group name with a numerical group ID that is not shared with other accounts, not even with the Postfix account.# setgid_group = postdrop
html_directory: The location of the Postfix HTML documentation.# html_directory = no
manpage_directory: The location of the Postfix on-line manual pages.# manpage_directory = /usr/share/man
sample_directory: The location of the Postfix sample configuration files. This parameter is obsolete as of Postfix 2.1.# sample_directory = /usr/share/doc/postfix-2.6.6/samples
readme_directory: The location of the Postfix README files.# readme_directory = /usr/share/doc/postfix-2.6.6/README_FILES virtual_alias_maps = hash:/etc/postfix/virtual sender_bcc_maps = hash:/etc/postfix/bcc mailbox_command = /usr/bin/procmail-wrapper -o -a $DOMAIN -d $LOGNAME home_mailbox = Maildir/ smtpd_sasl_auth_enable = yes broken_sasl_auth_clients = yes mailbox_size_limit = 0 allow_percent_hack = no
smtpd_tls_security_level = none smtpd_recipient_restrictions = permit_mynetworks permit_sasl_authenticated
Howdy,
An error occurred while sending mail. The mail server responded: 5.7.1 : Relay access denied. Please check the message recipient
That actually indicates an issue with the client, rather than the server.
It suggests that your client isn't set to authenticate when sending an email message.
My suggestion would be to go into the Thunderbird settings, find the settings related to sending emails, and to make sure that it's setup to authenticate when it's sending an outgoing message.
-Eric
Hi Eric,
I disagree that its the client. It worked fine for 4 months just fine with the settings the way they had always been. On several clients with no problem.
There was one strange thing that happened on the server a few days before this issue started. I began to get error messages when I tried to Send/Receive emails...it said that the mail server had run out of room, but this made no sense to me because my Total data was only 3GB for the entire server and it was on a 60GB hard drive. Then I started checking the mail log files and found that there were several log files almost 4gb each, I assumed something was not right, so I deleted the mail log files and then I was able to start receiving mail again. At the time I didn't know there was a problem sending externally too.
Then today I had the opportunity to connect to an external connection at a mall with my android phone, and although I was able to confirm I could access my Website from outside my network, I was unable to send or receive email via the pop/smtp mail client.
I am convinced there is still something very wrong with the server causing this issue, especially since no matter which changes I make to the server/client authentication settings it still has no effect on the issue.
Is there any files or additional information I can provide to you that might help you determine where the real problem is?
This may or may not be related but why am I seeing what looks like POP3 login attempts via email addresses from my ISP provider? Are they trying to hack me or am I getting my DNS/ Ports crossed with theirs? Is this why I am getting Relay Access denied messages for stmp? Is my server somehow trying to use their mail server port?
I am not using my own Bind DNS server, I am using my Router with DNS relay enabled to pass info along to my ISP's DNS.
Mar 4 04:01:11 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=test@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:01:19 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=test@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:01:31 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=test@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:01:50 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=test@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:02:09 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=test1@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:02:29 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=test@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:02:48 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=test@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:03:08 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=test@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:03:27 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=admin@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:03:46 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=admin@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:04:06 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=admin@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:04:24 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=admin@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:04:43 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=admin@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:05:02 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=admin@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:05:22 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=test@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:05:41 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=postmaster@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:06:01 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=postmaster@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:06:21 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=postmaster@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:06:40 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=postmaster@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:06:59 www dovecot: pop3-login: Disconnected (auth failed, 1 attempts): user=webmaster@distributel.net, method=PLAIN, rip=188.132.184.57, lip=192.168.0.193 Mar 4 04:07:18 www postfix/smtpd[16808]: connect from unknown[210.93.56.25]
Hi Eric,
Well it looks like you were correct about setting up the Authentication in the client, but that was only part of the solution it seems. I had tried it several times over the last few days the same way and it never worked, even though I read the same thing on many threads, which was why it was so frustrating, everything was straight forward and simple enough that it should have worked.
What got it working for me was possible two additional changes. I have yet to confirm is both are actually needed or if only one was the solution.
1) Another post I read said updating the DNS TXT Record helped him by adding... promaxia.com. IN TXT "v=spf1 mx -all" promaxia.com. IN SPF "v=spf1 mx -all"
I did this on my Domain Registrars DNS, but it did not seem to help, at least not right away, their DNS changes do take time to update fully.
2) I also went into /etc/postfix/main.cf and updated "myhostname =" and "mydomain =" to include my real data and took the # at the beginning out to enable them.
After that I tested it again and this time it finally worked. I can now send email again. I still think this is odd because for 4 months I was using it without Smtp authentication with out any problems.
I'm just happy its working again.
I also had to set up the "SMTP login to outgoing mail host" so that I had just one common log on for Smtp, because I have about 100 email accounts one my one email client and I did not want to have to set up 100 separate smtp log-ons. Thats ok if each user has one email account but not so great if one user has many email accounts.
Anyway, thanks for the nugget of info.
I'm glad it's working, thanks for letting us know you fixed it!
-Eric