IDNetters Forums

Technical News & Discussion => IDNet Help => Topic started by: Lance on Oct 01, 2009, 17:30:34

Title: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Lance on Oct 01, 2009, 17:30:34
Is anyone else having problems sending emails or is it just o2 playing up (I'm sending from my phone)?
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Ardua on Oct 01, 2009, 17:32:21
Our posts crossed. I am having similar problems on my MacBook Pro.
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Dangerjunkie on Oct 01, 2009, 17:32:39
Same thing happening here on our work BT connection.

Right... Who borked the mail server? Confess! ;)
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Lance on Oct 01, 2009, 17:35:33
I'm sure they'll be aware, but I'll give supper a ring and update here in a minute.
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Rik on Oct 01, 2009, 17:35:57
Order some for me, Lance. ;)
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Ardua on Oct 01, 2009, 17:36:25
I have just spoken to IdNet. They were not aware of this issue.
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Simon on Oct 01, 2009, 17:38:18
I'll have a large pepperoni pizza, Lance!  ;D
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Dangerjunkie on Oct 01, 2009, 17:38:45
Just out of interest, are all the people having trouble on port 587 or is it port 25 peeps too?
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Lance on Oct 01, 2009, 17:39:21
Thanks saves me calling!

You see rik, it's easy to get food onto any thread!
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Rik on Oct 01, 2009, 17:40:03
Quote from: Dangerjunkie on Oct 01, 2009, 17:38:45
Just out of interest, are all the people having trouble on port 587 or is it port 25 peeps too?

25 too.
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Rik on Oct 01, 2009, 17:40:19
Quote from: Lance on Oct 01, 2009, 17:39:21
Thanks saves me calling!

You see rik, it's easy to get food onto any thread!

;D

Tim's checking it now...
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Lance on Oct 01, 2009, 17:47:55
Slightly worrying they didn't already know. It's been out since at least 16:55.
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Rik on Oct 01, 2009, 17:50:47
I know, you'd think they would have alarms going off all over the place, wouldn't you. There was some spam earlier, Tim said, whether that's related I don't know.
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Rik on Oct 01, 2009, 18:00:15
:update:

The spam is the problem, someone has used the service in an unauthorised way, and has blocked, but not taken down, the server. Some people are able to connect to it, so no obvious pattern at the moment. IDNet are working to clear the spam from the server and restore services asap. Meantime, they have updated the network status page. Once things are resolved, there will be an investigation into how this got past the systems which are designed to prevent this kind of mass mailing on the 'free' service.
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: BrianM on Oct 01, 2009, 18:03:55
Thanks Rik  :thumb:  Just checked my mail.  Same problem with here, receiving but can't send.   
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Glenn on Oct 01, 2009, 18:04:50
My email has just been sent after around 35 minutes.
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Rik on Oct 01, 2009, 18:06:09
Mine too...
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Gary on Oct 01, 2009, 18:09:59
Slow here but it connects, cheers for the info Rik,  :thumb:
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Rik on Oct 01, 2009, 18:15:20
It looks like they are beginning to get on top of the problem.  :fingers:
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: zappaDPJ on Oct 01, 2009, 18:17:06
Thanks for the update Rik, my mails are starting to send again  :thumb:
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: BrianM on Oct 01, 2009, 18:21:51
Ok now, Back to normal, sending mail strait away that is.     Thanks  all :thumb:
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Ardua on Oct 01, 2009, 18:23:45
No Joy here - I have 3 e-mails sitting in my Outbox waiting to go ???
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Rik on Oct 01, 2009, 18:24:20
The send is immediate, but it's still being delayed in transit as far as I can see...
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Rik on Oct 01, 2009, 18:24:46
Quote from: Ardua on Oct 01, 2009, 18:23:45
No Joy here - I have 3 e-mails sitting in my Outbox waiting to go ???

Have you tried closing and re-starting Outlook?
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Gary on Oct 01, 2009, 18:27:54
Sending on for IDNets domainmail but delay in receiving on idnet.com oh well its almost dinner time  ;D
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Lance on Oct 01, 2009, 18:34:49
My message has sent now too :)
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Ardua on Oct 01, 2009, 18:37:20
Google is your Friend. It would seem from various threads that Apple Mail has a problem when messages are not sent immediately. It just parks them in the Outbox and there they stay!  I confess that after 2 years with IDNet I am beginning to wonder whether I am paying for a premium service that I am no longer getting: this is not the first e-mail problem that IDNet has had and, in  addition, I am now getting erratic pings and variable speeds ranging from 600Kbps up to 6300Kbps. Up until 2 months ago, my speed never dropped below 4500 Kbps. What's up?
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Rik on Oct 01, 2009, 18:44:36
If you're not on WBC, there have been a series of problems with the centrals becoming unbalanced following 'blips', the cause of which has never been explained. As a result, one or more pipes have become overloaded while others have little traffic. In theory, BT's software should do the balancing, in practice, it hasn't been and there has been a need for IDNet to force re-connections to move traffic to the uncongested pipes. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that IDNet expected to have more capacity by now, but BT is late delivering that too.

The mail problems really stem from the fact that it's a basic mail service included with accounts. It's not designed to handle bulk mailings and customers are not meant to use it for that purpose. Occasionally, as today, someone doesn't play by the rules and swamps the server. IDNet block the access of anyone doing that, and clear the server manually. They are looking at why the automated system didn't detect and block the mailing.

If you are on WBC, the speed issues have been down to BT playing with their network after they found they'd configured it completely wrongly.
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Ardua on Oct 01, 2009, 18:54:52
No Rik, I am just a simple home user on the 8M service. My point is that something has changed with the level of service that IDNet is providing. I just hope that with WBC and a telephone service, IDNet hasn't taken too much on.
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Rik on Oct 01, 2009, 19:07:16
Well, you'll have been affected by the central issues then. The phone service is essentially a billing exercise, there's little involvement for IDNet beyond setting the tariff and collecting call data from BTw then billing it out. WBC is an essential step into the future, eventually BT will stop providing the current Max services, and IDNet will have to use WBC. As an early adopter, there's been some pain (as there has for the other five ISPs using it) but it puts IDNet ahead of the field in experience as the mass launches occur. The new IPStream Connect service, 13 months overdue, should allow them later this month to move customers at non-WBC exchanges onto the new hostlink. That has two benefits. They can light up the hostlink in 1Mb/s chunks as needed and, if necessary, for short periods, so adding extra capacity for sporting events becomes feasible. At the same time, the hostlink has resiliency built in, unlike Max, and is actually delivered over a link and a spare, if the link fails, traffic switches to the spare. There are no pipes, so imbalances shouldn't happen anymore.
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: quandam on Oct 01, 2009, 19:09:23
Go for gmail. Never had a problem in over 4 years :evil: >:D
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Rik on Oct 01, 2009, 19:11:39
Until those who have been reading your mail come round.  :evil:
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: quandam on Oct 01, 2009, 19:14:34
They haven't shown their heads in over 4 years Rik. A superb spam filter and runs just like clockwork, a joy to use. As I say, no problems whatsoever in over 4 years whilst running around eleven different addresses :thumb:
Title: Re: Any problems with SMTP?
Post by: Rik on Oct 01, 2009, 19:17:47
I can soon change that. :)