Mail and other problems

[Mick Jackson]

I have had problems with mail for a while. Using v7.06

I cannot send any confirmation e-mails from Catalog. None of the order e-mails are being generated, neither the confirmation to the customer or the copy of this to me, nor the new order since the last download e-mail.

Settings are correct with all the boxes ticked for copies etc. with the correct e-mail address inserted.

Sending e-mails from within Catalog results in an error message. I have tried the test button in network settings and also get an error, which is enclosed.

All settings are correct and are exactly the same as they were when everthing was working correctly.

I have come to the conclusion that a files or files on the server are corrupted and despite refreshing the site a few times and doing a purge on everything in 'housekeeping' I have not had a positive result.

So, what can I delete from the server with FTP so that the correct versions of any corrupted files will be uploaded. Am I correct in asuming that if I delete all the content of the Acatalog directory and its subs along with the content of the cgi-bin I can upload everything to correct the problem, or is that too simple a solution.

[I-CC]

If you are on a linux server then place

localhost

within the smtp server address of the network settings.

[Mick Jackson]

Sorry, forgot to mention that I had tried that, without success. It has always been 'mailhost' and did previously work with that setting.

[I-CC]

If it used to work and all stopped without your having made changes, then would speak to your host to ascertain if they have changed the name of the local mailing server, or imposed some kind of restriction on it.

Also, if you do an update to the site and then FTP in, can you see amended dates on the files, confirming that they went up ok?

[Mick Jackson]

I assume that the mail server has not changed as all other mail through Outlook and Outlook Express work OK, or does that not have any bearing on the problem?

If I did FTP the site to check dates, what am I looking for, as if I knew which file was corrupt or suspected of being corrupt then I might have already solved the problem. But I do not know which files are used for the mail.

[wjcampbe]

No bearing at all. Outlook and Outlook Express run on your local PC. Actinic sends mail from the web server, using whatever mail service mechanism is provided by your host.

[Mick Jackson]

The problem has been progressive with the customer confirmation copy failing first, then the 'new order since last download' and finally the inability to send. These events lead me to suspect a server problem.

[wjcampbe]

Is the email address in your View | Business Settings the same one you have listed on the Advanced | Network Setup settings? Is that address @yourdomainname? Are your SMTP settings something .yourhostsdomain?

A Relay error message would suggest that at least one of these answers is no.

[Mick Jackson]

Both areas you state.

There is nowhere in Network Settings for the e-mail address, just the SMTP server address.

I copied the server settings into a text file using an extrator when I first used this version, as I have done for previous versions. I used this to copt the settings when I upgraded to v7 and still use the same text file after a major re-load of programs without any problems. I even tried importing these settings again yesterday to confirm that they had not been altered in Network Settings.

[wjcampbe]

There is nowhere in Network Settings for the e-mail address

Unless you are using authenticated SMTP, in which case you enter the userid and password here - and if those do not match the email address in Business Settings.....

Anyway, who is your host? Are there any messages in your web package Control Panel about changes in mail servers? If nothing - you are back to 'contact your host'.

[Mick Jackson]

In Businness Settings I have the SMTP server, user name and password, with the box ticked for user name and password required.

I cannot follow your reasoning that the Business Settings and Network Setting should be the same.

In Business settings I have a straight forward address @mydomain

In the network I have mailhost.my_isp_name.co.uk

These settings have always worked and as I said earlier the problem has been progressive, which would not be the case if the mail server setup had been altered, hence my assumption that this was a corruption on the server of one file or more.

I really appreciate your help, but I am no nearer a solution.

[wjcampbe]

Now I am starting to get confused. There is no box for authentication required in my Business Settings - that's in Network Setup.

As you say, Business Settings user@mydomain.tld (top level domain .com, .org, .net, .co.uk etc)

Network setting should be mailhost.webspaceprovider.tld - ISP provides your home/office connection to the internet and may not be the same company from whom you rent your webspace.

If you really have your ISP settings here, then it is possible they were allowing relay services (but not by design) and have now tightened up.

[Mick Jackson]

Now I am starting to get confused. There is no box for authentication required in my Business Settings - that's in Network Setup.

Appolgies, it's been a long day. You are correct I did mean Network Setup. Network Setting are as you state i.e. mailhost.webspaceprovider.tld.

But I still do not know why this problem was progressive?

To make it entirely clear, I have.

Business Settings

sales @ jackfish.net (without the 2 spaces)

Network Settings

mailhost.zen.co.uk

Plus user name and password in the boxes below SMTP box.

[Mike Hughes]

Mick, the error in your logs is:

Program = ORDERSCR, Program version = 490 , HTTP Server = Apache/1.3.29 Sun Cobalt (Unix, Return code = 999 , Date and Time = 2006/03/09 17:43, Internal Errors = Error returned from SMTP server (1: Open Relay scanner. Please contact Support for assistance.
)

This suggests you contact Zen support , which isn't too bad an idea.

Zen's support page for email says:

NOTE: You may only send e-mail through Zen's outgoing mail server if you have a direct connection to Zen Internet, and are therefore using a recognised Zen IP address.

This could be what's causing the problem and may be something they've introduced recently. Perhaps on Jan 18th when your problems started.

In terms of sending email from the server, Zens support page says:

How do I send mails through the server?
You can send mails through the server from any IP address - but you have to collect your mail first of all. If you connect your email program to the server and download any messages, you will be able to send mails through the server for a period of 15 minutes.

Again this may be new, but Actinic doesn't collect email so it looks as if Zen have introduced something to stop the relaying of emails through their servers. I'd suggest you call them on 0845 058 9009 and talk it through.

Mike

[NormanRouxel]

When you talk to them, explain that you have a Perl script running on their server that needs to send an email via a socket-level connection to their SMTP server. You are able to do this with Authenticated SMTP if required.