The Network tools page allows you to test mail transfer using various tools:
- Ping - tests the reachability of hosts
- SMTP Tab - test mail transfer using the SMTP protocol
- Traceroute - Displays the route and transit time for connections between servers in the cluster and a specified destination
- Dig - Used to query Domain Name System (DNS) servers. You can query a specific name server or leave blank to use the Control Panel's default name server
You can access this page from the Admin, Domain and Email Level Control Panels from Continuity > Network Tools.
SMTP Tab
Use the SMTP tab to test mail transfer using the SMTP protocol with the following checks:
- Sender callout - If you are seeing problems with sender verification, you can see exactly what the sender's mail server responds with when the address is checked
- Recipient callout - If you are seeing delivery problems, you can see exactly what the destination's mail server responds with when the recipient is specified
- Open relay check - You can see whether a mail server appears to be an "open relay", accepting mail for any destination
- Catch-all check - You can see whether a mail server appears to be a "catch-all" for a specified domain, accepting mail for any address at that domain
- Telnet test - You can check the full SMTP delivery process to a destination, to see exactly how the destination responds in answer to each of the SMTP commands, and the final message content. The tool will go as far as the information provided. If a recipient is not provided, then the connection will end after "MAIL FROM", and if a message is not provided, then the connection will end after "RCPT TO". If you have a message in the DATA section, this will send an email to the specified recipient
To test deliverability issues from a specific server in the cluster, or IP assigned to a server, select the relevant IP. If left blank, then one of the control panel IPs will be used.
The following fields/options are available:
| Field/Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Hostname | You must either enter a server hostname here or enter the Envelope sender for any checks to run |
| EHLO | Name of the EHLO/HELO that you want to use in the SMTP transaction |
| Envelope Sender | Enter the envelope sender to initiate a sender callout |
| Envelope Recipient |
Enter the envelope recipient to initiate a recipient callout Using the Catch all option you can see whether a mail server appears to be a 'catch-all' for a specified domain, accepting mail for any address at that domain. |
| Data | If you want to send data to the envelope-recipient e.g. the content of the SMTP transaction and not just a callout |
| Timeout, per SMTP command | How long you want the SMTP commands to last (e.g. for slower mta's there may be a need to set this higher before it times out) |
|
Interface |
Choose what IP you do the verification from. For example, if you want to do a sender verification check from a certain IP, choose the IP address from those available. If it is the default , then it uses the interfaces server IP/hostname (securemail.management) |
| Prefer TLS | Try to use STARTTLS to perform the test over a secure connection |
| Data only for Exchange servers |
Some versions of Microsoft Exchange do not support doing a sender or recipient callout in the usual manner. If you select this option and the server appears to be a Microsoft Exchange Server, the tool will send a suitable test message in DATA. You should generally use this when doing a 'callout' check, but be aware that if the recipient is valid they will receive the test email message. If Data only for Exchange servers is unchecked, Default message is unchecked and there is nothing in the data part then no DATA is sent. |