Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    Outward SMTP

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved NAT
    12 Posts 6 Posters 16.7k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • Cry HavokC
      Cry Havok
      last edited by

      Yes - create a port forwarding rule on the LAN interface forwarding traffic to any IP on 25/TCP to your ISP.

      If you're not in full control of all clients this may cause a few surprises for people - do ensure that you tell them in that case.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • jimpJ
        jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
        last edited by

        @Cry:

        Yes - create a port forwarding rule on the LAN interface forwarding traffic to any IP on 25/TCP to your ISP.

        If you're not in full control of all clients this may cause a few surprises for people - do ensure that you tell them in that case.

        If you leave port 587 unmolested, that seems fair. Many places outright block 25 from clients these days, but allow 587 (submission port).

        Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

        Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

        Do not Chat/PM for help!

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • L
          Lectrician
          last edited by

          How should I set it up for use as a public access WiFi?

          Many places yo goto say not to change your SMTP server settings on your computer as the WiFi service will re-route it to their SMTP server.

          I thought mail went out on port 25 ::)  Now I wonder ???

          cheers.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • Cry HavokC
            Cry Havok
            last edited by

            Server to server email does, but then there's also 587/TCP (mail client submission) and 465/TCP (SMTPS, SMTP over SSL).  There's also the issue that many SMTP servers speak TLS (SSL) and if you intercept the email then the client may generate (confusing) errors because certificates don't match.

            Finally with the likes of DKIM and SPF people require their email to route via their own mail servers, intercepting it means their email will be rejected by recipients.

            Personally I'd suggest that simply blocking port 25/TCP outbound to anything other than the ISP mail server and provide a notification on the captive portal page.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • D
              danswartz
              last edited by

              Unless you really know what you are doing, I would be leery of re-routing users' SMTP without telling them - even so, some clients may not be able to work in your redirected environment.  I would just block port 25 outbound and tell them (on the captive portal?) how to connect.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • U
                unromeo27
                last edited by

                Hi guys…
                Sorry for reopening this .. not so old thread.

                I am in the same situation, my ISP is constantly threatening me that he is going to block port 25 if I don't make something to stop SPAM going out from my location.

                One very important thing you should know : My location = business hotel with hundreds of customers a week, a few laptops a day with different configurations and different owners who don't even know what's that a "mail server".

                One of the suggestions the ISP gave me was to redirect all traffic on port 25 to his SMTP server (then they will filter spam).

                this is my configuration :

                WAN : xx.xx.xx.11/32
                LAN : 192.168.0.0/24 (staff network)
                OPT1: 192.168.1.0/24 (hotel clients network)

                Please excuse my poor English..  and please try to be as explicit as possible, because I am a total NEWBIE ..

                Thanks !

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • jimpJ
                  jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                  last edited by

                  @unromeo27:

                  I am in the same situation, my ISP is constantly threatening me that he is going to block port 25 if I don't make something to stop SPAM going out from my location.

                  If you read this thread, you'd see that redirecting SMTP is a bad thing. Don't do it. Just block outbound port 25, and direct the users to use their ISP's secure mail ports, as Cry Havok Mentioned: 587/TCP (mail client submission) and 465/TCP (SMTPS, SMTP over SSL)

                  This is a very common situation now, and travelers should be getting used to needing this.

                  Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

                  Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

                  Do not Chat/PM for help!

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • U
                    unromeo27
                    last edited by

                    Thanks for the answer, but .. isn't there any other option ?
                    Tell me who is going to deal with the tens of customers asking why they can't send e-mails from their laptop. Told you.. most of them don't even know what's that a SMTP or just a simple "mail server". I am trying to keep the customers happy, but at the same time to stop my IP from getting blacklisted over and over again..

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • jimpJ
                      jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                      last edited by

                      Most of them are using webmail now anyhow, at least in this region. And the ones that do need SMTP, a lot of ISPs will not take port 25 from clients for relay from off-network now anyhow. (At least around here)

                      If an ISP supports SMTP auth, they probably already support using the submission port (587).

                      I don't think it will be the big issue you think it will, but the only way to know is to shut it down and try.

                      Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

                      Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

                      Do not Chat/PM for help!

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • K
                        kpa
                        last edited by

                        In my opinion you have no choise but to bluntly deny outbound tcp port 25, there is no excuse for allowing SPAM email to originate from a network operated by YOU.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • D
                          danswartz
                          last edited by

                          KPA, +1.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • First post
                            Last post
                          Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.