GMX "freemail" smtp down?

[bronco31]

started getting calls from my customers.. unable to scan-email...ive been using them for years for a way to scan-to-email...relay thru smtp.gmx.com to customers real email addresses...but they're down.... tryed all ports 25/465/587, tryed SSLTLS STARTTLS authentication.. no success.. i wonder what they did or whats is wrong ??


frank

[logrady2331]

Re: GMX "freemail" smtp down?

I haven't been able to connect to Yahoo, Gmail, most any of the "free" relays for quite some time now. My understanding is I.P.'s are running short and/or they all want to start charging for those connections now. They work for awhile then they don't work. I just got a dedicated I.P. from Host Gator and use it to prove to the customer that the machines works. Then I tell them the days of "free" e-mail relays are coming to an end. If they want scan to e-mail capabilites they have to get an account for the machine. It should be less than 200.00 for a full year. Most customers understand and, if they don't, they no longer scan to e-mail.

[logrady2331]

Re: GMX "freemail" smtp down?

ALso, it will be an SSL connection, but just because you have SSL doesn't mean you have to use it. Even the oldest machines will scan through it.

[Iowatech]

Re: GMX "freemail" smtp down?

This might not be what you are looking for, but for what it is worth I've found this useful for finding out if a website is either truly offline or just not responding to me because of something I did:
Is It Down Right Now? Website Down or Not?

[bronco31]

Re: GMX "freemail" smtp down?

" I just got a dedicated I.P. from Host Gator and use it to prove to the customer that the machines works. "

can you explain further? i understand getting a static IP from an ISP...

im needing an SMTP service that the older machines (that cant do the newer TLS or STARTTLS authentication) will scan thru...
wierd though... i went to a newer Kyocera 3050ci that supports those encryptions and still couldnt scan using my GMX email account.. ??

should/can i buy an email address from HostGator... that will still accept scan/mail from an older model ?
meaning just simple config of ex: smtp.gmx.com a usrname and password, and then a port #.. usually 587 or 465

thx for any feedback!

[JVergin]

Re: GMX "freemail" smtp down?

If you do, be advised that you may not be able to buy just one email address from them to serve all customers. Here's a look at their server limits

If you had 20 people using the same account, emailing things at the same time, you may find that they will exceed the account limits and be unable to send emails for an hour or so.

I'm not sure about the ISPs you have, but the ones that we have here in Omaha will offer free E-Mail addresses. I usually ask the customer to give them a call, give them all of their security information, hand the phone to me. I setup the account for them and get all the information I need, and I make sure to test it before I get off the phone to make sure it works. I then give the customer all of the information about the email I setup for them and it's then their ISP's responsibility to keep the email service up and running for them. They all have the option to not use SSL so this works on older models. Of course I do bill for my time doing this unless it's a new machine install.

[logrady2331]

Re: GMX "freemail" smtp down?

When I say a "dedicated I.P. address", I mean an account with it's own domain name. I use it my demo floor and as a tool in the field to show the customer that the machine does work (scan to e-mail) with my demo floor credentials. It is an SSL account with a fixed I.P. (dedicated) that I never have to worry about the ip changing. I use it strictly for sending e-mails from MFP's. I do not allow customers to "borrow" the account, as JVergin is correct that multiple acccounts will eventually cause problems. There is no magic at all to it. You don't have to use the big guys (Host Gator, Go Daddy, etc.) any I.T. person with thier own server(s) can set you up an account. As stated, you don't have to use SSL. I have Aficio 3035's, MP's of all kinds, color, you name it. All scan flawlessly.The set up looks like this

SMTP server name: senator.websitewelcome.com (mine is Host Gator, hence senator.websitewelcome.com)
Port: 25 (or whatever non-SSL port your ISP is using, port 465 if SSL)
Authentication: On
User name: whatever it is
Password; whatever it is
That's it. Super simple.

[slimslob]

Re: GMX "freemail" smtp down?

The biggest problem that I encounter is certain ISPs block port 25. Some even block port 465 to any SMTP server other than their own. Many of the larger email providers are starting to require TLS instead of SSL.

[SargeNZ]

Re: GMX "freemail" smtp down?

I gave up using free unencrypted mail servers a year ago and started using Gmail with Stunnel to wrap the email traffic in SSL. It's a magic bullet and you can get it going in 15 minutes.

One day I will post my 'Stunnel How-to' document here, but it's currently keeping me in a job!

[bronco31]

Re: GMX "freemail" smtp down?

I gave up using free unencrypted mail servers a year ago and started using Gmail with Stunnel to wrap the email traffic in SSL. It's a magic bullet and you can get it going in 15 minutes.

One day I will post my 'Stunnel How-to' document here, but it's currently keeping me in a job!

I need that doc !

[ApeosMan]

Re: GMX "freemail" smtp down?

I gave up using free unencrypted mail servers a year ago and started using Gmail with Stunnel to wrap the email traffic in SSL. It's a magic bullet and you can get it going in 15 minutes.

One day I will post my 'Stunnel How-to' document here, but it's currently keeping me in a job!

Hmmm I take it you'd need to install Stunnel on a local dedicated PC that's always running or server? So all is rosy if the customer has one of those on offer.

Great idea though

[wseyller]

A few times when customer has a device with no SSL option I've helped them setup an account with inbox.com

I think it is $8.88 per year. You can use it for free if you don't mind ads in the emails.

[bronco31]

Re: GMX "freemail" smtp down?

A few times when customer has a device with no SSL option I've helped them setup an account with inbox.com

I think it is $8.88 per year. You can use it for free if you don't mind ads in the emails.

oh thx, i'll try that!

[SargeNZ]

Re: GMX "freemail" smtp down?

Re: Stunnel, yes there needs to be a PC that does not get turned off, or is at least on during work hours. The application can run as a windows service ensuring that it starts with windows. It's really not hard to setup once you know how. I would download the windows installer and get it going on a workshop PC. The hard part comes in editing the configuration file to do what you need it to do.