RE: [cobalt-users] RAQ 4 Email Relaying

["Gavin Nelmes-Crocker" <cobalt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I was not asking about "PoP before SMTP" - I am already aware 
> of that, as stated in my original message. This causes an 
> error if you do not collect first which some of my clinets do 
> not as they have automated programs which always send first.
> 
> I was enquiring about alternatives as the sales rep advised 
> me that anyone of my clinets can send mail - he did not 
> mention that there may be errors..

Ray - the problem here is that for you not to be an open relay you need
to have security controls - if your customers had fixed ip's then you
can allow relay for those ips no problem as they do not you need to use
pop before smtp, you can increase the window to a reasonable time.  On
this basis the sales rep told you correct info.

An ISP normally allows all traffic to smtp that is connected to its
network and gets round the problem that way but they control the ip
block that customers connect with.  Now I run a hosting company and I
run pop before smtp (for mine and certain customers use) I don't let all
of them use it as my bandwidth would shoot up (they may have legitimate
mailing lists) so they use the smtp of the isp they connect to.  I have
just noticed that Outlook (and maybe others) allows smtp authentication
but I don't believe the RaQ supports this and I haven't come across it
elsewhere either.

Basically unless you want to become a spammers friend by opening up your
RaQ to relay for anyone you will have to accept some limitations or
provide your customers with a dialup.  I usually find when I explain to
customers about problems and the reasoning behind them
(security,integrity etc) that they are usually happy and understand that
I am protecting them as much as myself.

Gavin