Can't send SMTP via any system, including SSH tunnel

[gallilaw]

I have a new T60 running Win XP [after wiping out Vista and clean installing XP]. No problems with outgoing email until I relocated temporarily to Iraq.

Now can't send SMTP mail.

I have tried both port 25 and port 587.

I know that some ISPs block port 25, and a few block port 587.

So I also tried ssh tunnels using PuTTY, both 25 and 587.

I run my own mail servers; and just in case I signed up for a new system and tried using those servers as well.

Webmail works fine for both systems; but my thunderbird mail client can't complete an SMTP connection with either system.

I even opened a Gmail account and enabled SMTP for that.

Finally, I have the same problem when I try to use Outlook Express.

It seems to me this problem goes well beyond the usual ISP-blocked-ports issue.

Any ideas?

[Wiz]

Do you get a reply (syn ack) when trying to setup a TCP connection to the SMTP with a syn? Or is there no response from the SMTP server? Have you tried using a sniffer to see what is actually going on unless you get no reply from the SMTP server because then a sniffer trace won't show anything useful.
I would recommend using a sniffer.....if you don't have any you could download ethereal which is free. Then look at the sniffer trace to see if something is blocked, SMTP server send a reset or whatever that is going on. An easy way to see if you get any response from the SMTP server is to run this from dos "telnet x.x.x.x 25" where x.x.x.x is the IP adresse of the SMTP server. Is DNS working properly? If the first test gives you a blank dos window (no errors or timeout) then the server respond. Then if you try "nslookup <smtp server name>" and fail to resolve it could be a DNS problem. If both tests succeed i would suggest looking at the sniffer trace. It could also be that the SMTP server won't relay from your location which is common to prevent spam.

[Dodge DeBoulet]

If you're forwarding a local port via ssh to a remote server running an smtp service, are you sure that your forwarding rule is set up properly, and that your email client is correctly configured?

For example, I have a server in my home office that runs an SMTP delivery service. My ssh forwarding rule directs localhost:2025 to that server's localhost:25, and I have my email client configured to connect to my outbound SMTP server via localhost port 2025.

Alternately, if I'd rather use my ISP's SMTP host, I would configure the remote hostname/port to smtp.<myisp>.net:25.

Be aware that some AV software sits on localhost:25, so if you're trying to forward that port, you'll run into problems. You'll need to specify an alternate port that you know is unused.

[GomJabbar]

If you are trying to send using the same email account you had previously, that is likely your problem. You need to use an Authenicated SMTP server when not dialed in directly to the ISP where you have your email account setup.

For example, if I try to send email through my Earthlink account when I am away from home using my cell phone as a modem, I must use Earthlink's Authenticated SMTP server and not Earthlink's basic SMTP server. The Authenticated server requires you to enter your account password before an email is sent. As long as the email client is kept open, the password does not have to be reentered. If you close the email client or log off Windows, then the next time you try to send and email message you will receive a prompt to enter your password.

See following for more info: http://kb.earthlink.net/case.asp?article=4015

[Kyocera]

Are your SMTP servers in house? Or a program you downloaded to run your PC as an smtp server? If they are outside your domain I usually try pinging the server with a "switch T" and watching the ttl's for long response times or "timed out". Are you using the IP address of the server or the host name, try pinging both, because like Wiz said it could just be a DNS problem. If it is bad DNS configuration just use the IP address. When you ping the SMTP server host name Rarp should give you the IP address.