Working with the postfix log files

2009-04-24 Thread Scott Haneda
As a test, I have disabled authenticated SMTP on port 25.  I just  
fired up thunderbird, set the SMTP port to 25, and enabled SSL.   
Sending a test email, and I get an error back from the Thunderbird.


Thunderbird chewed on this for a long time.  My concern is what was in  
the logs.  If a customer of mine is on the phone with me, and I tell  
them to make a connection, and the server is rather busy, I am not  
seeing anything I am going to be able to use form the logs, to help  
them out


Apr 24 18:13:17 catalyst postfix/smtpd[831]: connect from c-76-102-xx1- 
xx.hsd1.ca.comcast.net[76.102.xx1.xx]
Apr 24 18:14:21 catalyst postfix/smtpd[831]: lost connection after  
UNKNOWN from c-76-102-xx1-xx.hsd1.ca.comcast.net[76.102.xx1.xx]
Apr 24 18:14:21 catalyst postfix/smtpd[831]: disconnect from c-76-102- 
xx1-xx.hsd1.ca.comcast.net[76.102.xx1.xx]


I think I would have to ask them to locate their IP, then I could help  
them out.

Suggestions?
--
Scott * If you contact me off list replace talklists@ with scott@ *




Re: Working with the postfix log files

2009-04-25 Thread Noel Jones

Scott Haneda wrote:
As a test, I have disabled authenticated SMTP on port 25.  I just fired 
up thunderbird, set the SMTP port to 25, and enabled SSL.  Sending a 
test email, and I get an error back from the Thunderbird.


Thunderbird chewed on this for a long time.  My concern is what was in 
the logs.  If a customer of mine is on the phone with me, and I tell 
them to make a connection, and the server is rather busy, I am not 
seeing anything I am going to be able to use form the logs, to help them 
out


Apr 24 18:13:17 catalyst postfix/smtpd[831]: connect from 
c-76-102-xx1-xx.hsd1.ca.comcast.net[76.102.xx1.xx]
Apr 24 18:14:21 catalyst postfix/smtpd[831]: lost connection after 
UNKNOWN from c-76-102-xx1-xx.hsd1.ca.comcast.net[76.102.xx1.xx]
Apr 24 18:14:21 catalyst postfix/smtpd[831]: disconnect from 
c-76-102-xx1-xx.hsd1.ca.comcast.net[76.102.xx1.xx]


I think I would have to ask them to locate their IP, then I could help 
them out.

Suggestions?


Yes, when you attempt an SSL connection to a non-SSL port, the 
only thing postfix sees is an SSL handshake, which mostly just 
looks like garbage.  I don't know if it's even possible for 
postfix to log something more meaningful in this case.


Your best bet in this case (and many others) is to point the 
user to a web site with screen shots of a "proper" 
configuration for their mail client.


And yes, for a number of connection problems, you will need to 
know the IP the client is coming from.  For internet users, 
you can point them to http://whatsmyip.net or another of the 
many similar services.



  -- Noel Jones