sendmail

[Steve_3]

Having problem configuring sendmail for Remote User with SMTP.

I am able to do Mailing to a Local User.

I look at the mail log and see DSN: Host unknown ( Name server: xxx.com no data known)

Am I missing some configuration?
Help?

Thanks.
Steve

[Alex Glennie]

please post your sendmail.cw file as an attachment, i'll get out sendmail guru's to take a look.

[Steve_3]

attaches is the sendmail.cw file

thanks,
steve

[Kofi ARTHIABAH]

Steve:

your sendmail.cw should contain only:

localhost
dbs05

remember to restart sendmail after the changes.

also check the following:

1. Do you have a smart host defined in your /etc/mail/sendmail.cf check the DS entry
2. make sure that your mailrelay/smarthost is easily resolved

[Steve_3]

Kofi,

Do I set the DS to the DNS name?

DSxxx.xxx.com

thanks,
steve

[Alex Glennie]

sorry no gurus in the UK : suspect DNS network problem could be an alternative culprit : good luck !

[Dave Kelly_1]

Can you do an nslookup on the hostname that sendmail is trying to mail to ?

If not, check your /etc/resolv.conf file to make sure you have the correct name servers and also that those name server are running DNS OK.

[Steve_3]

nslookup is fine.
i can ping the nameserver,
but i can't telnet to the nameserver

any thoughts,

thanks,
steve

[Kofi ARTHIABAH · Accepted solution]

Steve:

The DS should contain the name/IP address of the host that will relay messages destined for the remote server.

this is usually the mailserver for the remote user. to make it easier, include the IP/hostname combination (for the mail relay - not dns server) in the /etc/hosts file and set up your /etc/nsswitch.conf to be

hosts: files [NOTFOUND=continue] dns

...in order to test the mail server/exchanger for the remote host :

nslookup
> set qt=mx
> domain.name.of.remote.host.

you should get back some hosts that accept mail on behalf of that remote host. - for now, try using that as your mailrelay/Smarthost.

Good luck

[Kofi ARTHIABAH]

The reason you cannot telnet to the nameserver is because it is probably not running the telnet daemon - ie. it is possible that it is an NT box...or if it is a unix box, it is possible that telnet has been turned off.

[Steve_3]

Thanks for all your help.
I set the DS to the mailserver and it relay to it.

Thanks,
steve