Cannot email

[Anonymous user]

Does anyone know why I cannot send email from my new, well, refurbished, APC Smart-UPS 1400? I have a AP9617 APC UPS Network Management Card installed and apparently running fine. One of the reasons I got this was to get email when some condition arose, but I cannot get either email or DNS to work.

I have tried sending email using an IP address as well as a domain name, but as I cannot get the domain server test to work, I thought the IP address used for the email would work. It does not.

The log gives me "Systems: Email: could not email 'lawrence.hare@[ip address]'"

The IP address is the email server I use for my normal outgoing email.

When I run a DNS test I get "The DNS server was unable to process query." This response come back immediately, there is no delay, so I do not think it is even trying!

I have the router IP and everything configured.

What am I missing?

Thanks - Lawrence Hare

[Erasmus_apc]

In regards to the DNS test issue by itself...the cards use the standard DNS port, 53, for DNS communication and I've frankly never heard of anyone who had an issue with DNS because port 53 was blocked, but I suppose it's possible.

Well, what I meant about authentication was in regards to SMTP authentication, i.e. a user name and password being required to allow inbound/outbound mail requests. In terms of the SMTP network port the card uses, yes it defaults to port 25, and there is no way to make it use a different port.

The NMC2 cards (AP9630, AP9631) are the current generation of network cards for our UPS systems, and they do support basic SMTP authentication (user name, password). However, you still cannot change the network port that they use for SMTP.

I haven't heard of a lot of NIC-type devices running their own onboard SMTP/Mail server...and no the card would not communicate to any APC e-mail server. The card only sends SMTP requests and traffic to the SMTP server defined in the E-mail Settings section.

[Erasmus_apc]

Are you sure you have confirmed the proper mail server? It sounds like you have, but try using an nslookup on the e-mail domain suffix using type=mx. You should use the result that has the lowest "mx" value. Also confirm that your TCP/IP settings are absolutely correct, and that your DNS servers are set correctly. If you put the card on the same network subnet as some other computer that works with DNS and e-mail, and match its relevant "ipconfig/all" settings, the e-mail should work unless there is some firewall rule blocking ports/IP of the card specifically. Also, make sure the "from address" in the e-mail settings exactly matches the format needed to match the e-mail domain you use, and make sure there are no rules preventing the card from sending out e-mails at the address you specify. Additionally, note that the NMC card you have does not support e-mail authentication.

Try moving it to another location on the network if all this fails, also update/reinstall the newest version of the "SUMX" type firmware to the card, and if all else fails try rebooting the card "to defaults" using the option in the GUI (under the Administration section if you have relatively recent firmware).

I know that sounds like stuff you have confirmed but it is fairly often that some minor detail was the crux of the problem. If all this does not work you may need to call into tech. support @ 1-800-800-4272 for more detailed assistance.

[Anonymous user]

Suddenly I am very concerned! Thank you for your reply. I am almost certain Verizon blocks port 25, and with no authentication I cannot access the others I have on different ports as they all require authentication.

And the ENTIRE master plan of taking this route was that this UPS supports emailing of events.

I had thought that APC used its own email server which did not require authentication for outgoing messages, but if that uses port 25 I am stuck and if they do not, then I have no where to go with this.

I just suddenly have a very unhappy feeling that all this work has been for nothing.

Do other cards support authentication? Yet I saw no other card other than those with environmental monitoring (9618, 9619). I purchased this from a refurbishing company and this was the only NMS card I saw. It never occurred to me that it might not provide the features needed to actually work. This is bad.

Any thoughts?

Thanks - Lawrence

[BillP]

keep in mind, you need to be on the network of where your email server resides. you cannot use the network management card to send email using something like smtp.gmail.com unless you have an email server in your network set to relay mail to smtp.gmail.com or something external which builds upon the type=mx nslookup stuff that erasmus already mentioned.

if you want to use gmail, you need to be on the gmail network, if you want to use yahoo, you need to be on the yahoo network, etc

essentially, you need to use a local SMTP (email) server.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Yes, you have confirmed my worst fears. I do not have a local emailer and was relying on the thing smtp'ing to one of my mail agents outside the local network, I thought it could speak 821 and handle 822, that is what I got from the documentation. Yes, port 25 is blocked, I verified it. I need to use a dedicated port and use it with authentication. So I am indeed stuck.

Well, I should have spent more time downloading the manual and reading it thoroughly.

Very, but very, annoying.

Down the road I shall be installing a Mac Mini Server to take over DHCP and implement a more flexible firewall with vpn support and all. I can set up a mail server on the thing and have it relay.

Still and all.

Ruined my evening.

Thanks for the help.

Lawrence