550 error Relaying Denied

[Shawn Sorrell]

Many have been having a problem with getting this error in one form or another.  I belive WestHost is looking into it and perhaps makeing some changes but... here is one thing you can do to "fix" it.

Look in your e-mail program for a setting that states something like "Use Outgoing Server Authentication"  it will most like be under Outgoing Server options on your e-mail account.  Make sure it is checked.  You should not have to fill in anything else.

WestHost Manual Quote

Important Notes: when setting up your e-mail account for the first time make sure you check for new mail before trying to send a message. If you don't, it will come up with an error when trying to send that message. This is only necessary when setting up your e-mail account for the first time or if you have changed Internet connections.

If you are able to receive mail okay but are receiving errors while trying to send mail this is most likely caused by your ISP not allowing you to use an external SMTP outgoing mail server. More and more ISP's are only allowing their subscribers to use their outgoing SMTP mail server. This is easily fixed by switching yourdomain.com as the out going SMTP mail server to your ISP's SMTP outgoing mail server.

[Shawn Sorrell]

This is a more advanced look at the problem that was posted by Glocom at the WestHost forum.

Ok, here's a fix that REALLY worked. The problem, I think, is that Westhost updated to Sendmail 8.12.8 (I'm assuming). This version has relaying disabled by default. There are multiple fixes to allow relaying. Scroll down and see the links below for more details.

Here's what worked for me:

1. Get your computer's IP address (if you have a STATIC IP address, like for always on Internet connections). You can get your IP address at www.whatismyipaddress.com (you can log off, reboot, and check again to see if your IP address is static or always changing).

2. FTP to your account and go to: ETC\Mail

3. Find the "access" file, open it, and add:

xxx.xx.xxx.xx RELAY (the x's are your IP address)

4. For good measure, you can open your "relay-domains" file and add your IP address there (at the top, in the third spot I think)

That should enable relaying for any emails sent from your computer, IF YOU HAVE A STATIC IP ADDRESS. If you IP address changes every time you go online this won't work. For examle, if you are roaming (using a laptop to access email on the road), this won't work, but see the link below.

Note that when changing these files -- a) make a backup (e.g., rename to original rather than just replacing it), b) download and upload using ASCII mode, c) edit with Notepad.

These files are part of the SENDMAIL program. For lots more information about editing SENDMAIL files, go to www.sendmail.org/m4/readme.html then click on #15 "Anti-Spam Configuration Control" . Read that whole section and especially the part about the "Access Database".

Andy Gray
http://www.dial-abroad.org

I don't think he will mind me re-posting it here.