Well - I had problems with other mail servers on this machine, so tested them (and Mercury) on a virtual pc - all worked immediately. 

Obviously something is going on on that machine.  I shall investigate and post my findings! 

Thanks for your help - sorry if I was vague in places but I was stumped!

Hi all

I've just installed Mercury/32 today as I need to replace my existing server.  I'm obviously hideously wrong somewhere however, as I can't seem to receive external email.

 I have port forwarding set on the router for ports 110 and 25 thru to the Mercury machine (192.168.1.10) - my MX records point to the external IP of the router.  I know this is fine as I have tried another product that works ok (but doesn't have all the features I want).

I want to use mailbagging, so that all mail is sent to Mercury and is distributed to various mailboxes, but I'm stuck to be honest.  I think I'm missing some settings in the core module but I'm not sure which.

 Any help is much appreciated - thanks

[quote user="grunners"]

Hi all

I've just installed Mercury/32 today as I need to replace my existing server.  I'm obviously hideously wrong somewhere however, as I can't seem to receive external email.

 I have port forwarding set on the router for ports 110 and 25 thru to the Mercury machine (192.168.1.10) - my MX records point to the external IP of the router.  I know this is fine as I have tried another product that works ok (but doesn't have all the fatures I want).

I want to use mailbagging, so that all mail is sent to Mercury and is distributed to various mailboxes, but I'm stuck to be honest.  I think I'm missing some settings in the core module but I'm not sure which.

How about providing a copy of your mercury.ini for starters.  That will provide a lot of help in finding out what is wrong.    The host name and IP address of the router would also be useful.

 Any help is much appreciated - thanks

[/quote]

[General]
myname:          Mail    # Canonical name for this server
timezone:        +0000    # Time Zone to add to date fields
file_api:        1    # Use the file api instead of queues
mailqueue:       C:\MERCURY\QUEUE    # Where mail should be put for delivery
smtpqueue:       C:\MERCURY\QUEUE    # Where the SMTP client should look for mail
newmail_path:    C:\MERCURY\MAIL\~N    # Where to find the users' WinPMail mailboxes.

[Protocols]
C:\MERCURY\mercurys.dll
C:\MERCURY\mercurye.dll
C:\MERCURY\mercuryp.dll
C:\MERCURY\mercuryd.dll
C:\MERCURY\mercuryx.dll

[Mercury]
failfile:      C:\MERCURY\Mercury\FAILURE.MER    # Delivery failure notification template
confirmfile:   C:\MERCURY\Mercury\CONFIRM.MER    # Delivery confirmation template
aliasfile:     C:\MERCURY\Mercury\ALIAS.MER    # System-wide alias file
synfile:       C:\MERCURY\Mercury\SYNONYM.MER    # User synonym database
listfile:      C:\MERCURY\Mercury\LISTS.MER    # List of lists
logfile:       C:\MERCURY\Logs\Core\~y-~m-~d.log    # Traffic logging file
logwidth:      30    # Width of address fields in logfile
retpath:       1    # Do/Don't use 'return-path' for errors
maxhops:       30    # Used to detect mailing loops
gullible:      0    # If NZ, don't validate 'From' fields
poll:          10   # Seconds between queue polling cycles
scratch:       C:\MERCURY\Scratch    # Where we can write temp files
returnlines:   15    # How many lines of failed messages to return
postmaster:    Admin    # NetWare UIC of postmaster
broadcast:     1    # Yes, we want broadcast notifications, but
receipts:      0    # ... no broadcasts for receipt confirmations
PM_notify:     1    # Do/Don't send errors to the postmaster
change_owner:  1    # Change message ownership to recipient
auto_tzone:    1    # If NZ, obtain timezone information from OS
LogLevel:      15    # System message reporting level
LogMax:        100    # Maximum number of system messages to store
RetryPeriod:   30    # Period between job retries (minutes)
MaxRetries:    16    # Maximum number of times a job can fail
TwoPasses:     1    # If NZ, process submission queue in 2 passes
Autoaddress:   0    # If NZ, auto-generate user addresses based on name
Daily_exit:    0    # If NZ, auto-restart each day after maintenance
No_Areply:     0    # If NZ, disable automatic replies system-wide
Alt_Forward:   0    # If NZ, allow alternate forwarding specification
Maint_hour:    2    # Hour for daily maintenance (24-hour clock)
Maint_min:     0    # Minute for daily maintenance
Retry_Mode:    0    # If NZ, use progressive backoff for queue retries
Local_DSNs:    1    # If NZ generate Delivery Status for local users only
DSN_time1:     10800    # Seconds deferred before first DSN is sent
DSN_time2:     86400    # Seconds deferred before second DSN is sent
DSN_time3:     259200    # Seconds deferred before third DSN is sent
Host_in_title: 0    # If NZ, show hostname in system tray and taskbar
Lingering:     0    # Enable or disable 'lingering mailboxes'
Linger_Timeout: 60   # Seconds before a lingering mailbox is shut down
Alert_Host:    notify.pmail.com    # Host to check for licensee advisories
Alert_Interval: 720   # Frequency in minutes (min 240) for checks
Alert_Flags:   3    # Flags controlling advisory checks

[MercuryC]
logfile : C:\MERCURY\Logs\MercuryC\~y-~m-~d.log   # Traffic logging file
Session_logging : C:\MERCURY\Sessions\MercuryC\    # Directory for session log files
Session_logmode : 0
host:        smtp.griffin.com     # mail mail host which relays for us
scratch:     C:\MERCURY\scratch           # Where we can write temp files
poll:        30                   # Seconds between queue polling cycles
returnlines: 15                   # How many lines of failed messages to return
failfile:    C:\MERCURY\Mercury\FAILURE.MER  # Delivery failure template
esmtp:       1                    # Yes, we want to use ESMTP extensions

[MercuryE]
Poll : 15
Timeout : 60
logfile : C:\MERCURY\Logs\MercuryE\~y-~m-~d.log   # Traffic logging file
Session_logging : C:\MERCURY\Sessions\MercuryE\   # Directory for session log files
Session_logmode : 0
# Nameservers : 139.80.64.1

[MercuryD]
Scratch : C:\MERCURY\Scratch\MercuryD
Timeout : 30
Poll : 30
Session_logging : C:\MERCURY\Sessions\MercuryD
Session_logmode : 0

[MercuryS]
Debug : 1
Logfile : C:\MERCURY\Logs\MercuryS\~y-~m-~d.log
Timeout : 30
Relay : 1
Strict_Relay : 0
Allow_Illegals : 0
SMTP_Authentication : 0
Session_logging : C:\MERCURY\Sessions\MercuryS
Session_logmode : 0
Compliance_Settings : 0
Maximum_Failed_Rcpts : 4
Max_Relay_Attempts : 4
SSL_Mode : 0
ST_Blacklisting : 288
No_VRFY : 0
SMTP_ConnFlags : 0

[MercuryP]
Scratch : C:\MERCURY\Scratch\MercuryP
Logfile : C:\MERCURY\Logs\MercuryP\~y-~m-~d.log
Stack : 32768
Mark_Read : 1
SSL_Mode : 0
Login_Disabled : 0
UIDL_nul_list : 1
New_UIDs : 1
No_NUL_passwords : 1
Session_logging : C:\MERCURY\Sessions\MercuryP
Session_logmode : 0
Timeout : 60

[MercuryX]
Drain_queues: 1
# Cmd_Delay: 10
# Cmd_Wait: 1
# IE4_Dialling: 0
# Use_ETRN: 1
# Clients_only: 1
# Sunday: 0800,1800,3,15,30,60
# Monday: 0830,2100,5,15,60,60
# Tuesday: 0830,2100,5,15,60,60
# Wednesday: 1500,1900,2,30,5,30
# Thursday: 0900,1900,2,30,0,0
# Friday: 0830,2100,5,15,60,60
# Saturday: 1031,1035,2,45,-1,0

# [Groups]
# testgroup            :     TESTGRP

[Domains]
Mail: Mail
Mail: Mail

[Maiser]
Maiser:          Maiser   # 'Username' of mail server account
Helpfile:        C:\MERCURY\Mercury\MAISER.HLP   # Help sent on failed maiser requests
Lookupfile:      C:\MERCURY\Mercury\MAISER.LKP   # Format file for the 'lookup' command
Send_dir:        C:\MERCURY\Mercury\SENDABLE   # Directory for the 'send' command
Logfile:         C:\MERCURY\Logs\Maiser\~y-~m-~d.LOG   # Mail server log file
Notify:          C:\MERCURY\Mercury\TMP   # Dir. for pending 'notify' commands
NoList:          N   # If 'Y', disable the 'list' command
Local_only:      Y   # If 'Y', local 'notify' commands only

[MercuryH]
logfile : C:\MERCURY\Logs\MercuryH\~y-~m-~d.log   # Traffic logging file
# Addressbook : \\CLIO\SYS\SYSTEM\MERCURY\PH.PMR
# MOTD : \\CLIO\SYS\SYSTEM\MERCURY\PH-MOTD.TXT
# Administrator : postmaster@clio.pmail.gen.nz
Timeout : 30

[MercuryI]
Scratch : C:\MERCURY\Scratch\MercuryI
logfile : C:\MERCURY\Logs\MercuryI\~y-~m-~d.log   # Traffic logging file
Session_logging : C:\MERCURY\Sessions\MercuryI\   # Directory for session log files
Session_logmode : 0
Timeout : 120
Server_Port : 143
Idle_Timeout : 1800

[MercuryB]
Scratch : C:\MERCURY\Scratch\MercuryB
logfile : C:\MERCURY\Logs\MercuryB\~y-~m-~d.log   # Traffic logging file
Session_logging : C:\MERCURY\Sessions\MercuryB\   # Directory for session log files
Session_logmode : 0
Timeout : 120
Server_Port : 80
Idle_Timeout : 1800
# URL_Base : enter_your_domain_here

[Groups]

[Rewrite]

[Statistics]
StatFlags:    0  # Statistical reporting settings
STF_Hours:    24  # How often to write stat log files
STM_Hours:    24  # How often to e-mail stat log files

[Y]

 IP address is 79.121.232.17

 Thanks

> [General]
> myname:          Mail    # Canonical name for this server

This should be the name you want for the postmaster account.  If you have a domain it goes here.  If you do not have a domain then I would use [<ip_address_of_router>]
so that mail sent to postmaster@[your IP address] would get to the system.  Personally though I'd go to http://dyndns.com and get a free domain name.

> timezone:        +0000    # Time Zone to add to date fields
> file_api:        1    # Use the file api instead of queues
> mailqueue:       C:\MERCURY\QUEUE    # Where mail should be put for
> delivery smtpqueue:       C:\MERCURY\QUEUE    # Where the SMTP client
> should look for mail newmail_path:    C:\MERCURY\MAIL\~N    # Where to find the users' WinPMail mailboxes.

The rest looks good.

>
> [Protocols]
> C:\MERCURY\mercurys.dll
> C:\MERCURY\mercurye.dll
> C:\MERCURY\mercuryp.dll
> C:\MERCURY\mercuryd.dll

Looks like you are receiving mail via MercuryD.  

> C:\MERCURY\mercuryx.dll

Are you actually running the scheduler?  Generally speaking this is only done when the system is on a dial up system.

>
>
> [Mercury]
> postmaster:    Admin    # NetWare UIC of postmaster

Postmaster is set.

>
> [MercuryC]
> logfile : C:\MERCURY\Logs\MercuryC\~y-~m-~d.log   # Traffic logging file
> Session_logging : C:\MERCURY\Sessions\MercuryC\    # Directory for session log files
> Session_logmode : 0
> host:        smtp.griffin.com     # mail mail host which relays for us
> scratch:     C:\MERCURY\scratch           # Where we can write temp files
> poll:        30                   # Seconds between queue polling cycles
> returnlines: 15                   # How many lines of failed messages to return
> failfile:    C:\MERCURY\Mercury\FAILURE.MER  # Delivery failure template
> esmtp:       1                    # Yes, we want to use ESMTP extensions
>
> [MercuryE]
> Poll : 15
> Timeout : 60
> logfile : C:\MERCURY\Logs\MercuryE\~y-~m-~d.log   # Traffic logging file
> Session_logging : C:\MERCURY\Sessions\MercuryE\   # Directory for session log files
> Session_logmode : 0
> # Nameservers : 139.80.64.1

If you are sending via MercuryE (and it looks like you are) then you really need to put the IP addresses of the DNS hosts in here.  That said, looks like you have no fixed IP address or personal domain so I really think you should send via MercuryC using your ISP's server as the relay host.

>
> [MercuryD]
> Scratch : C:\MERCURY\Scratch\MercuryD
> Timeout : 30
> Poll : 30
> Session_logging : C:\MERCURY\Sessions\MercuryD
> Session_logmode : 0
>
> [MercuryS]
> Debug : 1
> Logfile : C:\MERCURY\Logs\MercuryS\~y-~m-~d.log
> Timeout : 30
> Relay : 1
> Strict_Relay : 0
> Allow_Illegals : 0
> SMTP_Authentication : 0

If this system is connected to the internet then you should go to the MercuryS setup and turn off relaying and set strict relaying.  You can use the authorization to allow mail clients to relay through this host by checking the third option and setting up the Auth file of usernames and passwords.

>
> [Domains]
> Mail: Mail
> Mail: Mail

This one is critical and I do not see how you can receive any mail since there is no domains set.  This would normally look like

[Domains]
;server : domain
mail : mail
mail : <domain of the mail being received>
mail | [<IP_address_of_router>]
mail | [<ip_address_of_system>]

>
>  IP address is 79.121.232.17

Looks like this might be a randomly assigned IP address.  If this is true it makes even more reason to get a domain from something like DynDNS.

Answer Section:
    17.232.121.79.IN-ADDR.ARPA, PTR, 79-121-232-17.griffin.managedbroadband.co.uk

I think I'm completely confused about this. 

 First off, 79.121.232.17 is a static IP given to us by our ISP.  It is assigned to the public IP of our router - all mail is sent to this address, as specified in our MX records.  We DO have a domain name as well by the way.  All our client machines and the Mercury server are behind this router and are therefore all assigned private IP's only.  We do have port forwarding for POP and SMTP set up though so that all mail is sent to the mail server.

I wonder if you can shed some light on the following for me - my understanding of the following Mercury modules:

SMTP server - Sends email and appears to accept connections for incoming mail (although these are always closed immediately and the mail bounced)
SMTP Client - ?
POP3 Server - connects to internal client i.e. Outlook
POP3 Client - ?

I've tried changes you suggested but clearly I've still got something completely wrong.  Hopefully you can help further now that you understand our situation?

 Many thanks

[quote user="grunners"]

SMTP server - listens for incoming SMTP connections (mail from outside servers or from internal (or external) clients i.e. Outlook)
SMTP Client - Sends email (to an SMTP server)
POP3 Server - listens for connections from internal client i.e. Outlook (or external, your port 110 is open)
POP3 Client - fetches mail from a POP server

I've tried changes you suggested but clearly I've still got something completely wrong.  Hopefully you can help further now that you understand our situation?

 Many thanks

[/quote]

Turn on session logging for MercS to find out why incoming SMTP connections are getting rejected.

 First off, 79.121.232.17 is a static IP given to us by our ISP.  It is

assigned to the public IP of our router - all mail is sent to this

address, as specified in our MX records.  We DO have a domain name as

well by the way.  All our client machines and the Mercury server are

behind this router and are therefore all assigned private IP's only. 

We do have port forwarding for POP and SMTP set up though so that all

mail is sent to the mail server.

How about providing all of the info and we may be able to help you out at least with the error messages.   The rDNS of the IP address you provided does not resolve to a domain other than the ISPs. In addition, when connecting it looks like an hMail server

220 79-121-232-17.griffin.managedbroadband.co.uk ESMTP
ehlo thomas
250-hmailserver
250-SIZE
250 AUTH LOGIN

Yes - at the moment it's port forwarding to hMail - while I'm testing though I'm pointing it at Mercury.  I'll post the rest of the details when I'm back in the office.  Many thanks for your time on this by the way.

 Thanks