Mail problem for a Monday morning
It's Monday morning, I'm tired, and I've got a headache, so I'm not sure I can even explain the problem right now, let alone solve it. Work seems to block port 25 (SMTP), but not 993 (IMAP-S) or 22 (SSH), so I can SSH into my (home) mail server, or read my mail via IMAP, but I can't send anything. My (home) email account doesn't have a shell account, so I can't log-in via SSH and send email in pine or something (and that would be a PITA, anyway). What are my options? Can I use putty to tunnel SMTP through port 22 SSH? One of these days I'll set up webmail and this will be a moot point, but I'm hoping for a quicker, more immediate solution. -- Thanks, Rich
-----Original Message----- From: Chuck Anderson Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 11:54 AM To: Worcester Linux Users Group Subject: Re: [Wlug] Mail problem for a Monday morning
On Mon, Mar 19, 2007 at 11:03:45AM -0400, Klein, Richard wrote:
Work seems to block port 25 (SMTP), but not 993 (IMAP-S) or 22 (SSH), so
How about using your company's SMTP server?
I've been doing that occasionally, but I don't want much personal mail going through their servers, and (pardon me if this is too much information) I want to reply to a girl's email via match.com, but match.com expects my emails to come from match@richardklein.org, and I think my emails end up in /dev/null if they come from some other address. Obviously, I'd prefer to reply to her from home, but I haven't been home much to even sit down at the computer lately. -- Rich
On 3/19/07, Klein, Richard <Richard.Klein@cytyc.com> wrote:
going through their servers, and (pardon me if this is too much information) I want to reply to a girl's email via match.com, but match.com expects my emails to come from match@richardklein.org, and I think my emails end up in /dev/null if they come from some other address. Obviously, I'd prefer to reply to her from home, but I haven't been home much to even sit down at the computer lately.
Oh, in that case, simply explain to her that you couldn't reply to her because your IMAP MUA wasn't properly setup to tunnel SMTP traffic via SSH and all your attempts were just ending up in /dev/null! Hiding information is not a healthy start to a new relationship you know... ;-)
Not certain what posting rules are here and a newcomer living and working in Littleton... Needing some technical help. OK to cast our net here for sysadmin and also php/MySql/Javascript programming or elsewhere? /m
On Monday 19 March 2007, Mark Richards wrote:
Not certain what posting rules are here and a newcomer living and working in Littleton...
Needing some technical help. OK to cast our net here for sysadmin and also php/MySql/Javascript programming or elsewhere?
i dont think there's any problem with people posting job offers for local linux-ish positions here ... -mike
With apologies to the list if this is inappropriate in which case please send me to a better forum.. We are immediately seeking a person to do some ad-hoc (and a few hours per month? of routine) server maintenance for us with an initial push requiring more time for a new server setup and correction of problems on existing box. We have one dedicated in service and another coming on line next week. We're a small 2-person company and are very busy trying to bring a product to market with no/little time to devote to server maintenance. List of needed skills and software we are running (open to various levels of ability in each; to discuss): - linux, of course - CentOS (almost everything we have is repository based) - yum, cron, the basics - isp firewall but also iptables used on dedicated boxes - imap mail on current server with basic web services - apache, php, mysql - ssl, amavisd, spamassassin, dovecot, clamd. - large mysql database on new server with web services (no mail) Tasks: - routine check of both servers * security issues (we have snort installed and have plugins) * performance issues * specialized backups (other than daily by host) * review logs; identify issues; resolve - software install/setup * anything new or a manual update - existing issues * infrequent timeouts * some log entries for mail that need addressing * clamd improperly installed; re-do using yum and integrate back into amavisd * spam detection a bit too generous; better techniques? - emergencies * security issues * work with host if hardware or other failure to help resolve (host is in Missouri, so phone contact of course) We are expecting more hours initially for setup of new server and cleanup of existing issues, then perhaps a weekly checkup as you may recommend to us. SSH certificate for root. Non disclosure and data security agreement required. A methodical person who documents and who can teach (without pain) would be ideal. I never ask the same stupid question more than once (sadly, the second time I may, however, re-phrase it). mark richards SolarWave mark-dot-richards-at-massmicro-dot-com
With apologies to the list if this is inappropriate in which case please send me to a better forum.. Immediately seeking a person to help me with a large and complex php/MySql/javascript/html project. The work will initially involve fixing up maintenance front ends (and getting a few to work) and will move quickly into presentation-layer coding that clients will see. For our client side code we use the Smarty templating system which provides for a very clean connection between the html and the data. The maintenance front ends are hacked out with php as single-document scripts (one script presents a record and the same one edits and saves). Good to know http post. Most of our systems are working and the partially-documented code will probably be an easy read once I provide the overview and tutorial. Tasks will be fairly loosely spec'd in the beginning so some creativity is desired and encouraged. If you're really good (I hope so) tell me how to do it better. However there may be deferral of some improvements as we push to get it fully working. Very close communications as to how the task will be achieved will be essential to avoid duplication of efforts and synergy. Documenting code would be a plus. Skill levels need to be intermediate to expert in php. Knowing how to structure a query is good. Figuring out how to accomplish something on the client side in Javascript (we try not to use much) and achieving a consistent look with the smarty/html is also essential. If you don't know smarty, don't worry. It's really easy to work with and well documented. Are you artsy? I know what looks good but have no idea how to get there. Artsy is welcome and needed, but not a show-stopper. We have at least a solid part time need now. Work for the first few days with me for familiarity, then independently. SSH certificate for access. One server for testing and another going online shortly for production. Non disclosure and data security agreement required. We can supply workstation here but nice if you can work with your own over a good connection. As in my posting for a linux sysadmin, we need a methodical person who documents and who can teach (without pain). I never ask the same stupid question more than once (sadly, the second time I may, however, re-phrase it). I might, after searching through other resources, send an email: "how the heck can I do [a certain task] in html". You might shrug and utter an epitaph. We are in the solar energy field. No government work. All green and good. Future? I haven't the foggiest idea. But ours is a good place to learn about solar energy and technology applications. mark richards SolarWave mark-dot-richards-at-massmicro-dot-com
From: Mark Richards <mark.richards@massmicro.com>
With apologies to the list if this is inappropriate in which case please send me to a better forum..
I have no problem with Worcester Linux job leads. Don't start advertising your product here.
... need a methodical person who documents
As an admirer of Knuth and aspiring literate programmer, I'm glad to know somebody cares. I had a friend who once told me his new boss said to him "Don't waste time explaining what it does. If I need to know, I'll look at the code." What can you do but buy another round and shake your head at the sorry state of things?
and who can teach (without pain).
The second time I saw this, curiosity got me. I have to ask whether this refers to the pain of the students or the pain of the teacher? Some subjects are painful to teach, some students are painful to teach. On the other hand, how are the lazy brats going to learn if you don't hit them with a ruler? -- Keith
From what I have seen, job offers are welcome if they are local. Eric Mark Richards wrote:
Not certain what posting rules are here and a newcomer living and working in Littleton...
Needing some technical help. OK to cast our net here for sysadmin and also php/MySql/Javascript programming or elsewhere?
/m
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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 HI Mark, I'm cc'ing the list so folks will know what I've been doing behind the scenes when I receive requests like this. I don't personally mind if folks put relevant, local Linux job postings on the list, as long as it doesn't get out of hand. Having the courtesy to ask first (as you did: thank you!) goes a long way, in my opinion. I agree with Keith - definitely no advertising allowed. Your job posting was fine in this regard - it clearly wasn't an ad for your company or its products. I try to put "JOB:" in the subject of the post, so people can filter it accordingly. Good luck finding a candidate who meets your needs, and thanks again for asking prior to your post. Andy - -- Andy Stewart, Founder Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFF/yfsHl0iXDssISsRAiwVAJ4vP31VsCc6gxe2Ic0ZsjUoVufH+gCfbJtf 67Qran1ZULlAiY2S49uBJQg= =BVpK -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
Richard> It's Monday morning, I'm tired, and I've got a headache, so Richard> I'm not sure I can even explain the problem right now, let Richard> alone solve it. Richard> Work seems to block port 25 (SMTP), but not 993 (IMAP-S) or Richard> 22 (SSH), so I can SSH into my (home) mail server, or read my Richard> mail via IMAP, but I can't send anything. My (home) email Richard> account doesn't have a shell account, so I can't log-in via Richard> SSH and send email in pine or something (and that would be a Richard> PITA, anyway). Umm... if you can get into your home mail server via SSH, why can't you send email from there using plain old 'mail' command? Or do you have something similar to what I have, which is my own domain, which gets my email and then dumps it into my ISP's email system for pulling down? In that case, using my ISP's outgoing email servers was problematic, because they didn't like me using my @stoffel.org domain email address on outgoing email. Or at least they didn't like it much, and people further downstream started dropping/bouncing my emails thinking I was a spammer. So now I have postfix at home setup to use SMTPS to send all outgoing email via my domain's ISP's mail server, encrypted and all is good again. But basically, can you explain your setup in more detail please? It's not clear where the bottleneck really is. Richard> What are my options? Can I use putty to tunnel SMTP through Richard> port 22 SSH? Not ideal in my mind, since you're trying to make work act like your home system. Which as we get more and more mobile in our professional lives, isn't a good idea in my mind any more. Heck, I'm reading this from work, but I'm ssh'd into my home system and all the processing and such is happening within a 'screen' session using Emacs and the mail reader 'vm'. All text based, and quick and easy to write/read/edit emails. Richard> One of these days I'll set up webmail and this will be a moot Richard> point, but I'm hoping for a quicker, more immediate solution. Blech. Why is the web the answer to all questions now? *grin* And of course you would make sure to only allow HTTPS connections to your squirrelmail web mail server running on your home machine, right? Good luck! John
-----Original Message----- From: Brett Russ Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 1:37 PM To: Worcester Linux Users Group Subject: Re: [Wlug] Mail problem for a Monday morning
Oh, in that case, simply explain to her that you couldn't reply to her because your IMAP MUA wasn't properly setup to tunnel SMTP traffic via SSH and all your attempts were just ending up in /dev/null! Hiding information is not a healthy start to a new relationship you know...
;-)
Excellent advice! She'll see that I need someone to look after me and she'll take pity on me. :)
-----Original Message----- From: John Stoffel Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 2:27 PM To: Worcester Linux Users Group Subject: Re: [Wlug] Mail problem for a Monday morning
Umm... if you can get into your home mail server via SSH, why can't you send email from there using plain old 'mail' command?
Or do you have something similar to what I have, which is my own domain, which gets my email and then dumps it into my ISP's email system for pulling down?
The problem with setting up a reliable server that you never have to mess with is you forget how you set it up. :) I set up a virtual mail domain, and the mail users of that domain don't have shell accounts, so I can't log in as one of those users at the SSH (shell) prompt. I thought that would be more secure, because I might want to give email accounts to friends who would have no need for a shell account.
In that case, using my ISP's outgoing email servers was problematic, because they didn't like me using my @stoffel.org domain email address on outgoing email. Or at least they didn't like it much, and people further downstream started dropping/bouncing my emails thinking I was a spammer.
Yeah, I thought about forging the from: header for certain emails, but I figured my employer's ISP would block that (it *should* block that, anyway). Plus, knowing me, I'd forget to change it back after I sent the email, and then I'd be sending out business emails with my personal email in the from: header. I don't think my company would appreciate that.
So now I have postfix at home setup to use SMTPS to send all outgoing email via my domain's ISP's mail server, encrypted and all is good again.
But basically, can you explain your setup in more detail please? It's not clear where the bottleneck really is.
I'm running Courier-IMAP and...I forget what else...at home. I added an account to Outlook at work to check my mail. It can receive mail fine, but sent messages just sit in the "outbox" forever. I tried telnetting into my server: port 143 gets me the IMAP prompts like you'd expect, but port 25 gets nothing, so I figure my employer is blocking port 25. That's not surprising. My mailserver runs richardklein.org as a virtual domain, and users @richardklein.org don't have shell accounts. If I SSH into my shell account it reports no mail because all my mail gets sent to the @richardklein.org user(s).
Richard> What are my options? Can I use putty to tunnel SMTP through Richard> port 22 SSH?
Not ideal in my mind, since you're trying to make work act like your home system. Which as we get more and more mobile in our professional lives, isn't a good idea in my mind any more.
Heck, I'm reading this from work, but I'm ssh'd into my home system and all the processing and such is happening within a 'screen' session using Emacs and the mail reader 'vm'. All text based, and quick and easy to write/read/edit emails.
I like GUIs for reading email, but the real problem is that mail users don't have shell accounts on my server.
Richard> One of these days I'll set up webmail and this will be a moot Richard> point, but I'm hoping for a quicker, more immediate solution.
Blech. Why is the web the answer to all questions now? *grin* And of course you would make sure to only allow HTTPS connections to your squirrelmail web mail server running on your home machine, right?
I greatly prefer IMAP to webmail, but yeah, if I ever get around to installing squirrelmail, it'll only accept HTTPS connections. -- Rich
participants (9)
-
Andy Stewart -
Brett Russ -
Chuck Anderson -
Eric Stein -
John Stoffel -
Keith Wright -
Klein, Richard -
Mark Richards -
Mike Frysinger