Author Topic: SMTP can't be found (Read 2586 times)

lajre · « **on:** November 29, 2005, 06:12:53 pm »

Hi,

All of a sudden I can't send mails out and get the following error:

Connecting to SMTP server...
Warning: fsockopen(): unable to connect to mail.example.com:25 in /hsphere/local/home/user/example.com/mail/admin.php on line 919
Server not found!
Failed.

Check your SMTP settings!

I thought it was just temporary problem with host, but I have not been able to send for several hours and my host says their server is operating normal and no recent changes/upgrades have been made.

When I send a test email through outlook from the server to my comcast account I'm able to receive it OK.. so it seems the problem is on ListMail end.. any ideas?

lajre · « **Reply #1 on:** November 29, 2005, 06:40:52 pm »

When I got to
http://example.com/mail/admin.php I get the following error:

Warning: mysql_connect(): Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2) in /hsphere/local/home/user/example.com/mail/admin.php on line 2637
Could not connect to MySQL. Please check your MySQL database, username, password, and permissions and set up ListMail's config.php
MySQL Error: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2)

DW · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2005, 08:26:29 pm »

If this is a new error and you haven't applied the new v1.85 upgrade I would say that the server is having some troubles. It could be MySQL and SMTP service related or DNS related. I can investigate with access to your installation which you can securely submit to me here.

Regards

lajre · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2005, 09:15:57 pm »

Hi Dean,

I'm still on version 1.8.. for some reason I didn't get notification that these upgrades were available. I'll install the updates and see if this fixes the problem. If not I'll send in the installation info.. thanks

DW · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2005, 09:19:26 pm »

It would be best if we figured out what has changed instead of changing more things right away.

If it's not too late I'd hold off on the upgrade!

Regards

lajre · « **Reply #5 on:** November 29, 2005, 09:41:27 pm »

too late

yeah, not sure why I thought the upgrades would fix it. Its been working just fine until today and I haven't changed any files. Ok, i'm sending on over my info Dean.

DW · « **Reply #6 on:** November 30, 2005, 02:23:08 am »

Okay, I've done some investigating.

The test for bounce handling by mailbox works, so the fsockopen() PHP function we use to establish the connection is supported by your host. This also tells us that the mail server hostname is correct and CAN be connected to on the mail checking port (110). We can't seem to, however, connect to the SMTP port (25) from ListMail. I can connect to it from own of my dedicated servers, though, so it seems to be up and running. It is my advice that access has probably been restricted by a firewall entry. Your web host may have seen you (or other users on the server) connecting from one of their servers and found it suspicious. I recommend that you contact your host.

Here's what to say:

I'm using a PHP script that sends email via SMTP. It used to work fine but now it won't connect. Checking email with the script still works. Can you tell me if any restrictions were put in place recently?

Regards

lajre · « **Reply #7 on:** November 30, 2005, 06:50:33 pm »

thank you very much Dean for trouble shooting this - my host assured me twice that no modifications had been made to the server before I posted here in the forum, but i've forwarded your post on to them. I'll let you know what happens.

lajre · « **Reply #8 on:** December 02, 2005, 04:10:21 am »

WEll, finally got a reply back from the host saying it all is working fine and they could find no problems. No explanation of why I was unable to connect to the SMTP for more than 2 days! Just another of a long list of problems with ixwebhosting. Needless to say I'll be moving to another host as well as a dedicated server at the start of the year.

I'll look into your dreamhost recommendation.

DW · « **Reply #9 on:** December 02, 2005, 05:31:32 am »

If you signup for DreamHost as my referral let me know and I'll migrate your site + ListMail for free.

Regards