AOL SMTP proxy

John Kennett · 05-21-2001, 03:29 AM

Anyone using AOL as their dial up is unable to use their FQ SMTP server to send emails, even if they put the correct details into Outlook, Eudora etc.

This is because AOL transparently redirects any outgoing communication on port 25 to their SMTP proxy server: tot-tk.proxy.aol.com

Normally it works OK (although conspiracy theorists will have something to say, I'm sure!) but quite often posting mail fails with the response "Error 451 4.7.1 Please try again later!"

Terra -- is there a way round this other than ditching AOL*? SMTP server on a different port perhaps?

John

* I will be ditching AOL before long, but it's currently the only way I can get unmetered internet access!

**Terra** · 05-21-2001, 04:02 AM

If you can get a SSH VPN Tunnel through, then yes... I know for fact our servers handle this quite well...

You would do this through port forwarding...

visit:
www.vandyke.com

and checkout SecureCRT...

Read the help file very carefully before getting yourself dug in too deep...

There may be 'free' stuff that would do the SSH Port Forwarding, or if you have a Linux box setup (hmmm - I don't think AOL comes on Linux) - you could use it for your SSH Tunnel...

Best of luck on your deployment...

--
Terra
--The path only get's more complicated from here--
FutureQuest

*Armand* · 05-21-2001, 05:57 PM

"Anyone using AOL as their dial up is unable to use their FQ SMTP server to send emails, even if they put the correct details into Outlook, Eudora etc."

I use AOL as my dial up (free account or I wouldn't trust me) and haven't had any problems sending/receiving email via FQ using Outlook Express. So not "anyone"

John Kennett · 05-21-2001, 07:07 PM

Quote:

I use AOL as my dial up (free account or I wouldn't trust me) and haven't had any problems sending/receiving email via FQ using Outlook Express.

But you haven't been sending your email via FQ. That's the point, you just think you have because that's what you've told it to do!

Try sending yourself an email, and then carefully look at the headers. You'll find that the outgoing mailserver that actually gets used is tot-wm.proxy.aol.com and the mail never touches mail.yourdomain.com

Normally it works just fine, and for you it sounds like it always works fine. However, when AOL's mailserver is overloaded or down your mail won't get sent and you'll have to try again.

Anyway, having looked at Terra's solution I've decided it's not really a big problem and I'll live with it until I ditch AOL or they acquire some clue.

John