mail server issues... anyone use an earthlink server?

[iroc409]

i have cable, which runs through the local cable company, but technically the account is with earthlink.

i've been having trouble all week with outgoing emails randomly disappearing (and not always able to download email from my earthlink account).

sometimes i can't even ping the earthlink mail server.. i'm wondering if anyone else out there is on earthlink, and has these problems?

i'm thinking maybe it's filtering issues through TW or something. even though i'm basically a TW customer, they lock me out of their outgoing servers so i can only use earthlink servers, instead of TW.

the shitty part is, i don't always get error messages with the outgoing server (unless i'm checking mail and the incoming doesn't work).

i'm about ready to set up my own outgoing server, this isn't the first time this has happened, and it's getting quite frustrating.

[Ludedude]

I use Earthlink's SMTP boxes from time to time. No trouble this past week.

[iroc409]

thanks... that makes me think maybe it's the isp's filtering or something. unless you're using a different earthlink smtp box. like i said, this isn't the first time this has happened, just the most.

[Ludedude]

We're on Sprint's network and they pair with Earthlink as an ISP. Most of our stuff is sent using our own SMTP boxes at the hosting co. but I do use smtp.earthlink.net for some other domains where I don't want it going through the adult server so it sounds like a similar situation. There might be some BS happening between TW and Earthlink?

[iroc409]

that's what i'm guessing. i've tried using the local tw smtp, but they lock me out of that, and any other smtp i've tried to use.

the crazy thing is, sometimes i don't even get error messages. it just acts normal, and the mail disappears.

my earthlink mailserver is mail.earthlink.net tho, maybe i'll try smtp.earthlink.net instead.

[fsfaz]

I stopped relying on ISP's mail servers years ago. It's funny that they still can't seem to get them together and keep them running properly. I'm sure it's only getting harder for them since they have all those filters and thresholds in place for spammers, blacklists, etc.

You should consider putting up your own mail server. It's really not that hard and you can run it off a 286.

[iroc409]

Originally posted by fsfaz
I stopped relying on ISP's mail servers years ago. It's funny that they still can't seem to get them together and keep them running properly. I'm sure it's only getting harder for them since they have all those filters and thresholds in place for spammers, blacklists, etc.

You should consider putting up your own mail server. It's really not that hard and you can run it off a 286.

i think that 's what i'm going to do. i've never set up an smtp server, but it shouldn't be that difficult, and i've already got a machine practically set up for that.

the only issue is now i don't have any static ips, but i doubt that will be an issue since it's just outgoing mail.

[irishfury]

some isp will block port 25.....it's irratting what you could do is use the direct ip of the mail server

[iroc409]

Originally posted by irishfury
some isp will block port 25.....it's irratting what you could do is use the direct ip of the mail server

lol... not sure that would help when i can't even ping the mail server.

i know i've hit it before tho, but maybe the smtp is ignoring icmp or whatever.