SMTP unable to connect

[willemjan]

For a few days I am trying to make my forum send mails with SMTP. My host sais that the settings are right. They have run an diagnostic on the server and found no errors. This is the error I get:

Code Select Expand


2: fsockopen() [<a href='function.fsockopen'>function.fsockopen</a>]: unable to connect to mail.hervormddamwald.nl:26 (Connection timed out)


I have checked my settings multiple times... Allso contacted my host about it. They state that the settings are correct.

Any ideas?

[Mitħrandir]

Without other details it's hard to identify the problem.

In the error message you have reported I see that the SMTP port is 26, while the default server port for these connections is 25...

[willemjan]

Wich other details do you need?

Yes I have set the port to 26. I had it on 25 first, didn't work. Contacted my host and they said it should be port 26.

[Mitħrandir]

Wich other details do you need?

If you have some PHP knowledge, you could try doing some tests manually and see what happens.

The error message you have posted states that the PHP script failed to open a socket connection on the smtp server.
You may create a simple PHP script that tries to open such a connection:

Code (testSMTP.php) Select Expand


<?php
$fp = fsockopen("mail.hervormddamwald.nl", 26, $errno, $errstr, 30);
if (!$fp) {
    echo "$errstr ($errno)\n";
} else {
    echo "Connection established!\n";
    fclose($fp);
}
?>


[willemjan]

No I don't know allot of php. I can mostly understand what an php script does tough.

I have used your script and this is what I get:

Code Select Expand

Warning: fsockopen() [function.fsockopen]: unable to connect to mail.hervormddamwald.nl:26 (Connection timed out) in /public/sites/www.hervormddamwald.nl/testsmtp.php on line 2
Connection timed out (110)

[Mitħrandir]

Some host have the fsckopen() function disabled.
This script prints out which features are enabled and other (useful) info.

Code (info.php) Select Expand


<?php
phpinfo();
?>

Look for entries related to sockets.

You can also ask your support desk about this.

[willemjan]

Don't know what I am looking for exactly, but I found this:

sockets
Sockets Support  enabled 

[Mitħrandir]

You may create a simple PHP script that tries to open such a connection:

Code (testSMTP.php) Select Expand


<?php
$fp = fsockopen("mail.hervormddamwald.nl", 26, $errno, $errstr, 30);
if (!$fp) {
    echo "$errstr ($errno)\n";
} else {
    echo "Connection established!\n";
    fclose($fp);
}
?>


I've tried this script on my local Apache+PHP installation and it works.

Try to submit your problem, that is related to fsckopen(), to your support desk.
Maybe your server has some security policies (you can't see them with phpinfo()) that block socket creation.

[willemjan]

Support request filed. Awaiting their answer.

[willemjan]

Well somehow it takes a while before they answer... In the meantime, is there anything else I could try?

[LiroyvH]

In the meanwhile, perhaps you can use php sendmail rather than SMTP?

[willemjan]

Well my site is not live yet, so I have some time left to wait. The problem with PHP sendmail is that the mail sent from the site gets marked as spam. That's why I would like SMTP-mail.

[willemjan]

My (Dutch) host responds:

helaas niet meer mogelijk om d.m.v. PHP scripts functies zoals FTP, SMTP met gebruik van fsockopen() e.d. aan te roepen vanaf uw website.

Freely translated that means something like this: It's no longer possible to use functions as fsockopen() trought PHP-scripts for FTP and SMTP.

What should I do?

[willemjan]

A friendly bump

[willemjan]

By examining the error again:

Code Select Expand

2: fsockopen() [<a href='function.fsockopen'>function.fsockopen</a>]: unable to connect to mail.hervormddamwald.nl:26 (Connection timed out)

I guess its impossible to send an email with this host, because they blocked fsockopen()? Or is there a work-around for this?

[Deaks]

yeh use sendmail

[willemjan]

you mean with PHP sendmail?

How can I set an emailadress? I have a few people that send newsletters now and then. They must be sent with the same email adress...

[Deaks]

one thing ive suggested to other users is maybe look at a mailing script like phplists, this will give you more control on how many you sent etc

[willemjan]

Thanks for the heads up