On Thu, May 03, 2001 at 10:30:52AM -0500, q question wrote:
SNIP
> > > 2) How is it so clear that the machine didn't relay mail?
> >
> >-these types of questions come up every week on this mailing list
> >-qmail has _never_ relayed mail unless the administrator specifically
> >configures it to do so.
>
>
> I know the qmail documentation says that the default for qmail is not to
> relay. I need to see proof, not just be told to assume that the
> documentation is correct. As I said above, I'll need time to reflect on
> this. I appreciate that someone else suggested asking ORBS to do a relay
> test. However, that doesn't necessarily reassure me that the Prodygy
> Solutions relay test results should be ignored. I don't know anything
> specific about the Prodygy relay test "failures" but I don't just ignore
> something because someone else said to.
'Proof'? If the relay test in question was acceptable, the OP would already
have proof. A proper relay test involves the _actual receipt of relayed
mail_. Try your own relay test, if you have addresses at multiple domains
available, along the exact same lines as the 'tests' performed by
prodigysolutions[1]. If you don't have another address available, use a
friend's email account. If you manage to relay third-party mail through a
qmail server with rcpthosts populated only with domains that you should
actually deliver for (present in locals or virtualdomains[2]), and a
properly set RELAYCLIENT environment variable, I will eat a bug on camera, and
give you links to watch it on the web. :)
[1] I didn't recall seeing recent results for the
'user@destination@relay' test, so I did them myself. Delivery attempt is
to local user 'user@destination', which is unlikely to exist and in any
case is not a relay. The '%' and '!' garbage comes up at least once a
month, and is known _not_ to be a problem. Check that for yourself as
well, if you like.
[2] Or, of course, a domain that you're an MX for, but not the
best-preference MX.
>
> I do appreciate your reply and I realize full well that I may end up
> deciding to ignore the Prodygy relay test failures someday myself.
Avoid the rush! Start ignoring them today! 'Tests' which assume that
they know better than the MTA they are testing how it will deliver mail
are inherently broken. 'Tests' which do not actually attempt to deliver
mail anywhere, and do not only count the _actual receipt of mail_ as a
successful relay (failed test) are inherently broken. As far as I am
concerned, any 'test' that does not actually attempt delivery should
immediately be ignored.
SNIP
GW
