Email woes. Unsure what is 'wrong', but can't send or receive. Detailed steps withins.

[InTheWoods]

Yes, I've read: https://help.directadmin.com/item.php?id=16

It states:

1) hostname must not match any domain that is being used on the system. Example, if you have a domain called domain.com and you want to recieve mail on [email protected], you must *not* set your hostname to domain.com. We recommend using server.domain.com instead.

Server hostname is, for the purpose of this request: server.my-domain.com

You must make sure that you add the A record for server.domain.com so that it resolves.

Yep, done. DA is available at server.my-domain.com:2222

2) The hostname must be in the /etc/virtual/domains file.

It is. It's shown as the second domain in the list (server.my-domain.com) with the first being the top level domain (domain.com)

3) The hostname must *not* be in the /etc/virtual/domainowners file.

It's not there. No server.my-domain.com to be found.

4) The hostname must resolve. If not, add the required A records to the dns zone such that it does.

Per step 1, it has a valid A record and resolves without issue.

5) The directory /etc/virtual/hostname must exist.. (eg: /etc/virtual/server.domain.com). It must not contain any files.

It exists, and is empty.

6) Any domains that you want to use for email (eg: domain.com) must be in both the /etc/virtual/domains file and the /etc/virtual/domainowners file. The directory /etc/virtual/domain.com must exist and the files /etc/virtual/domain.com/passwd and /etc/virtual/domain.com/aliases exist.

Yep, this is how it's setup. All of that is correct.

7) File permissions for virtual pop inboxes should be (not applicable with Dovecot/Maildir):
/var/spool/virtual/domain.com 770 username:mail
/var/spool/virtual/domain.com/* 660 username:mail

I have Exim and dovecot running. I ignored this tip. Should I have?

8) Ensure your hostname does not contain any upper case letters.

It doesn't. All lowercase.

9) Make sure that your main server IP has a reverse lookup on it.

It does. dig -x <server-ip> shows the PTR records.

==================


Still, email doesn't work.

I have created a demo account on the server: demodomain.com

demodomain.com is using ns1/ns2.domain.com, and demodomain.com resolves without issue.

The DNS for demodomain.com is the default, automatically created records. The MX/mail related settings look like:

mail

3600

A

xxx.xxx.xx.xx

pop	3600	A	xxx.xxx.xx.xx
smtp	3600	A	xxx.xxx.xx.xx

demodomain.com.

3600

MX

10 mail

demodomain.com.

3600

TXT

"v=spf1 a mx ip4:xxx.xxx.xx.xx ~all"

As far as I can tell, that looks correct. By trying to send/receive mail from demodomain.com fails.


So, the DNS for server.domain.com, the hostname of the server in question:
ftp

ftp

3600

A

xxx.xxx.xx.xx

	server.my-domain.com.	3600	A	xxx.xxx.xx.xx
	mail	3600	A	xxx.xxx.xx.xx
	pop	3600	A	xxx.xxx.xx.xx
	smtp	3600	A	xxx.xxx.xx.xx
	www	3600	A	xxx.xxx.xx.xx
	server.my-domain.com.		NS	ns1.domain.com
	server.my-domain.com.		NS	ns2.domain.com.
	server.my-domain.com.	3600	MX	10 mail
	server.my-domain.com.	3600	TXT	"v=spf1 a mx ip4:xxx.xxx.xx.xx ~all"

What piece of the puzzle am I missing here? I can confirm that the default mail ports are open.

Do I need to do something at the level of domain.com? The DNS for domain.com is hosted by Cloudflare, and I've mirrored some (and removed some) settings to reflect what the server.domain.com DNS shows and still, nothing.

 

[InTheWoods]

Oh, and yes. I've checked the spam folder(s). I'm getting Mail Deliver Failer's at both ends. (email from server to anywhere else. Email from anywhere else TO the server)

 

[InTheWoods]

Any ideas? I've updated exim and dovecot configuration files from CustomBuild, have rebuilt the components also from CustomBuild. Restarted the services on the machine.

Email isn't working still. I'd open a ticket but my license isn't from DA direct so I guess I'm stuck using the forum, since I can't open a ticket. -_-

 

[ericosman]

See what https://mxtoolbox.com/ has to say.

 

[Active8]

From my notes when email is failing (backup first:

cd /usr/local/directadmin/custombuild
./build update
./build exim
./build exim_conf
mv /etc/dovecot /etc/dovecot~moved 
./build dovecot
./build dovecot_conf

 

[smtalk]

It can also be a blocked 25 port by a DC.

 

[k1l0b1t]

It can also be a blocked 25 port by a DC.

yes, some providers block that by default, Usualy they'll deblock it no problem if you ask for it.

 

[EthernetServers]

Can you post the output of the following command?

telnet -4 smtp.gmail.com 25

 

[ericosman]

When i try to telnet your server on port 25 it fails.
It looks like your server is not running something on port 25 or it gets blocked.

 

[EthernetServers]

When i try to telnet your server on port 25 it fails.
It looks like your server is not running something on port 25 or it gets blocked.

What did you telnet exactly? The OP censorsed the IP/domain information.

 

[ericosman]

What did you telnet exactly? The OP censorsed the IP/domain information.

Well, just take his username and add .com

Oh on port 143 i get a "* OK [CAPABILITY IMAP4rev1 SASL-IR LOGIN-REFERRALS ID ENABLE IDLE LITERAL+ STARTTLS AUTH=PLAIN] Dovecot DA ready. "

 

[InTheWoods]

Well, just take his username and add .com

Oh on port 143 i get a "* OK [CAPABILITY IMAP4rev1 SASL-IR LOGIN-REFERRALS ID ENABLE IDLE LITERAL+ STARTTLS AUTH=PLAIN] Dovecot DA ready. "

It's not being hosted at the .com

https://incog.host is the URL.

EDIT: Woops, yeah, I have the .com/net versions of the domain as well. They're pointing to the box but not setup.

 

[InTheWoods]

Oh, yeah. It was blocked at a point outside of my direct control. Fixed now. (I didn't think to check the port from outside.)