Email connectivity issues

[loudsubz]

For some reason all of the computers on the network today are not able to connect to the mail server anymore (smtp10.bellnet.ca). At first I thought maybe it was down, but I can send email from my house with that server no problem.

I have rebooted the pfsense but still no luck. We are running 1.2.1-RC2.

Anything I should take a look at first as to why this might be happening.

The email details show:

The host 'smtp10.bellnet.ca' could not be found. Please verify that you have entered the server name correctly. Account: 'ccs', Server: 'smtp10.bellnet.ca', Protocol: SMTP, Port: 25, Secure(SSL): No, Socket Error: 11004, Error Number: 0x800CCC0D

[Cry Havok]

On that network, what happens if you run the following commands:

nslookup smtp10.bellnet.ca

telnet smtp10.bellnet.ca 25

[loudsubz]

C:\Documents and Settings\Tech>nslookup smtp10.bellnet.ca
Server:  pfsense.ccssecurity.ca
Address:  192.168.1.1

DNS request timed out.
    timeout was 2 seconds.
DNS request timed out.
    timeout was 2 seconds.
*** Request to pfsense.ccssecurity.ca timed-out

Telnet also times out without a connection. "Connect Failed"

[Cry Havok]

So, you have one of 4 problems:

1. The PC doesn't have network connectivity

2. Somebody's installed another DHCP server on the network

3. The pfSense host doesn't have Internet connectivity

4. Somebody has changed the settings on the pfSense host to disable DNS forwarding/server and block outbound traffic (at least on 25/TCP)

To test:

1. Can the PC connect to the pfSense host?

2. ipconfig/all will tell you the IP of the DHCP server

3. Check the pfSense GUI and see if you can connect (from a PC) to the Internet otherwise (ie web sites)

4. Look at the settings ;)

[loudsubz]

@Cry:

So, you have one of 4 problems:

1. The PC doesn't have network connectivity

• I can surf the internet just fine, I can even receive email on another email server, I just cannot send.

2. Somebody's installed another DHCP server on the network

-I will have to double check that somebody has not tampered with anything.

3. The pfSense host doesn't have Internet connectivity

4. Somebody has changed the settings on the pfSense host to disable DNS forwarding/server and block outbound traffic (at least on 25/TCP)

To test:

1. Can the PC connect to the pfSense host?

-Yes it can. I was in there last night and this morning doing changes and checking out settings.

2. ipconfig/all will tell you the IP of the DHCP server

-All the machines are configured as static, and have been for the last 1.5 years that the pfsesne box has been setup.

3. Check the pfSense GUI and see if you can connect (from a PC) to the Internet otherwise (ie web sites)

-No problems there. Like I said only thing that does not work is connecting to that outbound mail server on port 25.

4. Look at the settings ;)

[Cry Havok]

No, it's blatantly not the only thing that's not working.  You're not able to perform a DNS lookup of the hostname.  If you can't resolve the IP you'll never be able to connect to it.  Check the DNS settings as the first thing you need to do.

[loudsubz]

thanks Cry Havok

I tried switching the DNS address around and adding in a third I found on a bellnet.ca search and all seems to be well now. Something is messed up on the original DNS and Im not sure if they fixed it or if the switch in IP's changed but I am able to send email now, that seemed to be the only issue that we were encounting while doing other tests beside the lookup.

Appreciate the effort.