144882 - Can't connect to SMTP server to send e-mail

Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME

(MailNews Core :: Networking: SMTP, defect)

Description

[tom.williams]

When I try to use the Mozilla 1.0-rc2+ (nightly build 2002051508) Mail
application to SEND e-mail through my SMTP server, I can errors indicating a
connection to the server could NOT be made.  This works JUST FINE with Netscape
4.79.

To reproduce the problem:

1. Configure an SMTP server with address 'whatfantasiesmaycome.com' or 64.71.156.106
2. Try to send a message
3. You should see a 'Can't connect to server' message.  If you get security
errors, then it's probably working.  

This problem does NOT happen with Netscape 4.79 Mail and BOTH mail apps are on
the SAME machine.

Comment 1

[tom.williams]

Attachment: Screen shot of error received

Attached is a screen shot of the error I receive.

Comment 2

[Walter Hoehn]

I am receiving this same error message.  I have tried RC2 and the latest
5/21/2002  1.00 nightly.  Downgrading to RC1 resolves the problem for me.  I am
using Win2k and between installs I wiped the mozilla folder from \Application
Data .  In the smtp settings configuration page, I have specifed the fqdn of the
smtp server, port 25, a username, and "never" for SSL.  Once again, these same
settings work perfectly well in RC1.

Comment 3

[tom.williams]

I would also like to mention that I connect to the Internet through a proxy
server and I have a SOCKS4 proxy configured, which is the proxy the Mail app
*should* be using.  This is the proxy used when I RECEIVE e-mail.  I just can't
SEND any.

Based on Mr Hoehn's comments, it sounds like a regression has occurred.

Peace....

Tom

Comment 4

[Barry McGeorge]

I can confirm this is happening to me as well.  I even disabled my proxy with no
luck.  I am using RC3 on Win2k.

Comment 5

[Rod Roark]

Happens to me too, but on Linux (RH 7.3).
Seems to be OK on Win98 SE.

Comment 6

[Jerome Lacoste]

To the reporters:

- did you try with a different SMTP server?
- could you post the values in your user.js related to the smtp server
properties (mail.identity....) and from prefs.js under "mail.smtpserver." ??
- compare the logs of your smtp connections using the two different browsers. To
turn logging on, read:
http://www.mozilla.org/quality/mailnews/mail-troubleshoot.html#imap

To the Mozilla developers: 
Can someone do the following:
- check if it isn't a dupe of 133865 or accept the bug as NEW as many people are
rpeorting it
- add the appropriate keywords and change the OS & platform ?
- give some instructions to the different reporters so that they are able to
help debugging. perhaps put smtp traces on.


A good thing would also to have the list of bugs solved between RC1 and RC2.

Comment 7

[Alan Woodland]

I have the same problem, but also I would like to add that after chaning my smtp
server settings pressing OK on the mail and news settings dialouge box does
nothing (the box just remains)

I just tried removing every line from prefs.js which contains the word "smtp"
and then added my self a new smtp server in my config from the advanced button
at it appears to have solved the problem

Comment 8

[Bent Hjerting]

I get almost the same message sending from my Mac using OS 10.2:

Unable to connect to SMTP server %S.

Comment 9

[R.K.Aa.]

At least comment 8 here is a duplicate of bug 146488 (fixed a while ago.)
If you still see this bug with new builds: see bug 146488 comment 44

Comment 10

[Rogier Thissen]

I see the same bug using Mozilla 1.3b on Win2000.

When I hit the 'send' button this happens:
1. Mozilla makes the connection to the SMTP server.
2. SMTP server answers with: '220 Pop3Server SMTP at your service'
3. Mozilla shows the error screen (see screenshot). The connection to the SMTP
server keeps open.
4. When clicking OK on the error, the connection to the SMTP server is closed.

The SMTP:5 log file just shows:
0[2340a0]: SMTP Connecting to: localhost
0[2340a0]: SMTP entering state: 0

In file prefs.js:
user_pref("mail.identity.id2.smtpServer", "");
user_pref("mail.smtp.defaultserver", "smtp1");
user_pref("mail.smtpserver.smtp1.auth_method", 1);
user_pref("mail.smtpserver.smtp1.hostname", "localhost");
user_pref("mail.smtpserver.smtp1.port", 25);
user_pref("mail.smtpserver.smtp1.try_ssl", 0);
user_pref("mail.smtpserver.smtp1.username", "jan.janssen");
user_pref("mail.smtpservers", "smtp1");

Note:
*I can connect to my SMTP server using Mozilla 1.0.1 (Mozilla 1.0.1 on the same
machine)
*Mozilla 1.3b is able to send mail when using another SMTP server.
*I don't use any proxies.

Comment 11

[Rogier Thissen]

Note that I downgraded to Mozilla 1.3a and now it works like a charm...

Comment 12

[v.volle]

I completely reinstalled Mozilla 1.1 in a new directory. When I now send the
first email I get two warning dialogs: The certificate used by the smtp server
is expired (1) and the certificate is for another server (2).
When doing the same with Mozilla 1.3, I get no such dialogs. Mozilla simply says
that it cannot connect.

Comment 13

[Reed Suckow]

WinXP, LinkSys Wireless Access Point Router, Cable Modem

I often get an error with v 1.4 and 1.4a that I never saw with earlier
versions--error sending mail: connecting to SMTP server failed. Problem is worse
when using wireless router (link quality and signal strength are good), but
occasionally happens when cabled directly to router. (Repeated attempts to send
result in success after 10-15 tries.) Is there a connection/timing issue that
can be configured? No other connectivity issues (same SMTP settings work fine
with <gasp> Outlook Express).

Comment 14

[John Patton]

I have the same problem with this.  I am using 1.3 final on Win2K.  After trying
to resend a bunch of times it may finally send.  I can send email from any other
app.  I first noticed the problem in 1.3a.  Also, when I look at the Outgoing
Server settings, I notice that my smtp1 values display twice.  This may be a
separate bug, tho.  I've also noticed this issue from 1.3a-1.3final.

cheers,

johnny p.

Comment 15

[John Patton]

downgrading all the way to 1.2.1 seems to have removed this "feature".  =)  If
you're experiencing this issue, I suggest moving back to 1.2.1.

My problem, btw, looked exactly like what you see in comment #1 when i'd send
email.  Works fine in 1.2.1 now.  No delay in send.

Comment 16

[Leslie G. Harper]

Attachment: This is a serious, current bug

Comment 17

[v.volle]

I have installed Mozilla 1.4RC1 and the problem has disappeared for me.

Comment 18

[tom.williams]

I'm using Mozilla 1.4rc1 on Windows NT 4.0 (SP6) and I can now connect to the
"whatfantasiesmaycome.com" SMTP server just fine.   So my original problem looks
to have been fixed!

I'm not sure about others still having this problem.

Peace...

Comment 19

[Leslie G. Harper]

FURTHER to 2003-06-04 "This is a serious, current bug" - I still had the problem
an hour ago (after I installed 2003060508 of Mozille 1.5a yesterday using
mozilla-win32-1.4rc1-installer.exe).  But now I installed the "sea" version
2003060608 (using mozilla-win32-installer-sea.exe) and the problem has "gone
away."  If there is a need to install the "sea" version rather than, or in
addition to, the plain version, I don't know about it, or what the difference is
between them vis-a-vis 32bit Windows machines.  I wonder, I wonder.  :-o

Comment 20

[Leslie G. Harper]

NO - I WAS WRONG.  This morning the build that worked yesterday (2003060608 of
Mozille 1.5a))stopped working again.  I reinstalled the sea version (2003060608
(using mozilla-win32-installer-sea.exe) and it did not "fix it" this time.  So
we're back to square one:  still NO EMAIL on Mozilla 1.5a

Comment 21

[Matthias Versen [:Matti]]

wfm