carlsson said:
When it comes to SOS and other acute issues, I would rather make a phone call than sending an e-mail. I don't know if it is heavy load, policy or an unfortunate path of routers to cross that make some e-mails take hours to deliver while other take less than a second (yes, I've experienced that and it was e-mail to a different country).
Regarding SMTP servers, the idea is that you should use the outgoing server of your ISP. Some servers have the option to login or give a special password to access it, but it is difficult for your ISP to determine if they should let you have access to a specific external SMTP or not. Of course it is for spam and virus issues there have been more restrictions on not being able to send e-mail through a random server on the outside.
The only good reason I've heard of to require access to a different SMTP is in the case you want authority on your outgoing e-mail by saying that all my e-mail is being sent by this server, which is configured in such a way that no-one else can have access to it and use my sender address. Those of you who have been playing with e-mail hacking know how relatively easy it is to spoof sender address and many other issues. If you in that case are forced to use a common SMTP server, there still lies a risk that someone else (on the same network) pretends to be you and send out false e-mail. Otherwise I have a hard time to come up with a good reason why you should be able to contact someone else's SMTP server directly instead of letting your ISP's server transport the message. Maybe Joe can give me a very good reason?
we talked about this a few months ago. anyway most SMTP's
nowa days wont let you send your email unless it is tagged as coming from
and returning to your own account. so for example:
if i try to send a email using my ISP's SMTP smtp.bigisp.com
and the msg is taged as comming from and returning too
joesixpack@oddballserver.com the smtp will reject it.
This is not always the case but a lot of servers are being setup this
way now days. flip side is a open relay. With a open relay you can send
email even if you do not have an account. pretty much no rules.
Of course the smaller isps are lot less strict on there SMTP use.
With webmail all the rage these days POP3/SMTP is becoming less and less
important for the typical user to access. I make it a point not to use
any services from my ISP. they provide the connect i'll do the rest.
But the biggest reason i want access to outside SMTP's is I PAID FOR IT.
I pay for a connection to the internet. What i do with it is my business.
A lot of ISP's in the fine print say you can't run any type of server, ping is a 4 letter word.
and some even have parts in there about having the right to penetration test your system.
Not to mention the rights they give them self to collect information.
WoW for example use to have it in there contract that they could keep your records for up to
15 years after you are no longer a customer. Road Runner gives them selves
the right to limit your access to the service if they deem you to be using
to much bandwidth in any way they seem fit without prior notice. lol nice!
Just take a few hours to read the fine print you would be supprised what they sneak in there.
I've not had any problems from my ISP they are rather good in the overall but
the minute they try to stop me from what i want to do they are gone
toast outta here i dont pay them to lip off to me.
